diff --git a/quickstep/ext_tests/src/com/android/quickstep/DebugQuickstepTestInformationHandler.java b/quickstep/ext_tests/src/com/android/quickstep/DebugQuickstepTestInformationHandler.java
index 7fa62c1..0c1f05f 100644
--- a/quickstep/ext_tests/src/com/android/quickstep/DebugQuickstepTestInformationHandler.java
+++ b/quickstep/ext_tests/src/com/android/quickstep/DebugQuickstepTestInformationHandler.java
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@
                 return response;
             }
 
+            case TestProtocol.REQUEST_RECREATE_TASKBAR:
+                // Allow null-pointer to catch illegal states.
+                runOnTISBinder(tisBinder -> tisBinder.getTaskbarManager().recreateTaskbar());
+                return response;
+
             default:
                 response = super.call(method, arg, extras);
                 if (response != null) return response;
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarManager.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarManager.java
index 35c5b96..80b3c1d 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarManager.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarManager.java
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
+import androidx.annotation.VisibleForTesting;
 
 import com.android.launcher3.DeviceProfile;
 import com.android.launcher3.LauncherAppState;
@@ -277,7 +278,8 @@
      * we fully want to destroy an existing taskbar and create a new one.
      * In other case (folding/unfolding) we don't need to remove and add window.
      */
-    private void recreateTaskbar() {
+    @VisibleForTesting
+    public void recreateTaskbar() {
         DeviceProfile dp = mUserUnlocked ?
                 LauncherAppState.getIDP(mContext).getDeviceProfile(mContext) : null;
 
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/testing/shared/TestProtocol.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/testing/shared/TestProtocol.java
index 67efb58..5116b01 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/testing/shared/TestProtocol.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/testing/shared/TestProtocol.java
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@
     public static final String REQUEST_DISABLE_MANUAL_TASKBAR_STASHING = "disable-taskbar-stashing";
     public static final String REQUEST_UNSTASH_TASKBAR_IF_STASHED = "unstash-taskbar-if-stashed";
     public static final String REQUEST_STASHED_TASKBAR_HEIGHT = "stashed-taskbar-height";
+    public static final String REQUEST_RECREATE_TASKBAR = "recreate-taskbar";
     public static final String REQUEST_APP_LIST_FREEZE_FLAGS = "app-list-freeze-flags";
     public static final String REQUEST_APPS_LIST_SCROLL_Y = "apps-list-scroll-y";
     public static final String REQUEST_WIDGETS_SCROLL_Y = "widgets-scroll-y";
diff --git a/tests/tapl/com/android/launcher3/tapl/LaunchedAppState.java b/tests/tapl/com/android/launcher3/tapl/LaunchedAppState.java
index 04167839..a17651b 100644
--- a/tests/tapl/com/android/launcher3/tapl/LaunchedAppState.java
+++ b/tests/tapl/com/android/launcher3/tapl/LaunchedAppState.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package com.android.launcher3.tapl;
 
+import static com.android.launcher3.tapl.LauncherInstrumentation.TASKBAR_RES_ID;
 import static com.android.launcher3.testing.shared.TestProtocol.REQUEST_DISABLE_MANUAL_TASKBAR_STASHING;
 import static com.android.launcher3.testing.shared.TestProtocol.REQUEST_ENABLE_MANUAL_TASKBAR_STASHING;
 import static com.android.launcher3.testing.shared.TestProtocol.REQUEST_STASHED_TASKBAR_HEIGHT;
@@ -54,13 +55,23 @@
     public Taskbar getTaskbar() {
         try (LauncherInstrumentation.Closable c = mLauncher.addContextLayer(
                 "want to get the taskbar")) {
-            mLauncher.waitForLauncherObject("taskbar_view");
+            mLauncher.waitForLauncherObject(TASKBAR_RES_ID);
 
             return new Taskbar(mLauncher);
         }
     }
 
     /**
+     * Waits for the taskbar to be hidden, or fails.
+     */
+    public void assertTaskbarHidden() {
+        try (LauncherInstrumentation.Closable c = mLauncher.addContextLayer(
+                "waiting for taskbar to be hidden")) {
+            mLauncher.waitUntilLauncherObjectGone(TASKBAR_RES_ID);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Returns the Taskbar in a visible state.
      *
      * The taskbar must already be hidden when calling this method.
@@ -71,7 +82,7 @@
         try (LauncherInstrumentation.Closable e = mLauncher.eventsCheck();
              LauncherInstrumentation.Closable c1 = mLauncher.addContextLayer(
                      "want to show the taskbar")) {
-            mLauncher.waitUntilLauncherObjectGone("taskbar_view");
+            mLauncher.waitUntilLauncherObjectGone(TASKBAR_RES_ID);
 
             final long downTime = SystemClock.uptimeMillis();
             final int unstashTargetY = mLauncher.getRealDisplaySize().y
@@ -85,7 +96,7 @@
             LauncherInstrumentation.log("showTaskbar: sent down");
 
             try (LauncherInstrumentation.Closable c2 = mLauncher.addContextLayer("pressed down")) {
-                mLauncher.waitForLauncherObject("taskbar_view");
+                mLauncher.waitForLauncherObject(TASKBAR_RES_ID);
                 mLauncher.sendPointer(downTime, downTime, MotionEvent.ACTION_UP, unstashTarget,
                         LauncherInstrumentation.GestureScope.OUTSIDE_WITH_PILFER);
 
diff --git a/tests/tapl/com/android/launcher3/tapl/LauncherInstrumentation.java b/tests/tapl/com/android/launcher3/tapl/LauncherInstrumentation.java
index fa7e8e9..1fb8cc7 100644
--- a/tests/tapl/com/android/launcher3/tapl/LauncherInstrumentation.java
+++ b/tests/tapl/com/android/launcher3/tapl/LauncherInstrumentation.java
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@
     private static final String OVERVIEW_RES_ID = "overview_panel";
     private static final String WIDGETS_RES_ID = "primary_widgets_list_view";
     private static final String CONTEXT_MENU_RES_ID = "popup_container";
-    private static final String TASKBAR_RES_ID = "taskbar_view";
+    static final String TASKBAR_RES_ID = "taskbar_view";
     private static final String SPLIT_PLACEHOLDER_RES_ID = "split_placeholder";
     public static final int WAIT_TIME_MS = 30000;
     private static final String SYSTEMUI_PACKAGE = "com.android.systemui";
@@ -1755,6 +1755,15 @@
         getTestInfo(TestProtocol.REQUEST_UNSTASH_TASKBAR_IF_STASHED);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Recreates the taskbar (outside of tests this is done for certain configuration changes).
+     * The expected behavior is that the taskbar retains its current state after being recreated.
+     * For example, if taskbar is currently stashed, it should still be stashed after recreating.
+     */
+    public void recreateTaskbar() {
+        getTestInfo(TestProtocol.REQUEST_RECREATE_TASKBAR);
+    }
+
     public List<String> getHotseatIconNames() {
         return getTestInfo(TestProtocol.REQUEST_HOTSEAT_ICON_NAMES)
                 .getStringArrayList(TestProtocol.TEST_INFO_RESPONSE_FIELD);
diff --git a/tests/tapl/com/android/launcher3/tapl/Taskbar.java b/tests/tapl/com/android/launcher3/tapl/Taskbar.java
index 5d9be36..0f9d5f5 100644
--- a/tests/tapl/com/android/launcher3/tapl/Taskbar.java
+++ b/tests/tapl/com/android/launcher3/tapl/Taskbar.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
  */
 package com.android.launcher3.tapl;
 
+import static com.android.launcher3.tapl.LauncherInstrumentation.TASKBAR_RES_ID;
 import static com.android.launcher3.testing.shared.TestProtocol.REQUEST_DISABLE_MANUAL_TASKBAR_STASHING;
 import static com.android.launcher3.testing.shared.TestProtocol.REQUEST_ENABLE_MANUAL_TASKBAR_STASHING;
 
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@
         try (LauncherInstrumentation.Closable c = mLauncher.addContextLayer(
                 "want to get a taskbar icon")) {
             return new TaskbarAppIcon(mLauncher, mLauncher.waitForObjectInContainer(
-                    mLauncher.waitForLauncherObject("taskbar_view"),
+                    mLauncher.waitForLauncherObject(TASKBAR_RES_ID),
                     AppIcon.getAppIconSelector(appName, mLauncher)));
         }
     }
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@
         try (LauncherInstrumentation.Closable c = mLauncher.addContextLayer(
                 "want to hide the taskbar");
              LauncherInstrumentation.Closable e = mLauncher.eventsCheck()) {
-            mLauncher.waitForLauncherObject("taskbar_view");
+            mLauncher.waitForLauncherObject(TASKBAR_RES_ID);
 
             final long downTime = SystemClock.uptimeMillis();
             Point stashTarget = new Point(
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@
              LauncherInstrumentation.Closable e = mLauncher.eventsCheck()) {
 
             mLauncher.clickLauncherObject(mLauncher.waitForObjectInContainer(
-                    mLauncher.waitForLauncherObject("taskbar_view"), getAllAppsButtonSelector()));
+                    mLauncher.waitForLauncherObject(TASKBAR_RES_ID), getAllAppsButtonSelector()));
 
             return new AllAppsFromTaskbar(mLauncher);
         }
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@
         try (LauncherInstrumentation.Closable c = mLauncher.addContextLayer(
                 "want to get all taskbar icons")) {
             return mLauncher.waitForObjectsInContainer(
-                    mLauncher.waitForLauncherObject("taskbar_view"),
+                    mLauncher.waitForLauncherObject(TASKBAR_RES_ID),
                     AppIcon.getAnyAppIconSelector())
                     .stream()
                     .map(UiObject2::getText)