diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/statehandlers/DesktopVisibilityController.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/statehandlers/DesktopVisibilityController.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c8952d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/statehandlers/DesktopVisibilityController.java
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2022 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package com.android.launcher3.statehandlers;
+
+import android.os.SystemProperties;
+import android.view.View;
+
+import com.android.launcher3.Launcher;
+import com.android.launcher3.LauncherState;
+import com.android.launcher3.statemanager.StatefulActivity;
+import com.android.launcher3.uioverrides.QuickstepLauncher;
+
+/**
+ * Controls the visibility of the workspace and the resumed / paused state when desktop mode
+ * is enabled.
+ */
+public class DesktopVisibilityController {
+
+    private final Launcher mLauncher;
+
+    private boolean mFreeformTasksVisible;
+    private boolean mInOverviewState;
+
+    public DesktopVisibilityController(Launcher launcher) {
+        mLauncher = launcher;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Whether desktop mode is supported.
+     */
+    private boolean isDesktopModeSupported() {
+        return SystemProperties.getBoolean("persist.wm.debug.desktop_mode", false);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Whether freeform windows are visible in desktop mode.
+     */
+    public boolean areFreeformTasksVisible() {
+        return mFreeformTasksVisible;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets whether freeform windows are visible and updates launcher visibility based on that.
+     */
+    public void setFreeformTasksVisible(boolean freeformTasksVisible) {
+        if (freeformTasksVisible != mFreeformTasksVisible) {
+            mFreeformTasksVisible = freeformTasksVisible;
+            updateLauncherVisibility();
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets whether the overview is visible and updates launcher visibility based on that.
+     */
+    public void setOverviewStateEnabled(boolean overviewStateEnabled) {
+        if (overviewStateEnabled != mInOverviewState) {
+            mInOverviewState = overviewStateEnabled;
+            updateLauncherVisibility();
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Updates launcher visibility and state to look like it is paused or resumed depending on
+     * whether freeform windows are showing in desktop mode.
+     */
+    private void updateLauncherVisibility() {
+        StatefulActivity<LauncherState> activity =
+                QuickstepLauncher.ACTIVITY_TRACKER.getCreatedActivity();
+        View workspaceView = mLauncher.getWorkspace();
+        if (activity == null || workspaceView == null || !isDesktopModeSupported()) return;
+
+        if (mFreeformTasksVisible) {
+            workspaceView.setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
+            if (!mInOverviewState) {
+                // When freeform is visible & we're not in overview, we want launcher to appear
+                // paused, this ensures that taskbar displays.
+                activity.setPaused();
+            }
+        } else {
+            workspaceView.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
+            // If freeform isn't visible ensure that launcher appears resumed to behave normally.
+            activity.setResumed();
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/uioverrides/QuickstepLauncher.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/uioverrides/QuickstepLauncher.java
index 3203f44..4d96bf7 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/uioverrides/QuickstepLauncher.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/uioverrides/QuickstepLauncher.java
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@
 import com.android.launcher3.proxy.ProxyActivityStarter;
 import com.android.launcher3.proxy.StartActivityParams;
 import com.android.launcher3.statehandlers.DepthController;
+import com.android.launcher3.statehandlers.DesktopVisibilityController;
 import com.android.launcher3.statemanager.StateManager.AtomicAnimationFactory;
 import com.android.launcher3.statemanager.StateManager.StateHandler;
 import com.android.launcher3.taskbar.LauncherTaskbarUIController;
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@
     private FixedContainerItems mAllAppsPredictions;
     private HotseatPredictionController mHotseatPredictionController;
     private DepthController mDepthController;
+    private DesktopVisibilityController mDesktopVisibilityController;
     private QuickstepTransitionManager mAppTransitionManager;
     private OverviewActionsView mActionsView;
     private TISBindHelper mTISBindHelper;
@@ -207,6 +209,7 @@
 
         mTISBindHelper = new TISBindHelper(this, this::onTISConnected);
         mDepthController = new DepthController(this);
+        mDesktopVisibilityController = new DesktopVisibilityController(this);
         mHotseatPredictionController = new HotseatPredictionController(this);
 
         mEnableWidgetDepth = ENABLE_WIDGET_PICKER_DEPTH.get()
@@ -732,6 +735,10 @@
         return mDepthController;
     }
 
+    public DesktopVisibilityController getDesktopVisibilityController() {
+        return mDesktopVisibilityController;
+    }
+
     @Nullable
     public UnfoldTransitionProgressProvider getUnfoldTransitionProgressProvider() {
         return mUnfoldTransitionProgressProvider;
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java
index d728b75..0347c7e 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java
@@ -1881,10 +1881,16 @@
     }
 
     private void finishCurrentTransitionToRecents() {
-        // TODO(b/245569277#comment2): enable once isFreeformActive is implemented
-        mStateCallback.setStateOnUiThread(STATE_CURRENT_TASK_FINISHED);
-        if (mRecentsAnimationController != null) {
-            mRecentsAnimationController.detachNavigationBarFromApp(true);
+        if (mRecentsAnimationController != null
+                && mActivityInterface.getDesktopVisibilityController() != null
+                && mActivityInterface.getDesktopVisibilityController().areFreeformTasksVisible()) {
+            mRecentsAnimationController.finish(true /* toRecents */,
+                    () -> mStateCallback.setStateOnUiThread(STATE_CURRENT_TASK_FINISHED));
+        } else {
+            mStateCallback.setStateOnUiThread(STATE_CURRENT_TASK_FINISHED);
+            if (mRecentsAnimationController != null) {
+                mRecentsAnimationController.detachNavigationBarFromApp(true);
+            }
         }
         ActiveGestureLog.INSTANCE.addLog(
                 /* event= */ "finishRecentsAnimation",
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/BaseActivityInterface.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/BaseActivityInterface.java
index d432004..294fa90 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/BaseActivityInterface.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/BaseActivityInterface.java
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 import com.android.launcher3.anim.AnimatorPlaybackController;
 import com.android.launcher3.anim.PendingAnimation;
 import com.android.launcher3.statehandlers.DepthController;
+import com.android.launcher3.statehandlers.DesktopVisibilityController;
 import com.android.launcher3.statemanager.BaseState;
 import com.android.launcher3.statemanager.StatefulActivity;
 import com.android.launcher3.taskbar.TaskbarUIController;
@@ -142,6 +143,11 @@
     }
 
     @Nullable
+    public DesktopVisibilityController getDesktopVisibilityController() {
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    @Nullable
     public abstract TaskbarUIController getTaskbarController();
 
     public final boolean isResumed() {
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/LauncherActivityInterface.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/LauncherActivityInterface.java
index 8522a87..c7ca679 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/LauncherActivityInterface.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/LauncherActivityInterface.java
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 import com.android.launcher3.LauncherState;
 import com.android.launcher3.anim.PendingAnimation;
 import com.android.launcher3.statehandlers.DepthController;
+import com.android.launcher3.statehandlers.DesktopVisibilityController;
 import com.android.launcher3.statemanager.StateManager;
 import com.android.launcher3.taskbar.LauncherTaskbarUIController;
 import com.android.launcher3.touch.PagedOrientationHandler;
@@ -175,6 +176,16 @@
 
     @Nullable
     @Override
+    public DesktopVisibilityController getDesktopVisibilityController() {
+        QuickstepLauncher launcher = getCreatedActivity();
+        if (launcher == null) {
+            return null;
+        }
+        return launcher.getDesktopVisibilityController();
+    }
+
+    @Nullable
+    @Override
     public LauncherTaskbarUIController getTaskbarController() {
         QuickstepLauncher launcher = getCreatedActivity();
         if (launcher == null) {
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TouchInteractionService.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TouchInteractionService.java
index 1452c8f..80db362 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TouchInteractionService.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TouchInteractionService.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 import static com.android.systemui.shared.system.ActivityManagerWrapper.CLOSE_SYSTEM_WINDOWS_REASON_RECENTS;
 import static com.android.systemui.shared.system.QuickStepContract.KEY_EXTRA_SYSUI_PROXY;
 import static com.android.systemui.shared.system.QuickStepContract.KEY_EXTRA_UNLOCK_ANIMATION_CONTROLLER;
+import static com.android.systemui.shared.system.QuickStepContract.SYSUI_STATE_FREEFORM_ACTIVE_IN_DESKTOP_MODE;
 import static com.android.systemui.shared.system.QuickStepContract.SYSUI_STATE_NOTIFICATION_PANEL_EXPANDED;
 import static com.android.systemui.shared.system.QuickStepContract.SYSUI_STATE_TRACING_ENABLED;
 import static com.android.wm.shell.sysui.ShellSharedConstants.KEY_EXTRA_SHELL_BACK_ANIMATION;
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@
 import com.android.launcher3.Utilities;
 import com.android.launcher3.config.FeatureFlags;
 import com.android.launcher3.provider.RestoreDbTask;
+import com.android.launcher3.statehandlers.DesktopVisibilityController;
 import com.android.launcher3.statemanager.StatefulActivity;
 import com.android.launcher3.taskbar.TaskbarActivityContext;
 import com.android.launcher3.taskbar.TaskbarManager;
@@ -543,6 +545,18 @@
             mOverviewComponentObserver.onSystemUiStateChanged();
             mTaskbarManager.onSystemUiFlagsChanged(systemUiStateFlags);
 
+            boolean wasFreeformActive =
+                    (lastSysUIFlags & SYSUI_STATE_FREEFORM_ACTIVE_IN_DESKTOP_MODE) != 0;
+            boolean isFreeformActive =
+                    (systemUiStateFlags & SYSUI_STATE_FREEFORM_ACTIVE_IN_DESKTOP_MODE) != 0;
+            if (wasFreeformActive != isFreeformActive) {
+                DesktopVisibilityController controller = mOverviewComponentObserver
+                        .getActivityInterface().getDesktopVisibilityController();
+                if (controller != null) {
+                    controller.setFreeformTasksVisible(isFreeformActive);
+                }
+            }
+
             boolean wasExpanded = (lastSysUIFlags & SYSUI_STATE_NOTIFICATION_PANEL_EXPANDED) != 0;
             boolean isExpanded =
                     (systemUiStateFlags & SYSUI_STATE_NOTIFICATION_PANEL_EXPANDED) != 0;
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/LauncherRecentsView.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/LauncherRecentsView.java
index 2ae7136..6c27587 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/LauncherRecentsView.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/LauncherRecentsView.java
@@ -147,6 +147,9 @@
                     & CLEAR_ALL_BUTTON) != 0;
             setDisallowScrollToClearAll(!hasClearAllButton);
         }
+        if (mActivity.getDesktopVisibilityController() != null) {
+            mActivity.getDesktopVisibilityController().setOverviewStateEnabled(enabled);
+        }
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/BaseActivity.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/BaseActivity.java
index 83ff084..9bdc822 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/BaseActivity.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/BaseActivity.java
@@ -196,8 +196,7 @@
 
     @Override
     protected void onResume() {
-        addActivityFlags(ACTIVITY_STATE_RESUMED | ACTIVITY_STATE_USER_ACTIVE);
-        removeActivityFlags(ACTIVITY_STATE_USER_WILL_BE_ACTIVE);
+        setResumed();
         super.onResume();
     }
 
@@ -228,7 +227,7 @@
 
     @Override
     protected void onPause() {
-        removeActivityFlags(ACTIVITY_STATE_RESUMED | ACTIVITY_STATE_DEFERRED_RESUMED);
+        setPaused();
         super.onPause();
 
         // Reset the overridden sysui flags used for the task-swipe launch animation, we do this
@@ -260,6 +259,21 @@
         return (mActivityFlags & ACTIVITY_STATE_RESUMED) != 0;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Sets the activity to appear as paused.
+     */
+    public void setPaused() {
+        removeActivityFlags(ACTIVITY_STATE_RESUMED | ACTIVITY_STATE_DEFERRED_RESUMED);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the activity to appear as resumed.
+     */
+    public void setResumed() {
+        addActivityFlags(ACTIVITY_STATE_RESUMED | ACTIVITY_STATE_USER_ACTIVE);
+        removeActivityFlags(ACTIVITY_STATE_USER_WILL_BE_ACTIVE);
+    }
+
     public boolean isUserActive() {
         return (mActivityFlags & ACTIVITY_STATE_USER_ACTIVE) != 0;
     }