diff --git a/core/api/current.txt b/core/api/current.txt
index e866b74980460..2d84ef146455e 100644
--- a/core/api/current.txt
+++ b/core/api/current.txt
@@ -34949,6 +34949,7 @@ package android.provider {
   }
 
   public static final class ContactsContract.Settings implements android.provider.ContactsContract.SettingsColumns {
+    method @Nullable public static android.accounts.Account getDefaultAccount(@NonNull android.content.ContentResolver);
     field public static final String ACTION_SET_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT = "android.provider.action.SET_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT";
     field public static final String CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE = "vnd.android.cursor.item/setting";
     field public static final String CONTENT_TYPE = "vnd.android.cursor.dir/setting";
diff --git a/core/api/system-current.txt b/core/api/system-current.txt
index 9e47e96c97db8..3373d4b334969 100755
--- a/core/api/system-current.txt
+++ b/core/api/system-current.txt
@@ -262,6 +262,7 @@ package android {
     field public static final String SERIAL_PORT = "android.permission.SERIAL_PORT";
     field public static final String SET_ACTIVITY_WATCHER = "android.permission.SET_ACTIVITY_WATCHER";
     field public static final String SET_CLIP_SOURCE = "android.permission.SET_CLIP_SOURCE";
+    field public static final String SET_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_FOR_CONTACTS = "android.permission.SET_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_FOR_CONTACTS";
     field public static final String SET_HARMFUL_APP_WARNINGS = "android.permission.SET_HARMFUL_APP_WARNINGS";
     field public static final String SET_MEDIA_KEY_LISTENER = "android.permission.SET_MEDIA_KEY_LISTENER";
     field public static final String SET_ORIENTATION = "android.permission.SET_ORIENTATION";
@@ -9181,6 +9182,10 @@ package android.provider {
     field @Deprecated public static final String STATE = "state";
   }
 
+  public static final class ContactsContract.Settings implements android.provider.ContactsContract.SettingsColumns {
+    method @RequiresPermission(android.Manifest.permission.SET_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_FOR_CONTACTS) public static void setDefaultAccount(@NonNull android.content.ContentResolver, @Nullable android.accounts.Account);
+  }
+
   public static final class ContactsContract.SimContacts {
     method @RequiresPermission("android.contacts.permission.MANAGE_SIM_ACCOUNTS") public static void addSimAccount(@NonNull android.content.ContentResolver, @NonNull String, @NonNull String, int, int);
     method @RequiresPermission("android.contacts.permission.MANAGE_SIM_ACCOUNTS") public static void removeSimAccounts(@NonNull android.content.ContentResolver, int);
diff --git a/core/java/android/provider/ContactsContract.java b/core/java/android/provider/ContactsContract.java
index 28df119b1734d..5e66bff449331 100644
--- a/core/java/android/provider/ContactsContract.java
+++ b/core/java/android/provider/ContactsContract.java
@@ -8692,6 +8692,56 @@ public final class ContactsContract {
         @SdkConstant(SdkConstantType.ACTIVITY_INTENT_ACTION)
         public static final String ACTION_SET_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT =
                 "android.provider.action.SET_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT";
+
+        /**
+         * The method to invoke in order to set the default account for new contacts.
+         *
+         * @hide
+         */
+        public static final String SET_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_METHOD = "setDefaultAccount";
+
+        /**
+         * The method to invoke in order to query the default account for new contacts.
+         *
+         * @hide
+         */
+        public static final String QUERY_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_METHOD = "queryDefaultAccount";
+
+        /**
+         * Key in the incoming Bundle for the default account.
+         *
+         * @hide
+         */
+        public static final String KEY_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT = "key_default_account";
+
+        /**
+         * Return the account that was set to default account for new contacts.
+         */
+        @Nullable
+        public static Account getDefaultAccount(@NonNull ContentResolver resolver) {
+            Bundle response = resolver.call(ContactsContract.AUTHORITY_URI,
+                    QUERY_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_METHOD, null, null);
+            return response.getParcelable(KEY_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT);
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * Set the account to be the default account for new contacts.
+         *
+         * @param account the account to be set to default.
+         * @hide
+         */
+        @SystemApi
+        @RequiresPermission(android.Manifest.permission.SET_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_FOR_CONTACTS)
+        public static void setDefaultAccount(@NonNull ContentResolver resolver,
+                @Nullable Account account) {
+            Bundle extras = new Bundle();
+            if (account != null) {
+                extras.putString(ACCOUNT_NAME, account.name);
+                extras.putString(ACCOUNT_TYPE, account.type);
+            }
+
+            resolver.call(ContactsContract.AUTHORITY_URI, SET_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_METHOD, null, extras);
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
index 87d83e48b72ec..4f8b317516727 100644
--- a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -753,7 +753,16 @@
         android:permissionGroup="android.permission-group.UNDEFINED"
         android:label="@string/permlab_writeContacts"
         android:description="@string/permdesc_writeContacts"
-        android:protectionLevel="dangerous" />
+      android:protectionLevel="dangerous" />
+
+    <!-- Allows an application to set default account for new contacts.
+        <p> This permission is only granted to system applications fulfilling the Contacts app role.
+        <p>Protection level: internal|role
+        @SystemApi
+        @hide
+    -->
+    <permission android:name="android.permission.SET_DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_FOR_CONTACTS"
+        android:protectionLevel="internal|role" />
 
     <!-- ====================================================================== -->
     <!-- Permissions for accessing user's calendar                              -->