diff --git a/src/com/android/settings/widget/HighlightablePreferenceGroupAdapter.java b/src/com/android/settings/widget/HighlightablePreferenceGroupAdapter.java
index a64ec89e332..a93a986ea2a 100644
--- a/src/com/android/settings/widget/HighlightablePreferenceGroupAdapter.java
+++ b/src/com/android/settings/widget/HighlightablePreferenceGroupAdapter.java
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@ public class HighlightablePreferenceGroupAdapter extends PreferenceGroupAdapter
                 && TextUtils.equals(mHighlightKey, getItem(position).getKey()))) {
             // This position should be highlighted. If it's highlighted before - skip animation.
             addHighlightBackground(holder, !mFadeInAnimated);
+            if (v != null) {
+                v.requestAccessibilityFocus();
+            }
         } else if (Boolean.TRUE.equals(v.getTag(R.id.preference_highlighted))) {
             // View with highlight is reused for a view that should not have highlight
             removeHighlightBackground(holder, false /* animate */);
diff --git a/tests/robotests/src/com/android/settings/widget/HighlightablePreferenceGroupAdapterTest.java b/tests/robotests/src/com/android/settings/widget/HighlightablePreferenceGroupAdapterTest.java
index 00f2e19c28b..d6d5abf4cf5 100644
--- a/tests/robotests/src/com/android/settings/widget/HighlightablePreferenceGroupAdapterTest.java
+++ b/tests/robotests/src/com/android/settings/widget/HighlightablePreferenceGroupAdapterTest.java
@@ -174,6 +174,20 @@ public class HighlightablePreferenceGroupAdapterTest {
         assertThat(mViewHolder.itemView.getTag(R.id.preference_highlighted)).isNull();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * When background is being updated, we also request the a11y focus on the preference
+     */
+    @Test
+    public void updateBackground_shouldRequestAccessibilityFocus() {
+        View viewItem = mock(View.class);
+        mViewHolder = PreferenceViewHolder.createInstanceForTests(viewItem);
+        ReflectionHelpers.setField(mAdapter, "mHighlightPosition", 10);
+
+        mAdapter.updateBackground(mViewHolder, 10);
+
+        verify(viewItem).requestAccessibilityFocus();
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void updateBackground_highlight_shouldAnimateBackgroundAndSetHighlightedTag() {
         ReflectionHelpers.setField(mAdapter, "mHighlightPosition", 10);