diff --git a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
index 9acb08b..73c9ea8 100644
--- a/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/core/res/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -4147,6 +4147,11 @@
     <permission android:name="android.permission.BIND_SMS_APP_SERVICE"
         android:protectionLevel="signature" />
 
+    <!-- @hide Permission that allows background clipboard access.
+         <p>Not for use by third-party applications. -->
+    <permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CLIPBOARD_IN_BACKGROUND"
+        android:protectionLevel="signature" />
+
     <application android:process="system"
                  android:persistent="true"
                  android:hasCode="false"
diff --git a/packages/Shell/AndroidManifest.xml b/packages/Shell/AndroidManifest.xml
index da870bd..5c654b4 100644
--- a/packages/Shell/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/packages/Shell/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@
 
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CONTROL_KEYGUARD" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SUSPEND_APPS" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CLIPBOARD_IN_BACKGROUND" />
 
     <application android:label="@string/app_label"
                  android:defaultToDeviceProtectedStorage="true"
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/clipboard/ClipboardService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/clipboard/ClipboardService.java
index 873a8e3..a769590 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/clipboard/ClipboardService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/clipboard/ClipboardService.java
@@ -629,6 +629,11 @@
         if (mAppOps.noteOp(op, callingUid, callingPackage) != AppOpsManager.MODE_ALLOWED) {
             return false;
         }
+        // Shell can access the clipboard for testing purposes.
+        if (mPm.checkPermission(android.Manifest.permission.READ_CLIPBOARD_IN_BACKGROUND,
+                    callingPackage) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
+            return true;
+        }
         // The default IME is always allowed to access the clipboard.
         String defaultIme = Settings.Secure.getStringForUser(getContext().getContentResolver(),
                 Settings.Secure.DEFAULT_INPUT_METHOD, UserHandle.getUserId(callingUid));