diff --git a/apex/apex_test.go b/apex/apex_test.go
index a2c8896..965b4be 100644
--- a/apex/apex_test.go
+++ b/apex/apex_test.go
@@ -5922,6 +5922,7 @@
 			srcs: ["foo/bar/MyClass.java"],
 			sdk_version: "current",
 			system_modules: "none",
+			use_embedded_native_libs: true,
 			jni_libs: ["libjni"],
 			stl: "none",
 			apex_available: [ "myapex" ],
diff --git a/java/androidmk.go b/java/androidmk.go
index 4f740b2..a1bc904 100644
--- a/java/androidmk.go
+++ b/java/androidmk.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"strings"
 
 	"android/soong/android"
 
@@ -414,22 +413,11 @@
 					jniSymbols := app.JNISymbolsInstalls(app.installPathForJNISymbols.String())
 					entries.SetString("LOCAL_SOONG_JNI_LIBS_SYMBOLS", jniSymbols.String())
 				} else {
+					var names []string
 					for _, jniLib := range app.jniLibs {
-						entries.AddStrings("LOCAL_SOONG_JNI_LIBS_"+jniLib.target.Arch.ArchType.String(), jniLib.name)
-						var partitionTag string
-
-						// Mimic the creation of partition_tag in build/make,
-						// which defaults to an empty string when the partition is system.
-						// Otherwise, capitalize with a leading _
-						if jniLib.partition == "system" {
-							partitionTag = ""
-						} else {
-							split := strings.Split(jniLib.partition, "/")
-							partitionTag = "_" + strings.ToUpper(split[len(split)-1])
-						}
-						entries.AddStrings("LOCAL_SOONG_JNI_LIBS_PARTITION_"+jniLib.target.Arch.ArchType.String(),
-							jniLib.name+":"+partitionTag)
+						names = append(names, jniLib.name)
 					}
+					entries.AddStrings("LOCAL_REQUIRED_MODULES", names...)
 				}
 
 				if len(app.jniCoverageOutputs) > 0 {
diff --git a/java/androidmk_test.go b/java/androidmk_test.go
index 2978a40..243a279 100644
--- a/java/androidmk_test.go
+++ b/java/androidmk_test.go
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@
 
 	"android/soong/android"
 	"android/soong/cc"
-
-	"github.com/google/blueprint/proptools"
 )
 
 func TestRequired(t *testing.T) {
@@ -256,148 +254,50 @@
 	}
 }
 
-func TestJniPartition(t *testing.T) {
-	bp := `
-		cc_library {
-			name: "libjni_system",
-			system_shared_libs: [],
-			sdk_version: "current",
-			stl: "none",
-		}
-
-		cc_library {
-			name: "libjni_system_ext",
-			system_shared_libs: [],
-			sdk_version: "current",
-			stl: "none",
-			system_ext_specific: true,
-		}
-
-		cc_library {
-			name: "libjni_odm",
-			system_shared_libs: [],
-			sdk_version: "current",
-			stl: "none",
-			device_specific: true,
-		}
-
-		cc_library {
-			name: "libjni_product",
-			system_shared_libs: [],
-			sdk_version: "current",
-			stl: "none",
-			product_specific: true,
-		}
-
-		cc_library {
-			name: "libjni_vendor",
-			system_shared_libs: [],
-			sdk_version: "current",
-			stl: "none",
-			soc_specific: true,
-		}
-
-		android_app {
-			name: "test_app_system_jni_system",
-			privileged: true,
-			platform_apis: true,
-			certificate: "platform",
-			jni_libs: ["libjni_system"],
-		}
-
-		android_app {
-			name: "test_app_system_jni_system_ext",
-			privileged: true,
-			platform_apis: true,
-			certificate: "platform",
-			jni_libs: ["libjni_system_ext"],
-		}
-
-		android_app {
-			name: "test_app_system_ext_jni_system",
-			privileged: true,
-			platform_apis: true,
-			certificate: "platform",
-			jni_libs: ["libjni_system"],
-			system_ext_specific: true
-		}
-
-		android_app {
-			name: "test_app_system_ext_jni_system_ext",
-			sdk_version: "core_platform",
-			jni_libs: ["libjni_system_ext"],
-			system_ext_specific: true
-		}
-
-		android_app {
-			name: "test_app_product_jni_product",
-			sdk_version: "core_platform",
-			jni_libs: ["libjni_product"],
-			product_specific: true
-		}
-
-		android_app {
-			name: "test_app_vendor_jni_odm",
-			sdk_version: "core_platform",
-			jni_libs: ["libjni_odm"],
-			soc_specific: true
-		}
-
-		android_app {
-			name: "test_app_odm_jni_vendor",
-			sdk_version: "core_platform",
-			jni_libs: ["libjni_vendor"],
-			device_specific: true
-		}
-		android_app {
-			name: "test_app_system_jni_multiple",
-			privileged: true,
-			platform_apis: true,
-			certificate: "platform",
-			jni_libs: ["libjni_system", "libjni_system_ext"],
-		}
-		android_app {
-			name: "test_app_vendor_jni_multiple",
-			sdk_version: "core_platform",
-			jni_libs: ["libjni_odm", "libjni_vendor"],
-			soc_specific: true
-		}
-		`
-	arch := "arm64"
+func TestJniAsRequiredDeps(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := android.GroupFixturePreparers(
 		PrepareForTestWithJavaDefaultModules,
 		cc.PrepareForTestWithCcDefaultModules,
 		android.PrepareForTestWithAndroidMk,
-		android.FixtureModifyConfig(func(config android.Config) {
-			config.TestProductVariables.DeviceArch = proptools.StringPtr(arch)
-		}),
-	).
-		RunTestWithBp(t, bp)
-	testCases := []struct {
-		name           string
-		partitionNames []string
-		partitionTags  []string
+	).RunTestWithBp(t, `
+		android_app {
+			name: "app",
+			jni_libs: ["libjni"],
+			platform_apis: true,
+		}
+
+		android_app {
+			name: "app_embedded",
+			jni_libs: ["libjni"],
+			platform_apis: true,
+			use_embedded_native_libs: true,
+		}
+
+		cc_library {
+			name: "libjni",
+			system_shared_libs: [],
+			stl: "none",
+		}
+		`)
+
+	testcases := []struct {
+		name     string
+		expected []string
 	}{
-		{"test_app_system_jni_system", []string{"libjni_system"}, []string{""}},
-		{"test_app_system_jni_system_ext", []string{"libjni_system_ext"}, []string{"_SYSTEM_EXT"}},
-		{"test_app_system_ext_jni_system", []string{"libjni_system"}, []string{""}},
-		{"test_app_system_ext_jni_system_ext", []string{"libjni_system_ext"}, []string{"_SYSTEM_EXT"}},
-		{"test_app_product_jni_product", []string{"libjni_product"}, []string{"_PRODUCT"}},
-		{"test_app_vendor_jni_odm", []string{"libjni_odm"}, []string{"_ODM"}},
-		{"test_app_odm_jni_vendor", []string{"libjni_vendor"}, []string{"_VENDOR"}},
-		{"test_app_system_jni_multiple", []string{"libjni_system", "libjni_system_ext"}, []string{"", "_SYSTEM_EXT"}},
-		{"test_app_vendor_jni_multiple", []string{"libjni_odm", "libjni_vendor"}, []string{"_ODM", "_VENDOR"}},
+		{
+			name:     "app",
+			expected: []string{"libjni"},
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "app_embedded",
+			expected: nil,
+		},
 	}
 
-	for _, test := range testCases {
-		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			mod := ctx.ModuleForTests(test.name, "android_common").Module()
-			entry := android.AndroidMkEntriesForTest(t, ctx.TestContext, mod)[0]
-			for i := range test.partitionNames {
-				actual := entry.EntryMap["LOCAL_SOONG_JNI_LIBS_PARTITION_"+arch][i]
-				expected := test.partitionNames[i] + ":" + test.partitionTags[i]
-				android.AssertStringEquals(t, "Expected and actual differ", expected, actual)
-			}
-		})
+	for _, tc := range testcases {
+		mod := ctx.ModuleForTests(tc.name, "android_common").Module()
+		entries := android.AndroidMkEntriesForTest(t, ctx.TestContext, mod)[0]
+		required := entries.EntryMap["LOCAL_REQUIRED_MODULES"]
+		android.AssertDeepEquals(t, "unexpected required deps", tc.expected, required)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/java/app.go b/java/app.go
index bab4130..ea72157 100644
--- a/java/app.go
+++ b/java/app.go
@@ -274,16 +274,37 @@
 		variation := append(jniTarget.Variations(),
 			blueprint.Variation{Mutator: "link", Variation: "shared"})
 
-		// If the app builds against an Android SDK use the SDK variant of JNI dependencies
-		// unless jni_uses_platform_apis is set.
-		// Don't require the SDK variant for apps that are shipped on vendor, etc., as they already
-		// have stable APIs through the VNDK.
-		if (usesSDK && !a.RequiresStableAPIs(ctx) &&
-			!Bool(a.appProperties.Jni_uses_platform_apis)) ||
-			Bool(a.appProperties.Jni_uses_sdk_apis) {
+		// Test whether to use the SDK variant or the non-SDK variant of JNI dependencies.
+		// Many factors are considered here.
+		// 1. Basically, the selection follows whether the app has sdk_version set or not.
+		jniUsesSdkVariant := usesSDK
+		// 2. However, jni_uses_platform_apis and jni_uses_sdk_apis can override it
+		if Bool(a.appProperties.Jni_uses_sdk_apis) {
+			jniUsesSdkVariant = true
+		}
+		if Bool(a.appProperties.Jni_uses_platform_apis) {
+			jniUsesSdkVariant = false
+		}
+		// 3. Then the use of SDK variant is again prohibited for the following cases:
+		// 3.1. the app is shipped on unbundled partitions like vendor. Since the entire
+		// partition (not only the app) is considered unbudled, there's no need to use the
+		// SDK variant.
+		// 3.2. the app doesn't support embedding the JNI libs
+		if a.RequiresStableAPIs(ctx) || !a.shouldEmbedJnis(ctx) {
+			jniUsesSdkVariant = false
+		}
+		if jniUsesSdkVariant {
 			variation = append(variation, blueprint.Variation{Mutator: "sdk", Variation: "sdk"})
 		}
-		ctx.AddFarVariationDependencies(variation, jniLibTag, a.appProperties.Jni_libs...)
+
+		// Use the installable dep tag when the JNIs are not embedded
+		var tag dependencyTag
+		if a.shouldEmbedJnis(ctx) {
+			tag = jniLibTag
+		} else {
+			tag = jniInstallTag
+		}
+		ctx.AddFarVariationDependencies(variation, tag, a.appProperties.Jni_libs...)
 	}
 	for _, aconfig_declaration := range a.aaptProperties.Flags_packages {
 		ctx.AddDependency(ctx.Module(), aconfigDeclarationTag, aconfig_declaration)
@@ -334,6 +355,7 @@
 
 func (a *AndroidApp) GenerateAndroidBuildActions(ctx android.ModuleContext) {
 	a.checkAppSdkVersions(ctx)
+	a.checkEmbedJnis(ctx)
 	a.generateAndroidBuildActions(ctx)
 	a.generateJavaUsedByApex(ctx)
 }
@@ -367,6 +389,17 @@
 	a.checkSdkVersions(ctx)
 }
 
+// Ensures that use_embedded_native_libs are set for apk-in-apex
+func (a *AndroidApp) checkEmbedJnis(ctx android.BaseModuleContext) {
+	apexInfo, _ := android.ModuleProvider(ctx, android.ApexInfoProvider)
+	apkInApex := !apexInfo.IsForPlatform()
+	hasJnis := len(a.appProperties.Jni_libs) > 0
+
+	if apkInApex && hasJnis && !Bool(a.appProperties.Use_embedded_native_libs) {
+		ctx.ModuleErrorf("APK in APEX should have use_embedded_native_libs: true")
+	}
+}
+
 // If an updatable APK sets min_sdk_version, min_sdk_vesion of JNI libs should match with it.
 // This check is enforced for "updatable" APKs (including APK-in-APEX).
 func (a *AndroidApp) checkJniLibsSdkVersion(ctx android.ModuleContext, minSdkVersion android.ApiLevel) {
@@ -422,9 +455,9 @@
 }
 
 func (a *AndroidApp) shouldEmbedJnis(ctx android.BaseModuleContext) bool {
-	apexInfo, _ := android.ModuleProvider(ctx, android.ApexInfoProvider)
 	return ctx.Config().UnbundledBuild() || Bool(a.appProperties.Use_embedded_native_libs) ||
-		!apexInfo.IsForPlatform() || a.appProperties.AlwaysPackageNativeLibs
+		Bool(a.appProperties.Updatable) ||
+		a.appProperties.AlwaysPackageNativeLibs
 }
 
 func generateAaptRenamePackageFlags(packageName string, renameResourcesPackage bool) []string {
@@ -818,7 +851,9 @@
 
 	dexJarFile, packageResources := a.dexBuildActions(ctx)
 
-	jniLibs, prebuiltJniPackages, certificates := collectAppDeps(ctx, a, a.shouldEmbedJnis(ctx), !Bool(a.appProperties.Jni_uses_platform_apis))
+	// No need to check the SDK version of the JNI deps unless we embed them
+	checkNativeSdkVersion := a.shouldEmbedJnis(ctx) && !Bool(a.appProperties.Jni_uses_platform_apis)
+	jniLibs, prebuiltJniPackages, certificates := collectAppDeps(ctx, a, a.shouldEmbedJnis(ctx), checkNativeSdkVersion)
 	jniJarFile := a.jniBuildActions(jniLibs, prebuiltJniPackages, ctx)
 
 	if ctx.Failed() {
@@ -900,6 +935,22 @@
 			installed := ctx.InstallFile(a.installDir, extra.Base(), extra)
 			extraInstalledPaths = append(extraInstalledPaths, installed)
 		}
+		// If we don't embed jni libs, make sure that those are installed along with the
+		// app, and also place symlinks to the installed paths under the lib/<arch>
+		// directory of the app installation directory. ex:
+		// /system/app/MyApp/lib/arm64/libfoo.so -> /system/lib64/libfoo.so
+		if !a.embeddedJniLibs {
+			for _, jniLib := range jniLibs {
+				archStr := jniLib.target.Arch.ArchType.String()
+				symlinkDir := a.installDir.Join(ctx, "lib", archStr)
+				for _, installedLib := range jniLib.installPaths {
+					// install the symlink itself
+					symlinkName := installedLib.Base()
+					symlinkTarget := android.InstallPathToOnDevicePath(ctx, installedLib)
+					ctx.InstallAbsoluteSymlink(symlinkDir, symlinkName, symlinkTarget)
+				}
+			}
+		}
 		ctx.InstallFile(a.installDir, a.outputFile.Base(), a.outputFile, extraInstalledPaths...)
 	}
 
@@ -987,6 +1038,7 @@
 						coverageFile:   dep.CoverageOutputFile(),
 						unstrippedFile: dep.UnstrippedOutputFile(),
 						partition:      dep.Partition(),
+						installPaths:   dep.FilesToInstall(),
 					})
 				} else if ctx.Config().AllowMissingDependencies() {
 					ctx.AddMissingDependencies([]string{otherName})
diff --git a/java/java.go b/java/java.go
index f038f63..e3f4824 100644
--- a/java/java.go
+++ b/java/java.go
@@ -366,14 +366,14 @@
 	toolchain bool
 
 	static bool
+
+	installable bool
 }
 
-// installDependencyTag is a dependency tag that is annotated to cause the installed files of the
-// dependency to be installed when the parent module is installed.
-type installDependencyTag struct {
-	blueprint.BaseDependencyTag
-	android.InstallAlwaysNeededDependencyTag
-	name string
+var _ android.InstallNeededDependencyTag = (*dependencyTag)(nil)
+
+func (d dependencyTag) InstallDepNeeded() bool {
+	return d.installable
 }
 
 func (d dependencyTag) LicenseAnnotations() []android.LicenseAnnotation {
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@
 }
 
 func IsJniDepTag(depTag blueprint.DependencyTag) bool {
-	return depTag == jniLibTag
+	return depTag == jniLibTag || depTag == jniInstallTag
 }
 
 var (
@@ -434,8 +434,8 @@
 	javaApiContributionTag  = dependencyTag{name: "java-api-contribution"}
 	depApiSrcsTag           = dependencyTag{name: "dep-api-srcs"}
 	aconfigDeclarationTag   = dependencyTag{name: "aconfig-declaration"}
-	jniInstallTag           = installDependencyTag{name: "jni install"}
-	binaryInstallTag        = installDependencyTag{name: "binary install"}
+	jniInstallTag           = dependencyTag{name: "jni install", runtimeLinked: true, installable: true}
+	binaryInstallTag        = dependencyTag{name: "binary install", runtimeLinked: true, installable: true}
 	usesLibReqTag           = makeUsesLibraryDependencyTag(dexpreopt.AnySdkVersion, false)
 	usesLibOptTag           = makeUsesLibraryDependencyTag(dexpreopt.AnySdkVersion, true)
 	usesLibCompat28OptTag   = makeUsesLibraryDependencyTag(28, true)
@@ -491,6 +491,7 @@
 	coverageFile   android.OptionalPath
 	unstrippedFile android.Path
 	partition      string
+	installPaths   android.InstallPaths
 }
 
 func sdkDeps(ctx android.BottomUpMutatorContext, sdkContext android.SdkContext, d dexer) {