diff --git a/api/system-current.txt b/api/system-current.txt
index 8345980bf46d5..a500cd11c5443 100644
--- a/api/system-current.txt
+++ b/api/system-current.txt
@@ -10283,6 +10283,7 @@ package android.content.pm {
     field public static final android.os.Parcelable.Creator<android.content.pm.PermissionInfo> CREATOR;
     field public static final int FLAG_COSTS_MONEY = 1; // 0x1
     field public static final int FLAG_INSTALLED = 1073741824; // 0x40000000
+    field public static final int FLAG_REMOVED = 2; // 0x2
     field public static final int PROTECTION_DANGEROUS = 1; // 0x1
     field public static final int PROTECTION_FLAG_APPOP = 64; // 0x40
     field public static final int PROTECTION_FLAG_DEVELOPMENT = 32; // 0x20
diff --git a/core/java/android/content/pm/PermissionInfo.java b/core/java/android/content/pm/PermissionInfo.java
index 9da2ba9ce59db..984a960b5308e 100644
--- a/core/java/android/content/pm/PermissionInfo.java
+++ b/core/java/android/content/pm/PermissionInfo.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package android.content.pm;
 
+import android.annotation.SystemApi;
 import android.os.Parcel;
 import android.os.Parcelable;
 import android.text.TextUtils;
@@ -145,11 +146,12 @@ public class PermissionInfo extends PackageItemInfo implements Parcelable {
     public static final int FLAG_COSTS_MONEY = 1<<0;
 
     /**
-     * Flag for {@link #flags}, corresponding to <code>hidden</code>
+     * Flag for {@link #flags}, corresponding to <code>removed</code>
      * value of {@link android.R.attr#permissionFlags}.
      * @hide
      */
-    public static final int FLAG_HIDDEN = 1<<1;
+    @SystemApi
+    public static final int FLAG_REMOVED = 1<<1;
 
     /**
      * Flag for {@link #flags}, indicating that this permission has been
diff --git a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
index 78cca583b79ce..30d6f29297743 100644
--- a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -889,77 +889,77 @@
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PROFILE"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_PROFILE"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.READ_SOCIAL_STREAM"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_SOCIAL_STREAM"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.READ_USER_DICTIONARY"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_USER_DICTIONARY"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_SMS"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="com.android.browser.permission.READ_HISTORY_BOOKMARKS"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="com.android.browser.permission.WRITE_HISTORY_BOOKMARKS"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.AUTHENTICATE_ACCOUNTS"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.MANAGE_ACCOUNTS"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.USE_CREDENTIALS"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.SUBSCRIBED_FEEDS_READ"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.SUBSCRIBED_FEEDS_WRITE"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- @hide We need to keep this around for backwards compatibility -->
     <permission android:name="android.permission.FLASHLIGHT"
         android:protectionLevel="normal"
-        android:permissionFlags="hidden"/>
+        android:permissionFlags="removed"/>
 
     <!-- ====================================================================== -->
     <!-- INSTALL PERMISSIONS                                                    -->
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/attrs_manifest.xml b/core/res/res/values/attrs_manifest.xml
index 4b81987f353eb..d0d1d5a0b6946 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/attrs_manifest.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/attrs_manifest.xml
@@ -248,9 +248,12 @@
              may cost the user money.  Such permissions may be highlighted
              when shown to the user with this additional information.  -->
         <flag name="costsMoney" value="0x0001" />
-        <!-- Additional flag from base permission type: this permission is hidden
-             and should not show in the UI. -->
-        <flag name="hidden" value="0x2" />
+        <!-- Additional flag from base permission type: this permission has been
+             removed and it is no longer enforced. It shouldn't be shown in the
+             UI. Removed permissions are kept as normal permissions for backwards
+             compatibility as apps may be checking them before calling an API.
+        -->
+        <flag name="removed" value="0x2" />
     </attr>
 
     <!-- Specified the name of a group that this permission is associated
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/Settings.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/Settings.java
index 690cb98a4e17e..dd13809f8a90c 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/Settings.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/Settings.java
@@ -4434,7 +4434,7 @@ final class Settings {
                 if ((perm.info.flags&PermissionInfo.FLAG_COSTS_MONEY) != 0) {
                     pw.print(", COSTS_MONEY");
                 }
-                if ((perm.info.flags&PermissionInfo.FLAG_HIDDEN) != 0) {
+                if ((perm.info.flags&PermissionInfo.FLAG_REMOVED) != 0) {
                     pw.print(", HIDDEN");
                 }
                 if ((perm.info.flags&PermissionInfo.FLAG_INSTALLED) != 0) {
@@ -4611,7 +4611,7 @@ final class Settings {
             if (p.perm != null) {
                 pw.print("    perm="); pw.println(p.perm);
                 if ((p.perm.info.flags & PermissionInfo.FLAG_INSTALLED) == 0
-                        || (p.perm.info.flags & PermissionInfo.FLAG_HIDDEN) != 0) {
+                        || (p.perm.info.flags & PermissionInfo.FLAG_REMOVED) != 0) {
                     pw.print("    flags=0x"); pw.println(Integer.toHexString(p.perm.info.flags));
                 }
             }