diff --git a/core/java/android/provider/Settings.java b/core/java/android/provider/Settings.java
index ce354610433cd..a76524a10ddbe 100644
--- a/core/java/android/provider/Settings.java
+++ b/core/java/android/provider/Settings.java
@@ -5481,6 +5481,15 @@ public final class Settings {
         @Readable
         public static final String MULTI_AUDIO_FOCUS_ENABLED = "multi_audio_focus_enabled";
 
+        /**
+         * Whether desktop mode is enabled or not.
+         * 0 = off
+         * 1 = on
+         * @hide
+         */
+        @Readable
+        public static final String DESKTOP_MODE = "desktop_mode";
+
         /**
          * IMPORTANT: If you add a new public settings you also have to add it to
          * PUBLIC_SETTINGS below. If the new setting is hidden you have to add
@@ -5610,6 +5619,7 @@ public final class Settings {
             PRIVATE_SETTINGS.add(SHOW_BATTERY_PERCENT);
             PRIVATE_SETTINGS.add(DISPLAY_COLOR_MODE);
             PRIVATE_SETTINGS.add(DISPLAY_COLOR_MODE_VENDOR_HINT);
+            PRIVATE_SETTINGS.add(DESKTOP_MODE);
         }
 
         /**
diff --git a/packages/SettingsLib/res/values/strings.xml b/packages/SettingsLib/res/values/strings.xml
index 5795fd439fe23..85f91feb9b18f 100644
--- a/packages/SettingsLib/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/packages/SettingsLib/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -962,6 +962,9 @@
     <!-- UI debug setting: enable freeform window support summary [CHAR LIMIT=150] -->
     <string name="enable_freeform_support_summary">Enable support for experimental freeform windows.</string>
 
+    <!-- UI debug setting: enable desktop mode [CHAR LIMIT=25] -->
+    <string name="desktop_mode">Desktop mode</string>
+
     <!-- Local (desktop) backup password menu title [CHAR LIMIT=25] -->
     <string name="local_backup_password_title">Desktop backup password</string>
     <!-- Summary text of the "local backup password" setting when the user has not supplied a password -->
diff --git a/packages/SettingsProvider/test/src/android/provider/SettingsBackupTest.java b/packages/SettingsProvider/test/src/android/provider/SettingsBackupTest.java
index b1ce3bf280016..2209ff596cb53 100644
--- a/packages/SettingsProvider/test/src/android/provider/SettingsBackupTest.java
+++ b/packages/SettingsProvider/test/src/android/provider/SettingsBackupTest.java
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ public class SettingsBackupTest {
                     Settings.System.VOLUME_VOICE, // deprecated since API 2?
                     Settings.System.WHEN_TO_MAKE_WIFI_CALLS, // bug?
                     Settings.System.WINDOW_ORIENTATION_LISTENER_LOG, // used for debugging only
+                    Settings.System.DESKTOP_MODE, // developer setting for internal prototyping
                     Settings.System.MIN_REFRESH_RATE, // depends on hardware capabilities
                     Settings.System.PEAK_REFRESH_RATE, // depends on hardware capabilities
                     Settings.System.SCREEN_BRIGHTNESS_FLOAT,