diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/uioverrides/QuickstepLauncher.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/uioverrides/QuickstepLauncher.java
index 0f3ea15..c9bc260 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/uioverrides/QuickstepLauncher.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/uioverrides/QuickstepLauncher.java
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.os.CancellationSignal;
 import android.os.IBinder;
+import android.os.SystemProperties;
 import android.view.Display;
 import android.view.HapticFeedbackConstants;
 import android.view.View;
@@ -159,6 +160,9 @@
 
 public class QuickstepLauncher extends Launcher {
 
+    public static final boolean ENABLE_PIP_KEEP_CLEAR_ALGORITHM =
+            SystemProperties.getBoolean("persist.wm.debug.enable_pip_keep_clear_algorithm", false);
+
     public static final boolean GO_LOW_RAM_RECENTS_ENABLED = false;
     /**
      * Reusable command for applying the shelf height on the background thread.
@@ -349,16 +353,18 @@
      */
     private void onStateOrResumeChanging(boolean inTransition) {
         LauncherState state = getStateManager().getState();
-        boolean started = ((getActivityFlags() & ACTIVITY_STATE_STARTED)) != 0;
-        if (started) {
-            DeviceProfile profile = getDeviceProfile();
-            boolean willUserBeActive =
-                    (getActivityFlags() & ACTIVITY_STATE_USER_WILL_BE_ACTIVE) != 0;
-            boolean visible = (state == NORMAL || state == OVERVIEW)
-                    && (willUserBeActive || isUserActive())
-                    && !profile.isVerticalBarLayout();
-            UiThreadHelper.runAsyncCommand(this, SET_SHELF_HEIGHT, visible ? 1 : 0,
-                    profile.hotseatBarSizePx);
+        if (!ENABLE_PIP_KEEP_CLEAR_ALGORITHM) {
+            boolean started = ((getActivityFlags() & ACTIVITY_STATE_STARTED)) != 0;
+            if (started) {
+                DeviceProfile profile = getDeviceProfile();
+                boolean willUserBeActive =
+                        (getActivityFlags() & ACTIVITY_STATE_USER_WILL_BE_ACTIVE) != 0;
+                boolean visible = (state == NORMAL || state == OVERVIEW)
+                        && (willUserBeActive || isUserActive())
+                        && !profile.isVerticalBarLayout();
+                UiThreadHelper.runAsyncCommand(this, SET_SHELF_HEIGHT, visible ? 1 : 0,
+                        profile.hotseatBarSizePx);
+            }
         }
         if (state == NORMAL && !inTransition) {
             ((RecentsView) getOverviewPanel()).setSwipeDownShouldLaunchApp(false);
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java
index 8dee10a..7592237 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 import static com.android.launcher3.logging.StatsLogManager.LauncherEvent.LAUNCHER_OVERVIEW_GESTURE;
 import static com.android.launcher3.logging.StatsLogManager.LauncherEvent.LAUNCHER_QUICKSWITCH_LEFT;
 import static com.android.launcher3.logging.StatsLogManager.LauncherEvent.LAUNCHER_QUICKSWITCH_RIGHT;
+import static com.android.launcher3.uioverrides.QuickstepLauncher.ENABLE_PIP_KEEP_CLEAR_ALGORITHM;
 import static com.android.launcher3.util.Executors.MAIN_EXECUTOR;
 import static com.android.launcher3.util.Executors.UI_HELPER_EXECUTOR;
 import static com.android.launcher3.util.SystemUiController.UI_STATE_FULLSCREEN_TASK;
@@ -1420,12 +1421,13 @@
         homeToWindowPositionMap.invert(windowToHomePositionMap);
         windowToHomePositionMap.mapRect(startRect);
 
+        final Rect hotseatKeepClearArea = getKeepClearAreaForHotseat();
         final Rect destinationBounds = SystemUiProxy.INSTANCE.get(mContext)
                 .startSwipePipToHome(taskInfo.topActivity,
                         taskInfo.topActivityInfo,
                         runningTaskTarget.taskInfo.pictureInPictureParams,
                         homeRotation,
-                        mDp.hotseatBarSizePx);
+                        hotseatKeepClearArea);
         final Rect appBounds = new Rect();
         final WindowConfiguration winConfig = taskInfo.configuration.windowConfiguration;
         // Adjust the appBounds for TaskBar by using the calculated window crop Rect
@@ -1488,6 +1490,35 @@
         return swipePipToHomeAnimator;
     }
 
+    private Rect getKeepClearAreaForHotseat() {
+        Rect keepClearArea;
+        if (!ENABLE_PIP_KEEP_CLEAR_ALGORITHM) {
+            // make the height equal to hotseatBarSizePx only
+            keepClearArea = new Rect(0, 0, mDp.hotseatBarSizePx, 0);
+            return keepClearArea;
+        }
+        // the keep clear area in global screen coordinates, in pixels
+        if (mDp.isPhone) {
+            if (mDp.isSeascape()) {
+                // in seascape the Hotseat is on the left edge of the screen
+                keepClearArea = new Rect(0, 0, mDp.hotseatBarSizePx, mDp.heightPx);
+            } else if (mDp.isLandscape) {
+                // in landscape the Hotseat is on the right edge of the screen
+                keepClearArea = new Rect(mDp.widthPx - mDp.hotseatBarSizePx, 0,
+                        mDp.widthPx, mDp.heightPx);
+            } else {
+                // in portrait mode the Hotseat is at the bottom of the screen
+                keepClearArea = new Rect(0, mDp.heightPx - mDp.hotseatBarSizePx,
+                        mDp.widthPx, mDp.heightPx);
+            }
+        } else {
+            // large screens have Hotseat always at the bottom of the screen
+            keepClearArea = new Rect(0, mDp.heightPx - mDp.hotseatBarSizePx,
+                    mDp.widthPx, mDp.heightPx);
+        }
+        return keepClearArea;
+    }
+
     private void startInterceptingTouchesForGesture() {
         if (mRecentsAnimationController == null) {
             return;
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/SystemUiProxy.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/SystemUiProxy.java
index 0ec7e62..f1d15aa 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/SystemUiProxy.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/SystemUiProxy.java
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.content.pm.ActivityInfo;
 import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
-import android.graphics.Bitmap;
 import android.graphics.Insets;
 import android.graphics.Rect;
 import android.os.Bundle;
@@ -509,11 +508,12 @@
     }
 
     public Rect startSwipePipToHome(ComponentName componentName, ActivityInfo activityInfo,
-            PictureInPictureParams pictureInPictureParams, int launcherRotation, int shelfHeight) {
+            PictureInPictureParams pictureInPictureParams, int launcherRotation,
+            Rect hotseatKeepClearArea) {
         if (mPip != null) {
             try {
                 return mPip.startSwipePipToHome(componentName, activityInfo,
-                        pictureInPictureParams, launcherRotation, shelfHeight);
+                        pictureInPictureParams, launcherRotation, hotseatKeepClearArea);
             } catch (RemoteException e) {
                 Log.w(TAG, "Failed call startSwipePipToHome", e);
             }
diff --git a/res/layout/hotseat.xml b/res/layout/hotseat.xml
index 82b0b8d..95ebd94 100644
--- a/res/layout/hotseat.xml
+++ b/res/layout/hotseat.xml
@@ -21,4 +21,5 @@
     android:layout_height="match_parent"
     android:theme="@style/HomeScreenElementTheme"
     android:importantForAccessibility="no"
+    android:preferKeepClear="true"
     launcher:containerType="hotseat" />
\ No newline at end of file