diff --git a/libs/gui/ISurfaceComposer.cpp b/libs/gui/ISurfaceComposer.cpp
index 5de84ec..beda778 100644
--- a/libs/gui/ISurfaceComposer.cpp
+++ b/libs/gui/ISurfaceComposer.cpp
@@ -132,12 +132,13 @@
 
     virtual status_t captureLayers(const sp<IBinder>& layerHandleBinder,
                                    sp<GraphicBuffer>* outBuffer, const Rect& sourceCrop,
-                                   float frameScale) {
+                                   float frameScale, bool childrenOnly) {
         Parcel data, reply;
         data.writeInterfaceToken(ISurfaceComposer::getInterfaceDescriptor());
         data.writeStrongBinder(layerHandleBinder);
         data.write(sourceCrop);
         data.writeFloat(frameScale);
+        data.writeBool(childrenOnly);
         status_t err = remote()->transact(BnSurfaceComposer::CAPTURE_LAYERS, data, &reply);
 
         if (err != NO_ERROR) {
@@ -629,8 +630,10 @@
             Rect sourceCrop(Rect::EMPTY_RECT);
             data.read(sourceCrop);
             float frameScale = data.readFloat();
+            bool childrenOnly = data.readBool();
 
-            status_t res = captureLayers(layerHandleBinder, &outBuffer, sourceCrop, frameScale);
+            status_t res = captureLayers(layerHandleBinder, &outBuffer, sourceCrop, frameScale,
+                                         childrenOnly);
             reply->writeInt32(res);
             if (res == NO_ERROR) {
                 reply->write(*outBuffer);
diff --git a/libs/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.cpp b/libs/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.cpp
index 92a24ad..0d7ffc3 100644
--- a/libs/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.cpp
+++ b/libs/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.cpp
@@ -751,7 +751,17 @@
                                          float frameScale, sp<GraphicBuffer>* outBuffer) {
     sp<ISurfaceComposer> s(ComposerService::getComposerService());
     if (s == NULL) return NO_INIT;
-    status_t ret = s->captureLayers(layerHandle, outBuffer, sourceCrop, frameScale);
+    status_t ret = s->captureLayers(layerHandle, outBuffer, sourceCrop, frameScale,
+                                    false /* childrenOnly */);
+    return ret;
+}
+
+status_t ScreenshotClient::captureChildLayers(const sp<IBinder>& layerHandle, Rect sourceCrop,
+                                              float frameScale, sp<GraphicBuffer>* outBuffer) {
+    sp<ISurfaceComposer> s(ComposerService::getComposerService());
+    if (s == NULL) return NO_INIT;
+    status_t ret = s->captureLayers(layerHandle, outBuffer, sourceCrop, frameScale,
+                                    true /* childrenOnly */);
     return ret;
 }
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/libs/gui/include/gui/ISurfaceComposer.h b/libs/gui/include/gui/ISurfaceComposer.h
index e26e332..5ab6445 100644
--- a/libs/gui/include/gui/ISurfaceComposer.h
+++ b/libs/gui/include/gui/ISurfaceComposer.h
@@ -173,9 +173,12 @@
                                    int32_t minLayerZ, int32_t maxLayerZ, bool useIdentityTransform,
                                    Rotation rotation = eRotateNone) = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * Capture a subtree of the layer hierarchy, potentially ignoring the root node.
+     */
     virtual status_t captureLayers(const sp<IBinder>& layerHandleBinder,
                                    sp<GraphicBuffer>* outBuffer, const Rect& sourceCrop,
-                                   float frameScale = 1.0) = 0;
+                                   float frameScale = 1.0, bool childrenOnly = false) = 0;
 
     /* Clears the frame statistics for animations.
      *
diff --git a/libs/gui/include/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.h b/libs/gui/include/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.h
index 3fe6635..fe46146 100644
--- a/libs/gui/include/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.h
+++ b/libs/gui/include/gui/SurfaceComposerClient.h
@@ -297,8 +297,10 @@
                             uint32_t reqHeight, int32_t minLayerZ, int32_t maxLayerZ,
                             bool useIdentityTransform, uint32_t rotation,
                             sp<GraphicBuffer>* outBuffer);
-    static status_t captureLayers(const sp<IBinder>& layerHandle, Rect sourceCrop, float fameScale,
+    static status_t captureLayers(const sp<IBinder>& layerHandle, Rect sourceCrop, float frameScale,
                                   sp<GraphicBuffer>* outBuffer);
+    static status_t captureChildLayers(const sp<IBinder>& layerHandle, Rect sourceCrop,
+                                       float frameScale, sp<GraphicBuffer>* outBuffer);
 };
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/libs/gui/tests/Surface_test.cpp b/libs/gui/tests/Surface_test.cpp
index 8060b6e..4fb51e1 100644
--- a/libs/gui/tests/Surface_test.cpp
+++ b/libs/gui/tests/Surface_test.cpp
@@ -593,8 +593,8 @@
             bool /*useIdentityTransform*/,
             Rotation /*rotation*/) override { return NO_ERROR; }
     virtual status_t captureLayers(const sp<IBinder>& /*parentHandle*/,
-                                   sp<GraphicBuffer>* /*outBuffer*/,
-                                   const Rect& /*sourceCrop*/, float /*frameScale*/) override {
+                                   sp<GraphicBuffer>* /*outBuffer*/, const Rect& /*sourceCrop*/,
+                                   float /*frameScale*/, bool /*childrenOnly*/) override {
         return NO_ERROR;
     }
     status_t clearAnimationFrameStats() override { return NO_ERROR; }
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/ContainerLayer.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/ContainerLayer.cpp
index 2f89cc1..f259d93 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/ContainerLayer.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/ContainerLayer.cpp
@@ -16,24 +16,24 @@
 
 // #define LOG_NDEBUG 0
 #undef LOG_TAG
-#define LOG_TAG "AbstractLayer"
+#define LOG_TAG "ContainerLayer"
 
-#include "AbstractLayer.h"
+#include "ContainerLayer.h"
 
 namespace android {
 
-AbstractLayer::AbstractLayer(SurfaceFlinger* flinger, const sp<Client>& client, const String8& name,
-                             uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint32_t flags)
+ContainerLayer::ContainerLayer(SurfaceFlinger* flinger, const sp<Client>& client,
+                               const String8& name, uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint32_t flags)
       : Layer(flinger, client, name, w, h, flags) {
     mDrawingState = mCurrentState;
 }
 
-void AbstractLayer::onDraw(const RenderArea&, const Region& /* clip */, bool) const {}
+void ContainerLayer::onDraw(const RenderArea&, const Region& /* clip */, bool) const {}
 
-bool AbstractLayer::isVisible() const {
+bool ContainerLayer::isVisible() const {
     return !isHiddenByPolicy();
 }
 
-void AbstractLayer::setPerFrameData(const sp<const DisplayDevice>&) {}
+void ContainerLayer::setPerFrameData(const sp<const DisplayDevice>&) {}
 
 } // namespace android
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/ContainerLayer.h b/services/surfaceflinger/ContainerLayer.h
index 808ae33..543f60a 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/ContainerLayer.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/ContainerLayer.h
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@
 
 namespace android {
 
-class AbstractLayer : public Layer {
+class ContainerLayer : public Layer {
 public:
-    AbstractLayer(SurfaceFlinger* flinger, const sp<Client>& client, const String8& name,
-                  uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint32_t flags);
-    virtual ~AbstractLayer() = default;
+    ContainerLayer(SurfaceFlinger* flinger, const sp<Client>& client, const String8& name,
+                   uint32_t w, uint32_t h, uint32_t flags);
+    virtual ~ContainerLayer() = default;
 
-    const char* getTypeId() const override { return "AbstractLayer"; }
+    const char* getTypeId() const override { return "ContainerLayer"; }
     void onDraw(const RenderArea& renderArea, const Region& clip,
                 bool useIdentityTransform) const override;
     bool isVisible() const override;
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp
index 78dd40b..44e60ed 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.cpp
@@ -1594,6 +1594,12 @@
     return true;
 }
 
+void Layer::reparentChildrenForDrawing(const sp<Layer>& newParent) {
+    for (const sp<Layer>& child : mDrawingChildren) {
+        child->mDrawingParent = newParent;
+    }
+}
+
 bool Layer::reparent(const sp<IBinder>& newParentHandle) {
     if (newParentHandle == nullptr) {
         return false;
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.h b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.h
index ab004f2..996d686 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/Layer.h
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@
     bool setOverrideScalingMode(int32_t overrideScalingMode);
     void setInfo(uint32_t type, uint32_t appId);
     bool reparentChildren(const sp<IBinder>& layer);
-    bool reparentChildrenForDrawing(const sp<Layer>& layer);
+    void reparentChildrenForDrawing(const sp<Layer>& layer);
     bool reparent(const sp<IBinder>& newParentHandle);
     bool detachChildren();
 
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/RenderArea.h b/services/surfaceflinger/RenderArea.h
index fa4df83..940a34c 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/RenderArea.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/RenderArea.h
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 #include "Transform.h"
 
+#include <functional>
+
 namespace android {
 
 class RenderArea {
@@ -22,6 +24,8 @@
     virtual bool needsFiltering() const = 0;
     virtual Rect getSourceCrop() const = 0;
 
+    virtual void render(std::function<void()> drawLayers) { drawLayers(); }
+
     int getReqHeight() const { return mReqHeight; };
     int getReqWidth() const { return mReqWidth; };
     Transform::orientation_flags getRotationFlags() const { return mRotationFlags; };
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
index cb410a1..38b93b1 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
@@ -61,20 +61,21 @@
 #include <private/android_filesystem_config.h>
 #include <private/gui/SyncFeatures.h>
 
+#include "BufferLayer.h"
 #include "Client.h"
-#include "clz.h"
+#include "ColorLayer.h"
 #include "Colorizer.h"
+#include "ContainerLayer.h"
 #include "DdmConnection.h"
-#include "DisplayDevice.h"
 #include "DispSync.h"
+#include "DisplayDevice.h"
 #include "EventControlThread.h"
 #include "EventThread.h"
 #include "Layer.h"
-#include "BufferLayer.h"
 #include "LayerVector.h"
-#include "ColorLayer.h"
 #include "MonitoredProducer.h"
 #include "SurfaceFlinger.h"
+#include "clz.h"
 
 #include "DisplayHardware/ComposerHal.h"
 #include "DisplayHardware/FramebufferSurface.h"
@@ -4418,19 +4419,18 @@
 
 status_t SurfaceFlinger::captureLayers(const sp<IBinder>& layerHandleBinder,
                                        sp<GraphicBuffer>* outBuffer, const Rect& sourceCrop,
-                                       float frameScale) {
+                                       float frameScale, bool childrenOnly) {
     ATRACE_CALL();
 
     class LayerRenderArea : public RenderArea {
     public:
-        LayerRenderArea(const sp<Layer>& layer, const Rect crop, int32_t reqWidth,
-                        int32_t reqHeight)
-              : RenderArea(reqHeight, reqWidth), mLayer(layer), mCrop(crop) {}
-        const Transform& getTransform() const override {
-            // Make the top level transform the inverse the transform and it's parent so it sets
-            // the whole capture back to 0,0
-            return *new Transform(mLayer->getTransform().inverse());
-        }
+        LayerRenderArea(SurfaceFlinger* flinger, const sp<Layer>& layer, const Rect crop,
+                        int32_t reqWidth, int32_t reqHeight, bool childrenOnly)
+              : RenderArea(reqHeight, reqWidth),
+                mLayer(layer),
+                mCrop(crop),
+                mFlinger(flinger),
+                mChildrenOnly(childrenOnly) {}
         Rect getBounds() const override {
             const Layer::State& layerState(mLayer->getDrawingState());
             return Rect(layerState.active.w, layerState.active.h);
@@ -4439,6 +4439,34 @@
         int getWidth() const override { return mLayer->getDrawingState().active.w; }
         bool isSecure() const override { return false; }
         bool needsFiltering() const override { return false; }
+        const Transform& getTransform() const { return mTransform; }
+
+        class ReparentForDrawing {
+        public:
+            const sp<Layer>& oldParent;
+            const sp<Layer>& newParent;
+
+            ReparentForDrawing(const sp<Layer>& oldParent, const sp<Layer>& newParent)
+                  : oldParent(oldParent), newParent(newParent) {
+                oldParent->reparentChildrenForDrawing(newParent);
+            }
+            ~ReparentForDrawing() { newParent->reparentChildrenForDrawing(oldParent); }
+        };
+
+        void render(std::function<void()> drawLayers) override {
+            if (!mChildrenOnly) {
+                mTransform = mLayer->getTransform().inverse();
+                drawLayers();
+            } else {
+                Rect bounds = getBounds();
+                screenshotParentLayer =
+                        new ContainerLayer(mFlinger, nullptr, String8("Screenshot Parent"),
+                                           bounds.getWidth(), bounds.getHeight(), 0);
+
+                ReparentForDrawing reparent(mLayer, screenshotParentLayer);
+                drawLayers();
+            }
+        }
 
         Rect getSourceCrop() const override {
             if (mCrop.isEmpty()) {
@@ -4453,6 +4481,14 @@
     private:
         const sp<Layer> mLayer;
         const Rect mCrop;
+
+        // In the "childrenOnly" case we reparent the children to a screenshot
+        // layer which has no properties set and which does not draw.
+        sp<ContainerLayer> screenshotParentLayer;
+        Transform mTransform;
+
+        SurfaceFlinger* mFlinger;
+        const bool mChildrenOnly;
     };
 
     auto layerHandle = reinterpret_cast<Layer::Handle*>(layerHandleBinder.get());
@@ -4463,6 +4499,13 @@
         return NAME_NOT_FOUND;
     }
 
+    const int uid = IPCThreadState::self()->getCallingUid();
+    const bool forSystem = uid == AID_GRAPHICS || uid == AID_SYSTEM;
+    if (!forSystem && parent->getCurrentState().flags & layer_state_t::eLayerSecure) {
+        ALOGW("Attempting to capture secure layer: PERMISSION_DENIED");
+        return PERMISSION_DENIED;
+    }
+
     Rect crop(sourceCrop);
     if (sourceCrop.width() <= 0) {
         crop.left = 0;
@@ -4477,12 +4520,14 @@
     int32_t reqWidth = crop.width() * frameScale;
     int32_t reqHeight = crop.height() * frameScale;
 
-    LayerRenderArea renderArea(parent, crop, reqWidth, reqHeight);
+    LayerRenderArea renderArea(this, parent, crop, reqWidth, reqHeight, childrenOnly);
 
-    auto traverseLayers = [parent](const LayerVector::Visitor& visitor) {
+    auto traverseLayers = [parent, childrenOnly](const LayerVector::Visitor& visitor) {
         parent->traverseChildrenInZOrder(LayerVector::StateSet::Drawing, [&](Layer* layer) {
             if (!layer->isVisible()) {
                 return;
+            } else if (childrenOnly && layer == parent.get()) {
+                return;
             }
             visitor(layer);
         });
@@ -4529,8 +4574,10 @@
         int fd = -1;
         {
             Mutex::Autolock _l(mStateLock);
-            result = captureScreenImplLocked(renderArea, traverseLayers, (*outBuffer).get(),
-                                             useIdentityTransform, forSystem, &fd);
+            renderArea.render([&]() {
+                result = captureScreenImplLocked(renderArea, traverseLayers, (*outBuffer).get(),
+                                                 useIdentityTransform, forSystem, &fd);
+            });
         }
 
         {
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.h b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.h
index 392acaa..33786e8 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.h
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@
                                    int32_t minLayerZ, int32_t maxLayerZ, bool useIdentityTransform,
                                    ISurfaceComposer::Rotation rotation);
     virtual status_t captureLayers(const sp<IBinder>& parentHandle, sp<GraphicBuffer>* outBuffer,
-                                   const Rect& sourceCrop, float frameScale);
+                                   const Rect& sourceCrop, float frameScale, bool childrenOnly);
     virtual status_t getDisplayStats(const sp<IBinder>& display,
             DisplayStatInfo* stats);
     virtual status_t getDisplayConfigs(const sp<IBinder>& display,
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/tests/Transaction_test.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/tests/Transaction_test.cpp
index 92c26af..fd21991 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/tests/Transaction_test.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/tests/Transaction_test.cpp
@@ -192,6 +192,16 @@
         *sc = std::make_unique<ScreenCapture>(outBuffer);
     }
 
+    static void captureChildLayers(std::unique_ptr<ScreenCapture>* sc, sp<IBinder>& parentHandle,
+                                   Rect crop = Rect::EMPTY_RECT, float frameScale = 1.0) {
+        sp<ISurfaceComposer> sf(ComposerService::getComposerService());
+        SurfaceComposerClient::Transaction().apply(true);
+
+        sp<GraphicBuffer> outBuffer;
+        ASSERT_EQ(NO_ERROR, sf->captureLayers(parentHandle, &outBuffer, crop, frameScale, true));
+        *sc = std::make_unique<ScreenCapture>(outBuffer);
+    }
+
     void expectColor(const Rect& rect, const Color& color, uint8_t tolerance = 0) {
         ASSERT_EQ(HAL_PIXEL_FORMAT_RGBA_8888, mOutBuffer->getPixelFormat());
         expectBufferColor(mOutBuffer, mPixels, rect, color, tolerance);
@@ -2306,6 +2316,74 @@
     mCapture->expectChildColor(0, 0);
 }
 
+TEST_F(ScreenCaptureTest, CaptureLayerChildOnly) {
+    auto fgHandle = mFGSurfaceControl->getHandle();
+
+    sp<SurfaceControl> child =
+            mComposerClient->createSurface(String8("Child surface"), 10, 10, PIXEL_FORMAT_RGBA_8888,
+                                           0, mFGSurfaceControl.get());
+    fillSurfaceRGBA8(child, 200, 200, 200);
+
+    SurfaceComposerClient::Transaction().show(child).apply(true);
+
+    // Captures mFGSurfaceControl's child
+    ScreenCapture::captureChildLayers(&mCapture, fgHandle);
+    mCapture->checkPixel(10, 10, 0, 0, 0);
+    mCapture->expectChildColor(0, 0);
+}
+
+
+// In the following tests we verify successful skipping of a parent layer,
+// so we use the same verification logic and only change how we mutate
+// the parent layer to verify that various properties are ignored.
+class ScreenCaptureChildOnlyTest : public LayerUpdateTest {
+public:
+    void SetUp() override {
+        LayerUpdateTest::SetUp();
+
+        mChild =
+            mComposerClient->createSurface(String8("Child surface"), 10, 10, PIXEL_FORMAT_RGBA_8888,
+                    0, mFGSurfaceControl.get());
+        fillSurfaceRGBA8(mChild, 200, 200, 200);
+
+        SurfaceComposerClient::Transaction().show(mChild).apply(true);
+    }
+
+    void verify() {
+        auto fgHandle = mFGSurfaceControl->getHandle();
+        ScreenCapture::captureChildLayers(&mCapture, fgHandle);
+        mCapture->checkPixel(10, 10, 0, 0, 0);
+        mCapture->expectChildColor(0, 0);
+    }
+
+    std::unique_ptr<ScreenCapture> mCapture;
+    sp<SurfaceControl> mChild;
+};
+
+TEST_F(ScreenCaptureChildOnlyTest, CaptureLayerIgnoresParentVisibility) {
+
+    SurfaceComposerClient::Transaction().hide(mFGSurfaceControl).apply(true);
+
+    // Even though the parent is hidden we should still capture the child.
+    verify();
+}
+
+TEST_F(ScreenCaptureChildOnlyTest, CaptureLayerIgnoresParentCrop) {
+
+    SurfaceComposerClient::Transaction().setCrop(mFGSurfaceControl, Rect(0, 0, 1, 1)).apply(true);
+
+    // Even though the parent is cropped out we should still capture the child.
+    verify();
+}
+
+TEST_F(ScreenCaptureChildOnlyTest, CaptureLayerIgnoresTransform) {
+
+    SurfaceComposerClient::Transaction().setMatrix(mFGSurfaceControl, 2, 0, 0, 2);
+
+    // We should not inherit the parent scaling.
+    verify();
+}
+
 TEST_F(ScreenCaptureTest, CaptureLayerWithGrandchild) {
     auto fgHandle = mFGSurfaceControl->getHandle();