diff --git a/api/test-current.txt b/api/test-current.txt
index 781cc3f16b276..b516d18071553 100644
--- a/api/test-current.txt
+++ b/api/test-current.txt
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ package android.app {
     ctor public ActivityView(android.content.Context, android.util.AttributeSet);
     ctor public ActivityView(android.content.Context, android.util.AttributeSet, int);
     ctor public ActivityView(android.content.Context, android.util.AttributeSet, int, boolean);
+    ctor public ActivityView(@NonNull android.content.Context, @NonNull android.util.AttributeSet, int, boolean, boolean);
     method public int getVirtualDisplayId();
     method public void onLayout(boolean, int, int, int, int);
     method public void onLocationChanged();
diff --git a/core/java/android/app/ActivityView.java b/core/java/android/app/ActivityView.java
index ab7925c53689f..1098fa1753361 100644
--- a/core/java/android/app/ActivityView.java
+++ b/core/java/android/app/ActivityView.java
@@ -90,11 +90,23 @@ public class ActivityView extends ViewGroup implements android.window.TaskEmbedd
 
     public ActivityView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyle,
             boolean singleTaskInstance) {
+        this(context, attrs, defStyle, singleTaskInstance, false /* usePublicVirtualDisplay */);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * This constructor let's the caller explicitly request a public virtual display as the backing
+     * display. Using a public display is not recommended as it exposes it to other applications,
+     * but it might be needed for backwards compatibility.
+     */
+    public ActivityView(
+            @NonNull Context context, @NonNull AttributeSet attrs, int defStyle,
+            boolean singleTaskInstance, boolean usePublicVirtualDisplay) {
         super(context, attrs, defStyle);
         if (useTaskOrganizer()) {
             mTaskEmbedder = new TaskOrganizerTaskEmbedder(context, this);
         } else {
-            mTaskEmbedder = new VirtualDisplayTaskEmbedder(context, this, singleTaskInstance);
+            mTaskEmbedder = new VirtualDisplayTaskEmbedder(context, this, singleTaskInstance,
+                    usePublicVirtualDisplay);
         }
         mSurfaceView = new SurfaceView(context);
         // Since ActivityView#getAlpha has been overridden, we should use parent class's alpha
diff --git a/core/java/android/window/VirtualDisplayTaskEmbedder.java b/core/java/android/window/VirtualDisplayTaskEmbedder.java
index 70164692032fb..1c0598b1d2164 100644
--- a/core/java/android/window/VirtualDisplayTaskEmbedder.java
+++ b/core/java/android/window/VirtualDisplayTaskEmbedder.java
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ public class VirtualDisplayTaskEmbedder extends TaskEmbedder {
     // For Virtual Displays
     private int mDisplayDensityDpi;
     private final boolean mSingleTaskInstance;
+    private final boolean mUsePublicVirtualDisplay;
     private VirtualDisplay mVirtualDisplay;
     private Insets mForwardedInsets;
     private DisplayMetrics mTmpDisplayMetrics;
@@ -78,9 +79,10 @@ public class VirtualDisplayTaskEmbedder extends TaskEmbedder {
      *                           only applicable if virtual displays are used
      */
     public VirtualDisplayTaskEmbedder(Context context, VirtualDisplayTaskEmbedder.Host host,
-            boolean singleTaskInstance) {
+            boolean singleTaskInstance, boolean usePublicVirtualDisplay) {
         super(context, host);
         mSingleTaskInstance = singleTaskInstance;
+        mUsePublicVirtualDisplay = usePublicVirtualDisplay;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -97,11 +99,16 @@ public class VirtualDisplayTaskEmbedder extends TaskEmbedder {
     public boolean onInitialize() {
         final DisplayManager displayManager = mContext.getSystemService(DisplayManager.class);
         mDisplayDensityDpi = getBaseDisplayDensity();
+
+        int virtualDisplayFlags = VIRTUAL_DISPLAY_FLAG_OWN_CONTENT_ONLY
+                | VIRTUAL_DISPLAY_FLAG_DESTROY_CONTENT_ON_REMOVAL;
+        if (mUsePublicVirtualDisplay) {
+            virtualDisplayFlags |= VIRTUAL_DISPLAY_FLAG_PUBLIC;
+        }
+
         mVirtualDisplay = displayManager.createVirtualDisplay(
                 DISPLAY_NAME + "@" + System.identityHashCode(this), mHost.getWidth(),
-                mHost.getHeight(), mDisplayDensityDpi, null,
-                VIRTUAL_DISPLAY_FLAG_PUBLIC | VIRTUAL_DISPLAY_FLAG_OWN_CONTENT_ONLY
-                        | VIRTUAL_DISPLAY_FLAG_DESTROY_CONTENT_ON_REMOVAL);
+                mHost.getHeight(), mDisplayDensityDpi, null, virtualDisplayFlags);
 
         if (mVirtualDisplay == null) {
             Log.e(TAG, "Failed to initialize TaskEmbedder");