diff --git a/quickstep/AndroidManifest-launcher.xml b/quickstep/AndroidManifest-launcher.xml
index 7d7054f5a5..c6e2d8cb74 100644
--- a/quickstep/AndroidManifest-launcher.xml
+++ b/quickstep/AndroidManifest-launcher.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 <manifest
     xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
     package="com.android.launcher3">
-    <uses-sdk android:targetSdkVersion="33" android:minSdkVersion="26"/>
     <!--
     Manifest entries specific to Launcher3. This is merged with AndroidManifest-common.xml.
     Refer comments around specific entries on how to extend individual components.
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/proxy/StartActivityParams.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/proxy/StartActivityParams.java
index b47ef47423..4d0bee6c4e 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/proxy/StartActivityParams.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/proxy/StartActivityParams.java
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ import static android.app.PendingIntent.FLAG_MUTABLE;
 import static android.app.PendingIntent.FLAG_ONE_SHOT;
 import static android.app.PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT;
 
+import static com.android.launcher3.Utilities.allowBGLaunch;
+
 import android.app.Activity;
+import android.app.ActivityOptions;
 import android.app.PendingIntent;
 import android.app.PendingIntent.CanceledException;
 import android.content.Context;
@@ -91,9 +94,10 @@ public class StartActivityParams implements Parcelable {
     }
 
     public void deliverResult(Context context, int resultCode, Intent data) {
+        ActivityOptions options = allowBGLaunch(ActivityOptions.makeBasic());
         try {
             if (mPICallback != null) {
-                mPICallback.send(context, resultCode, data);
+                mPICallback.send(context, resultCode, data, null, null, null, options.toBundle());
             }
         } catch (CanceledException e) {
             Log.e(TAG, "Unable to send back result", e);
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarActivityContext.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarActivityContext.java
index 31af1ce463..43aceecd0b 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarActivityContext.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarActivityContext.java
@@ -579,6 +579,8 @@ public class TaskbarActivityContext extends BaseTaskbarContext {
                 Executors.MAIN_EXECUTOR.getHandler(), null,
                 elapsedRealTime -> callbacks.executeAllAndDestroy());
         options.setSplashScreenStyle(splashScreenStyle);
+        options.setPendingIntentBackgroundActivityStartMode(
+                ActivityOptions.MODE_BACKGROUND_ACTIVITY_START_ALLOWED);
         return new ActivityOptionsWrapper(options, callbacks);
     }
 
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/uioverrides/QuickstepLauncher.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/uioverrides/QuickstepLauncher.java
index a5ba8158b2..e1206bb3c8 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/uioverrides/QuickstepLauncher.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/uioverrides/QuickstepLauncher.java
@@ -1105,6 +1105,8 @@ public class QuickstepLauncher extends Launcher {
         activityOptions.options.setLaunchDisplayId(
                 (v != null && v.getDisplay() != null) ? v.getDisplay().getDisplayId()
                         : Display.DEFAULT_DISPLAY);
+        activityOptions.options.setPendingIntentBackgroundActivityStartMode(
+                ActivityOptions.MODE_BACKGROUND_ACTIVITY_START_ALLOWED);
         addLaunchCookie(item, activityOptions.options);
         return activityOptions;
     }
@@ -1117,6 +1119,8 @@ public class QuickstepLauncher extends Launcher {
                 Executors.MAIN_EXECUTOR.getHandler(), null,
                 elapsedRealTime -> callbacks.executeAllAndDestroy());
         options.setSplashScreenStyle(splashScreenStyle);
+        options.setPendingIntentBackgroundActivityStartMode(
+                ActivityOptions.MODE_BACKGROUND_ACTIVITY_START_ALLOWED);
         return new ActivityOptionsWrapper(options, callbacks);
     }
 
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsActivity.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsActivity.java
index 8a9c3c826a..7cb6eb63ab 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsActivity.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsActivity.java
@@ -275,6 +275,8 @@ public final class RecentsActivity extends StatefulActivity<RecentsState> {
         activityOptions.options.setLaunchDisplayId(
                 (v != null && v.getDisplay() != null) ? v.getDisplay().getDisplayId()
                         : Display.DEFAULT_DISPLAY);
+        activityOptions.options.setPendingIntentBackgroundActivityStartMode(
+                ActivityOptions.MODE_BACKGROUND_ACTIVITY_START_ALLOWED);
         mHandler.postDelayed(mAnimationStartTimeoutRunnable, RECENTS_ANIMATION_TIMEOUT);
         return activityOptions;
     }
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAppState.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAppState.java
index eb1c4d440c..9db8c82a03 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAppState.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAppState.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 package com.android.launcher3;
 
 import static android.app.admin.DevicePolicyManager.ACTION_DEVICE_POLICY_RESOURCE_UPDATED;
+import static android.content.Context.RECEIVER_EXPORTED;
 
 import static com.android.launcher3.LauncherPrefs.ICON_STATE;
 import static com.android.launcher3.LauncherPrefs.THEMED_ICONS;
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ import static com.android.launcher3.util.SettingsCache.NOTIFICATION_BADGING_URI;
 import android.content.ComponentName;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
+import android.content.IntentFilter;
 import android.content.SharedPreferences;
 import android.content.SharedPreferences.OnSharedPreferenceChangeListener;
 import android.content.pm.LauncherApps;
@@ -38,7 +40,6 @@ import androidx.annotation.GuardedBy;
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
 
-import com.android.launcher3.config.FeatureFlags;
 import com.android.launcher3.graphics.IconShape;
 import com.android.launcher3.icons.IconCache;
 import com.android.launcher3.icons.IconProvider;
@@ -112,8 +113,9 @@ public class LauncherAppState implements SafeCloseable {
                 new SimpleBroadcastReceiver(mModel::onBroadcastIntent);
         modelChangeReceiver.register(mContext, Intent.ACTION_LOCALE_CHANGED,
                 ACTION_DEVICE_POLICY_RESOURCE_UPDATED);
-        if (FeatureFlags.IS_STUDIO_BUILD) {
-            modelChangeReceiver.register(mContext, ACTION_FORCE_ROLOAD);
+        if (BuildConfig.IS_STUDIO_BUILD) {
+            mContext.registerReceiver(modelChangeReceiver, new IntentFilter(ACTION_FORCE_ROLOAD),
+                    RECEIVER_EXPORTED);
         }
         mOnTerminateCallback.add(() -> mContext.unregisterReceiver(modelChangeReceiver));
 
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/Utilities.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/Utilities.java
index e41d8f9cf9..4f5de0566b 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/Utilities.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/Utilities.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import static com.android.launcher3.util.SplitConfigurationOptions.STAGE_TYPE_MA
 
 import android.annotation.TargetApi;
 import android.app.ActivityManager;
+import android.app.ActivityOptions;
 import android.app.Person;
 import android.app.WallpaperManager;
 import android.content.Context;
@@ -560,6 +561,17 @@ public final class Utilities {
         handler.sendMessage(msg);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Utility method to allow background activity launch for the provided activity options
+     */
+    public static ActivityOptions allowBGLaunch(ActivityOptions options) {
+        if (ATLEAST_U) {
+            options.setPendingIntentBackgroundActivityStartMode(
+                    ActivityOptions.MODE_BACKGROUND_ACTIVITY_START_ALLOWED);
+        }
+        return options;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns the full drawable for info without any flattening or pre-processing.
      *
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/notification/NotificationInfo.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/notification/NotificationInfo.java
index bb2c37f131..f4468fdf01 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/notification/NotificationInfo.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/notification/NotificationInfo.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package com.android.launcher3.notification;
 
 import static com.android.launcher3.AbstractFloatingView.TYPE_ACTION_POPUP;
 import static com.android.launcher3.AbstractFloatingView.TYPE_TASKBAR_ALL_APPS;
+import static com.android.launcher3.Utilities.allowBGLaunch;
 import static com.android.launcher3.logging.StatsLogManager.LauncherEvent.LAUNCHER_NOTIFICATION_LAUNCH_TAP;
 
 import android.app.ActivityOptions;
@@ -26,7 +27,6 @@ import android.app.PendingIntent;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.graphics.drawable.Drawable;
 import android.graphics.drawable.Icon;
-import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.service.notification.StatusBarNotification;
 import android.view.View;
 
@@ -103,10 +103,10 @@ public class NotificationInfo implements View.OnClickListener {
             return;
         }
         final ActivityContext context = ActivityContext.lookupContext(view.getContext());
-        Bundle activityOptions = ActivityOptions.makeClipRevealAnimation(
-                view, 0, 0, view.getWidth(), view.getHeight()).toBundle();
+        ActivityOptions options = allowBGLaunch(ActivityOptions.makeClipRevealAnimation(
+                view, 0, 0, view.getWidth(), view.getHeight()));
         try {
-            intent.send(null, 0, null, null, null, null, activityOptions);
+            intent.send(null, 0, null, null, null, null, options.toBundle());
             context.getStatsLogManager().logger().withItemInfo(mItemInfo)
                     .log(LAUNCHER_NOTIFICATION_LAUNCH_TAP);
         } catch (PendingIntent.CanceledException e) {
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/pm/ShortcutConfigActivityInfo.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/pm/ShortcutConfigActivityInfo.java
index 06da8c55f8..351ebce087 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/pm/ShortcutConfigActivityInfo.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/pm/ShortcutConfigActivityInfo.java
@@ -16,8 +16,11 @@
 
 package com.android.launcher3.pm;
 
+import static com.android.launcher3.Utilities.allowBGLaunch;
+
 import android.annotation.TargetApi;
 import android.app.Activity;
+import android.app.ActivityOptions;
 import android.content.ActivityNotFoundException;
 import android.content.ComponentName;
 import android.content.Context;
@@ -138,8 +141,10 @@ public abstract class ShortcutConfigActivityInfo implements ComponentWithLabelAn
             }
             IntentSender is = activity.getSystemService(LauncherApps.class)
                     .getShortcutConfigActivityIntent(mInfo);
+            ActivityOptions options = allowBGLaunch(ActivityOptions.makeBasic());
             try {
-                activity.startIntentSenderForResult(is, requestCode, null, 0, 0, 0);
+                activity.startIntentSenderForResult(is, requestCode, null, 0, 0, 0,
+                        options.toBundle());
                 return true;
             } catch (IntentSender.SendIntentException e) {
                 Toast.makeText(activity, R.string.activity_not_found, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/popup/RemoteActionShortcut.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/popup/RemoteActionShortcut.java
index 7c9ab87ebc..eab096974f 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/popup/RemoteActionShortcut.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/popup/RemoteActionShortcut.java
@@ -16,10 +16,12 @@
 
 package com.android.launcher3.popup;
 
+import static com.android.launcher3.Utilities.allowBGLaunch;
 import static com.android.launcher3.logging.StatsLogManager.LauncherEvent.LAUNCHER_SYSTEM_SHORTCUT_PAUSE_TAP;
 import static com.android.launcher3.util.Executors.MAIN_EXECUTOR;
 
 import android.annotation.TargetApi;
+import android.app.ActivityOptions;
 import android.app.PendingIntent;
 import android.app.RemoteAction;
 import android.content.Context;
@@ -84,6 +86,8 @@ public class RemoteActionShortcut extends SystemShortcut<BaseDraggingActivity> {
         final WeakReference<BaseDraggingActivity> weakTarget = new WeakReference<>(mTarget);
         final String actionIdentity = mAction.getTitle() + ", "
                 + mItemInfo.getTargetComponent().getPackageName();
+
+        ActivityOptions options = allowBGLaunch(ActivityOptions.makeBasic());
         try {
             if (DEBUG) Log.d(TAG, "Sending action: " + actionIdentity);
             mAction.getActionIntent().send(
@@ -103,7 +107,9 @@ public class RemoteActionShortcut extends SystemShortcut<BaseDraggingActivity> {
                             }
                         }
                     },
-                    MAIN_EXECUTOR.getHandler());
+                    MAIN_EXECUTOR.getHandler(),
+                    null,
+                    options.toBundle());
         } catch (PendingIntent.CanceledException e) {
             Log.e(TAG, "Remote action canceled: " + actionIdentity, e);
             Toast.makeText(mTarget, mTarget.getString(
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/views/ActivityContext.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/views/ActivityContext.java
index 67f24aadde..d04f5e2d30 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/views/ActivityContext.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/views/ActivityContext.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package com.android.launcher3.views;
 import static android.window.SplashScreen.SPLASH_SCREEN_STYLE_SOLID_COLOR;
 
 import static com.android.launcher3.LauncherSettings.Animation.DEFAULT_NO_ICON;
+import static com.android.launcher3.Utilities.allowBGLaunch;
 import static com.android.launcher3.logging.KeyboardStateManager.KeyboardState.HIDE;
 import static com.android.launcher3.logging.StatsLogManager.LauncherEvent.LAUNCHER_ALLAPPS_KEYBOARD_CLOSED;
 import static com.android.launcher3.logging.StatsLogManager.LauncherEvent.LAUNCHER_APP_LAUNCH_PENDING_INTENT;
@@ -38,7 +39,6 @@ import android.graphics.drawable.Drawable;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.os.IBinder;
 import android.os.Process;
-import android.os.StrictMode;
 import android.os.UserHandle;
 import android.util.Log;
 import android.view.Display;
@@ -414,8 +414,7 @@ public interface ActivityContext {
             }
         }
         ActivityOptions options =
-                ActivityOptions.makeClipRevealAnimation(v, left, top, width, height);
-
+                allowBGLaunch(ActivityOptions.makeClipRevealAnimation(v, left, top, width, height));
         options.setLaunchDisplayId(
                 (v != null && v.getDisplay() != null) ? v.getDisplay().getDisplayId()
                         : Display.DEFAULT_DISPLAY);
@@ -427,7 +426,7 @@ public interface ActivityContext {
      * Creates a default activity option and we do not want association with any launcher element.
      */
     default ActivityOptionsWrapper makeDefaultActivityOptions(int splashScreenStyle) {
-        ActivityOptions options = ActivityOptions.makeBasic();
+        ActivityOptions options = allowBGLaunch(ActivityOptions.makeBasic());
         if (Utilities.ATLEAST_T) {
             options.setSplashScreenStyle(splashScreenStyle);
         }
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/widget/LauncherWidgetHolder.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/widget/LauncherWidgetHolder.java
index 2ca825cf6b..6acc83d1d1 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/widget/LauncherWidgetHolder.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/widget/LauncherWidgetHolder.java
@@ -275,9 +275,15 @@ public class LauncherWidgetHolder {
     protected Bundle getConfigurationActivityOptions(@NonNull BaseDraggingActivity activity,
             int widgetId) {
         LauncherAppWidgetHostView view = mViews.get(widgetId);
-        if (view == null) return null;
+        if (view == null) {
+            return activity.makeDefaultActivityOptions(
+                    -1 /* SPLASH_SCREEN_STYLE_UNDEFINED */).toBundle();
+        }
         Object tag = view.getTag();
-        if (!(tag instanceof ItemInfo)) return null;
+        if (!(tag instanceof ItemInfo)) {
+            return activity.makeDefaultActivityOptions(
+                    -1 /* SPLASH_SCREEN_STYLE_UNDEFINED */).toBundle();
+        }
         Bundle bundle = activity.getActivityLaunchOptions(view, (ItemInfo) tag).toBundle();
         bundle.putInt(KEY_SPLASH_SCREEN_STYLE, SPLASH_SCREEN_STYLE_EMPTY);
         return bundle;