diff --git a/core/api/system-current.txt b/core/api/system-current.txt
index dd951b4e71d36..d8cb961c1b378 100644
--- a/core/api/system-current.txt
+++ b/core/api/system-current.txt
@@ -1309,6 +1309,14 @@ package android.app.backup {
 
 }
 
+package android.app.communal {
+
+  public final class CommunalManager {
+    method @RequiresPermission("android.permission.READ_COMMUNAL_STATE") public boolean isCommunalMode();
+  }
+
+}
+
 package android.app.compat {
 
   public final class CompatChanges {
diff --git a/core/java/android/app/communal/CommunalManager.java b/core/java/android/app/communal/CommunalManager.java
index 60730adb43075..c2d2f271a8fbe 100644
--- a/core/java/android/app/communal/CommunalManager.java
+++ b/core/java/android/app/communal/CommunalManager.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package android.app.communal;
 import android.Manifest;
 import android.annotation.RequiresFeature;
 import android.annotation.RequiresPermission;
+import android.annotation.SystemApi;
 import android.annotation.SystemService;
 import android.compat.annotation.ChangeId;
 import android.compat.annotation.Disabled;
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ import android.os.RemoteException;
  *
  * @hide
  */
+@SystemApi(client = SystemApi.Client.PRIVILEGED_APPS)
 @SystemService(Context.COMMUNAL_MANAGER_SERVICE)
 @RequiresFeature(PackageManager.FEATURE_COMMUNAL_MODE)
 public final class CommunalManager {
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ public final class CommunalManager {
     @Disabled
     public static final long ALLOW_COMMUNAL_MODE_WITH_USER_CONSENT = 200324021L;
 
+    /** @hide */
     public CommunalManager(ICommunalManager service) {
         mService = service;
     }
@@ -67,6 +70,8 @@ public final class CommunalManager {
      * Updates whether or not the communal view is currently showing over the lockscreen.
      *
      * @param isShowing Whether communal view is showing.
+     *
+     * @hide
      */
     @RequiresPermission(Manifest.permission.WRITE_COMMUNAL_STATE)
     public void setCommunalViewShowing(boolean isShowing) {
@@ -76,4 +81,16 @@ public final class CommunalManager {
             throw e.rethrowFromSystemServer();
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Check whether or not the communal view is currently showing over the lockscreen.
+     */
+    @RequiresPermission(Manifest.permission.READ_COMMUNAL_STATE)
+    public boolean isCommunalMode() {
+        try {
+            return mService.isCommunalMode();
+        } catch (RemoteException e) {
+            throw e.rethrowFromSystemServer();
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/core/java/android/app/communal/ICommunalManager.aidl b/core/java/android/app/communal/ICommunalManager.aidl
index 02e8a65707102..123b23c4b5536 100644
--- a/core/java/android/app/communal/ICommunalManager.aidl
+++ b/core/java/android/app/communal/ICommunalManager.aidl
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ package android.app.communal;
  *
  * @hide
  */
-oneway interface ICommunalManager {
-    void setCommunalViewShowing(boolean isShowing);
+interface ICommunalManager {
+    oneway void setCommunalViewShowing(boolean isShowing);
+    boolean isCommunalMode();
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
index 6e2c807105168..07cff73a841a1 100644
--- a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -5535,6 +5535,12 @@
     <permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_COMMUNAL_STATE"
                 android:protectionLevel="signature" />
 
+    <!-- Allows an application to view information from the currently active
+     {@link com.android.server.communal.CommunalManagerService}.
+     @hide -->
+    <permission android:name="android.permission.READ_COMMUNAL_STATE"
+                android:protectionLevel="signature|privileged"/>
+
     <!-- Allows the holder to manage whether the system can bind to services
          provided by instant apps. This permission is intended to protect
          test/development fucntionality and should be used only in such cases.
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/communal/CommunalManagerService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/communal/CommunalManagerService.java
index 8d9b13e21d770..01c0ac02988c1 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/communal/CommunalManagerService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/communal/CommunalManagerService.java
@@ -254,6 +254,18 @@ public final class CommunalManagerService extends SystemService {
                             + "permission required to modify communal state.");
             mCommunalViewIsShowing.set(isShowing);
         }
+
+        /**
+         * Checks whether or not we are in communal mode.
+         */
+        @RequiresPermission(Manifest.permission.READ_COMMUNAL_STATE)
+        @Override
+        public boolean isCommunalMode() {
+            mContext.enforceCallingPermission(Manifest.permission.READ_COMMUNAL_STATE,
+                    Manifest.permission.READ_COMMUNAL_STATE
+                            + "permission required to read communal state.");
+            return mCommunalViewIsShowing.get();
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/services/tests/mockingservicestests/src/com/android/server/communal/CommunalManagerServiceTest.java b/services/tests/mockingservicestests/src/com/android/server/communal/CommunalManagerServiceTest.java
index 17d7c51decc05..d6db1b2f2766f 100644
--- a/services/tests/mockingservicestests/src/com/android/server/communal/CommunalManagerServiceTest.java
+++ b/services/tests/mockingservicestests/src/com/android/server/communal/CommunalManagerServiceTest.java
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@ public class CommunalManagerServiceTest {
 
         doNothing().when(mContextSpy).enforceCallingPermission(
                 eq(Manifest.permission.WRITE_COMMUNAL_STATE), anyString());
+        doNothing().when(mContextSpy).enforceCallingPermission(
+                eq(Manifest.permission.READ_COMMUNAL_STATE), anyString());
 
         mService = new CommunalManagerService(mContextSpy);
         mService.onBootPhase(SystemService.PHASE_THIRD_PARTY_APPS_CAN_START);
@@ -202,6 +204,18 @@ public class CommunalManagerServiceTest {
         return new Intent(action, Uri.parse("package:" + packageName));
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void testIsCommunalMode_isTrue() throws RemoteException {
+        mBinder.setCommunalViewShowing(true);
+        assertThat(mBinder.isCommunalMode()).isTrue();
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testIsCommunalMode_isFalse() throws RemoteException {
+        mBinder.setCommunalViewShowing(false);
+        assertThat(mBinder.isCommunalMode()).isFalse();
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void testIntercept_unlocked_communalOff_appNotEnabled_showWhenLockedOff() {
         when(mKeyguardManager.isKeyguardLocked()).thenReturn(false);