diff --git a/core/api/system-current.txt b/core/api/system-current.txt
index 2094e981f68e9..6ac668a0c6fb5 100644
--- a/core/api/system-current.txt
+++ b/core/api/system-current.txt
@@ -2180,6 +2180,7 @@ package android.bluetooth.le {
 package android.companion {
 
   public final class CompanionDeviceManager {
+    method @RequiresPermission("android.permission.ASSOCIATE_COMPANION_DEVICES") public boolean associate(@NonNull String, @NonNull android.net.MacAddress);
     method @RequiresPermission("android.permission.MANAGE_COMPANION_DEVICES") public boolean canPairWithoutPrompt(@NonNull String, @NonNull String, int);
     method @RequiresPermission("android.permission.MANAGE_COMPANION_DEVICES") public boolean isDeviceAssociatedForWifiConnection(@NonNull String, @NonNull android.net.MacAddress, @NonNull android.os.UserHandle);
   }
diff --git a/core/java/android/companion/CompanionDeviceManager.java b/core/java/android/companion/CompanionDeviceManager.java
index 86bd8a2b7a4e3..2ce715630c936 100644
--- a/core/java/android/companion/CompanionDeviceManager.java
+++ b/core/java/android/companion/CompanionDeviceManager.java
@@ -425,6 +425,32 @@ public final class CompanionDeviceManager {
                     mContext.getPackageName(), deviceAddress);
         } catch (RemoteException e) {
             ExceptionUtils.propagateIfInstanceOf(e.getCause(), DeviceNotAssociatedException.class);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Associates given device with given app for the given user directly, without UI prompt.
+     *
+     * @return whether successful
+     *
+     * @hide
+     */
+    @SystemApi
+    @RequiresPermission(android.Manifest.permission.ASSOCIATE_COMPANION_DEVICES)
+    public boolean associate(
+            @NonNull String packageName,
+            @NonNull MacAddress macAddress) {
+        if (!checkFeaturePresent()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        Objects.requireNonNull(packageName, "package name cannot be null");
+        Objects.requireNonNull(macAddress, "mac address cannot be null");
+
+        UserHandle user = android.os.Process.myUserHandle();
+        try {
+            return mService.createAssociation(
+                    packageName, macAddress.toString(), user.getIdentifier());
+        } catch (RemoteException e) {
             throw e.rethrowFromSystemServer();
         }
     }
diff --git a/core/java/android/companion/ICompanionDeviceManager.aidl b/core/java/android/companion/ICompanionDeviceManager.aidl
index 95d3515abb80c..83db35872f749 100644
--- a/core/java/android/companion/ICompanionDeviceManager.aidl
+++ b/core/java/android/companion/ICompanionDeviceManager.aidl
@@ -51,4 +51,6 @@ interface ICompanionDeviceManager {
     void unregisterDevicePresenceListenerService(in String packageName, in String deviceAddress);
 
     boolean canPairWithoutPrompt(in String packageName, in String deviceMacAddress, int userId);
+
+    boolean createAssociation(in String packageName, in String macAddress, int userId);
 }
diff --git a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
index 1d462bc5dd486..33f59f893b335 100644
--- a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -4227,6 +4227,11 @@
     <permission android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_OBSERVE_COMPANION_DEVICE_PRESENCE"
                 android:protectionLevel="normal" />
 
+    <!-- Allows an application to create new companion device associations.
+         @hide -->
+    <permission android:name="android.permission.ASSOCIATE_COMPANION_DEVICES"
+        android:protectionLevel="internal|role" />
+
     <!-- @SystemApi Allows an application to use SurfaceFlinger's low level features.
          <p>Not for use by third-party applications.
          @hide
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/config.xml b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
index 8df32217cc992..b6c22bb680867 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/config.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
@@ -3732,6 +3732,13 @@
      -->
     <string name="config_defaultWellbeingPackage" translatable="false"></string>
 
+    <!-- The package name for the companion provider app.
+         This package must be trusted, as it has the permissions to associate apps with devices
+         without a UI prompt.
+         Example: "com.google.android.gms"
+     -->
+    <string name="config_companionProviderPackage" translatable="false"></string>
+
     <!-- The component name for the default system attention service.
          This service must be trusted, as it can be activated without explicit consent of the user.
          See android.attention.AttentionManagerService.
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
index 01374b1870cf6..b5f476475b848 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
@@ -3536,6 +3536,7 @@
   <java-symbol type="string" name="notification_channel_do_not_disturb" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="notification_channel_accessibility_magnification" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="notification_channel_accessibility_security_policy" />
+  <java-symbol type="string" name="config_companionProviderPackage" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_defaultAutofillService" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_defaultOnDeviceSpeechRecognitionService" />
   <java-symbol type="string" name="config_defaultTextClassifierPackage" />
diff --git a/services/companion/java/com/android/server/companion/CompanionDeviceManagerService.java b/services/companion/java/com/android/server/companion/CompanionDeviceManagerService.java
index b160d78a0b64d..483f67a91c19d 100644
--- a/services/companion/java/com/android/server/companion/CompanionDeviceManagerService.java
+++ b/services/companion/java/com/android/server/companion/CompanionDeviceManagerService.java
@@ -639,6 +639,16 @@ public class CompanionDeviceManagerService extends SystemService implements Bind
             }));
         }
 
+        @Override
+        public boolean createAssociation(String packageName, String macAddress, int userId) {
+            getContext().enforceCallingOrSelfPermission(
+                    android.Manifest.permission.ASSOCIATE_COMPANION_DEVICES, "createAssociation");
+
+            addAssociation(new Association(
+                    userId, macAddress, packageName, null, false, System.currentTimeMillis()));
+            return true;
+        }
+
         private void checkCanCallNotificationApi(String callingPackage) throws RemoteException {
             checkCallerIsSystemOr(callingPackage);
             int userId = getCallingUserId();