diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarStashController.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarStashController.java
index a82e7be8b9..3d98f6edc6 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarStashController.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarStashController.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import static android.view.HapticFeedbackConstants.LONG_PRESS;
 
 import static com.android.launcher3.anim.Interpolators.FINAL_FRAME;
 import static com.android.launcher3.anim.Interpolators.INSTANT;
+import static com.android.launcher3.config.FeatureFlags.FORCE_PERSISTENT_TASKBAR;
 import static com.android.launcher3.logging.StatsLogManager.LauncherEvent.LAUNCHER_TASKBAR_LONGPRESS_HIDE;
 import static com.android.launcher3.logging.StatsLogManager.LauncherEvent.LAUNCHER_TASKBAR_LONGPRESS_SHOW;
 import static com.android.launcher3.taskbar.Utilities.appendFlag;
@@ -241,8 +242,9 @@ public class TaskbarStashController implements TaskbarControllers.LoggableTaskba
         // it to work properly for tests that recreate taskbar. This check is here just to ensure
         // that taskbar unstashes when going to 3 button mode (supportsVisualStashing() false).
         boolean isManuallyStashedInApp = supportsVisualStashing()
-                && mPrefs.getBoolean(SHARED_PREFS_STASHED_KEY, DEFAULT_STASHED_PREF)
-                && !isTransientTaskbar;
+                && !isTransientTaskbar
+                && !FORCE_PERSISTENT_TASKBAR.get()
+                && mPrefs.getBoolean(SHARED_PREFS_STASHED_KEY, DEFAULT_STASHED_PREF);
         boolean isInSetup = !mActivity.isUserSetupComplete() || setupUIVisible;
         updateStateForFlag(FLAG_STASHED_IN_APP_MANUAL, isManuallyStashedInApp);
         updateStateForFlag(FLAG_STASHED_IN_APP_AUTO, isTransientTaskbar);
@@ -270,6 +272,9 @@ public class TaskbarStashController implements TaskbarControllers.LoggableTaskba
      * Returns whether the user can manually stash the taskbar based on the current device state.
      */
     protected boolean supportsManualStashing() {
+        if (FORCE_PERSISTENT_TASKBAR.get()) {
+            return false;
+        }
         return supportsVisualStashing()
                 && isInApp()
                 && (!Utilities.IS_RUNNING_IN_TEST_HARNESS || mEnableManualStashingDuringTests)
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/config/FeatureFlags.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/config/FeatureFlags.java
index 88654b735d..f9883e379c 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/config/FeatureFlags.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/config/FeatureFlags.java
@@ -338,6 +338,10 @@ public final class FeatureFlags {
             "ENABLE_TASKBAR_REVISED_THRESHOLDS", false,
             "Uses revised thresholds for transient taskbar.");
 
+    public static final BooleanFlag FORCE_PERSISTENT_TASKBAR = getDebugFlag(
+            "FORCE_PERSISTENT_TASKBAR", false, "Forces taskbar to be persistent, even in gesture"
+                    + " nav mode and when transient taskbar is enabled.");
+
     public static final BooleanFlag ENABLE_TRANSIENT_TASKBAR = getDebugFlag(
             "ENABLE_TRANSIENT_TASKBAR", false, "Enables transient taskbar.");
 
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/util/DisplayController.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/util/DisplayController.java
index 226f2d93c7..9ca0dd195c 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/util/DisplayController.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/util/DisplayController.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import static android.view.WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_APPLICATION;
 
 import static com.android.launcher3.Utilities.dpiFromPx;
 import static com.android.launcher3.config.FeatureFlags.ENABLE_TRANSIENT_TASKBAR;
+import static com.android.launcher3.config.FeatureFlags.FORCE_PERSISTENT_TASKBAR;
 import static com.android.launcher3.util.Executors.MAIN_EXECUTOR;
 import static com.android.launcher3.util.PackageManagerHelper.getPackageFilter;
 import static com.android.launcher3.util.window.WindowManagerProxy.MIN_TABLET_WIDTH;
@@ -130,6 +131,9 @@ public class DisplayController implements ComponentCallbacks, SafeCloseable {
      * Returns whether taskbar is transient.
      */
     public static boolean isTransientTaskbar(Context context) {
+        if (FORCE_PERSISTENT_TASKBAR.get()) {
+            return false;
+        }
         return getNavigationMode(context) == NavigationMode.NO_BUTTON
                 && (Utilities.IS_RUNNING_IN_TEST_HARNESS
                     ? sTransientTaskbarStatusForTests