diff --git a/api/current.txt b/api/current.txt
index 2fc985168e119..0c3eb02437da5 100644
--- a/api/current.txt
+++ b/api/current.txt
@@ -22569,6 +22569,7 @@ package android.text.bidi {
     method public java.lang.String dirAttrValue(java.lang.String, android.text.TextDirectionHeuristic);
     method public java.lang.String dirAttrValue(boolean);
     method public java.lang.String endEdge();
+    method public static android.text.bidi.BidiFormatter getInstance();
     method public static android.text.bidi.BidiFormatter getInstance(boolean);
     method public static android.text.bidi.BidiFormatter getInstance(java.util.Locale);
     method public boolean getStereoReset();
diff --git a/core/java/android/text/bidi/BidiFormatter.java b/core/java/android/text/bidi/BidiFormatter.java
index c5a77a6f90e68..7a08213c52800 100644
--- a/core/java/android/text/bidi/BidiFormatter.java
+++ b/core/java/android/text/bidi/BidiFormatter.java
@@ -272,6 +272,14 @@ public final class BidiFormatter {
     private final int mFlags;
     private final TextDirectionHeuristic mDefaultTextDirectionHeuristic;
 
+    /**
+     * Factory for creating an instance of BidiFormatter for the default locale directionality.
+     *
+     */
+    public static BidiFormatter getInstance() {
+        return new Builder().build();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Factory for creating an instance of BidiFormatter given the context directionality.
      *