diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java
index 9106a8fc15..cca41efaef 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
     private AnimatorControllerWithResistance mLauncherTransitionController;
     private boolean mHasEndedLauncherTransition;
 
-    private AnimationFactory mAnimationFactory = (t) -> { };
+    private AnimationFactory mAnimationFactory = (t, s) -> { };
 
     private boolean mWasLauncherAlreadyVisible;
 
@@ -501,7 +501,9 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
             Runnable initAnimFactory = () -> {
                 mAnimationFactory = mActivityInterface.prepareRecentsUI(mDeviceState,
                         mWasLauncherAlreadyVisible, this::onAnimatorPlaybackControllerCreated);
-                maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(false /* animate */);
+                maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(
+                        false /* animate */,
+                        new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString("on Launcher start (animate=false)"));
                 if (mGestureState.getEndTarget() != null) {
                     // Update the end target in case the gesture ended before we init.
                     mAnimationFactory.setEndTarget(mGestureState.getEndTarget());
@@ -606,7 +608,8 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
     }
 
     private void initializeLauncherAnimationController() {
-        buildAnimationController();
+        buildAnimationController(new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString(
+                "initializing launcher animation controller"));
 
         Object traceToken = TraceHelper.INSTANCE.beginSection("logToggleRecents",
                 TraceHelper.FLAG_IGNORE_BINDERS);
@@ -625,7 +628,11 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
             @Override
             public void onMotionPauseDetected() {
                 mHasMotionEverBeenPaused = true;
-                maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(true/* animate */, true/* moveFocusedTask */);
+                maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(
+                        true/* animate */,
+                        true/* moveFocusedTask */,
+                        new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString(
+                                "motion pause detected (animate=true)"));
                 performHapticFeedback();
             }
 
@@ -636,12 +643,13 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
         };
     }
 
-    private void maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState() {
-        maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(true /* animate */);
+    private void maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString reason) {
+        maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(true /* animate */, reason.append(" (animate=true)"));
     }
 
-    private void maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(boolean animate) {
-        maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(animate, false /* moveFocusedTask */);
+    private void maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(
+            boolean animate, ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString reason) {
+        maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(animate, false /* moveFocusedTask */, reason);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -653,7 +661,8 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
      * @param animate whether to animate when attaching RecentsView
      * @param moveFocusedTask whether to move focused task to front when attaching
      */
-    private void maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(boolean animate, boolean moveFocusedTask) {
+    private void maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(
+            boolean animate, boolean moveFocusedTask, ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString reason) {
         if (!mDeviceState.isFullyGesturalNavMode() || mRecentsView == null) {
             return;
         }
@@ -663,14 +672,25 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
         final boolean recentsAttachedToAppWindow;
         if (mGestureState.getEndTarget() != null) {
             recentsAttachedToAppWindow = mGestureState.getEndTarget().recentsAttachedToAppWindow;
+            reason.append("; gesture state end target != null (attached=")
+                    .append(Boolean.toString(recentsAttachedToAppWindow))
+                    .append(")");
         } else if (mContinuingLastGesture
                 && mRecentsView.getRunningTaskIndex() != mRecentsView.getNextPage()) {
             recentsAttachedToAppWindow = true;
+            reason.append("; continuing last gesture (attached=true)");
         } else if (runningTaskTarget != null && isNotInRecents(runningTaskTarget)) {
             // The window is going away so make sure recents is always visible in this case.
             recentsAttachedToAppWindow = true;
+            reason.append("; make sure recents is always visible (attached=true)");
         } else {
             recentsAttachedToAppWindow = mHasMotionEverBeenPaused || mIsLikelyToStartNewTask;
+            reason.append(mHasMotionEverBeenPaused
+                            ? "; motion has been paused"
+                            : "; gesture is likely to start a new task")
+                    .append(" (attached=")
+                    .append(Boolean.toString(recentsAttachedToAppWindow))
+                    .append(")");
         }
         if (moveFocusedTask && !mAnimationFactory.hasRecentsEverAttachedToAppWindow()
                 && recentsAttachedToAppWindow) {
@@ -678,7 +698,8 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
             // TaskView jumping to new position as we move the tasks.
             mRecentsView.moveFocusedTaskToFront();
         }
-        mAnimationFactory.setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow(recentsAttachedToAppWindow, animate);
+        mAnimationFactory.setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow(
+                recentsAttachedToAppWindow, animate, reason);
 
         // Reapply window transform throughout the attach animation, as the animation affects how
         // much the window is bound by overscroll (vs moving freely).
@@ -698,22 +719,29 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
     }
 
     public void setIsLikelyToStartNewTask(boolean isLikelyToStartNewTask) {
-        setIsLikelyToStartNewTask(isLikelyToStartNewTask, true /* animate */);
+        setIsLikelyToStartNewTask(
+                isLikelyToStartNewTask,
+                true /* animate */,
+                new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString(
+                        "setting gesture likely to start (animate=true)"));
     }
 
-    private void setIsLikelyToStartNewTask(boolean isLikelyToStartNewTask, boolean animate) {
+    private void setIsLikelyToStartNewTask(
+            boolean isLikelyToStartNewTask,
+            boolean animate,
+            ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString reason) {
         if (mIsLikelyToStartNewTask != isLikelyToStartNewTask) {
             mIsLikelyToStartNewTask = isLikelyToStartNewTask;
-            maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(animate);
+            maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(animate, reason);
         }
     }
 
-    private void buildAnimationController() {
+    private void buildAnimationController(ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString reason) {
         if (!canCreateNewOrUpdateExistingLauncherTransitionController()) {
             return;
         }
         initTransitionEndpoints(mActivity.getDeviceProfile());
-        mAnimationFactory.createActivityInterface(mTransitionDragLength);
+        mAnimationFactory.createActivityInterface(mTransitionDragLength, reason);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -728,7 +756,7 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
     @Override
     public WindowInsets onApplyWindowInsets(View view, WindowInsets windowInsets) {
         WindowInsets result = view.onApplyWindowInsets(windowInsets);
-        buildAnimationController();
+        buildAnimationController(new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString("applying window insets"));
         // Reapply the current shift to ensure it takes new insets into account, e.g. when long
         // pressing to stash taskbar without moving the finger.
         updateFinalShift();
@@ -900,7 +928,10 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
             });
         }
         notifyGestureStartedAsync();
-        setIsLikelyToStartNewTask(isLikelyToStartNewTask, false /* animate */);
+        setIsLikelyToStartNewTask(
+                isLikelyToStartNewTask,
+                false /* animate */,
+                new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString("on gesture started (animate=false)"));
         mStateCallback.setStateOnUiThread(STATE_GESTURE_STARTED);
         mGestureStarted = true;
         SystemUiProxy.INSTANCE.get(mContext).notifySwipeUpGestureStarted();
@@ -982,7 +1013,8 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
 
     private void onSettledOnEndTarget() {
         // Fast-finish the attaching animation if it's still running.
-        maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(false);
+        maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(false, new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString(
+                "on settled on end target (animate=false)"));
         final GestureEndTarget endTarget = mGestureState.getEndTarget();
         // Wait until the given View (if supplied) draws before resuming the last task.
         View postResumeLastTask = mActivityInterface.onSettledOnEndTarget(endTarget);
@@ -1288,7 +1320,8 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
     @UiThread
     private void animateToProgressInternal(float start, float end, long duration,
             Interpolator interpolator, GestureEndTarget target, PointF velocityPxPerMs) {
-        maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState();
+        maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString(
+                "animate to progress internal"));
 
         // If we are transitioning to launcher, then listen for the activity to be restarted while
         // the transition is in progress
@@ -1607,7 +1640,9 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
                     mRecentsView.post(mRecentsView::resetTaskVisuals);
                 }
                 // Make sure recents is in its final state
-                maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(false);
+                maybeUpdateRecentsAttachedState(
+                        false, new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString(
+                                "setting up window animation (animate=false)"));
                 mActivityInterface.onSwipeUpToHomeComplete(mDeviceState);
             }
         });
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/BaseActivityInterface.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/BaseActivityInterface.java
index 226b173ecd..a343c2d965 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/BaseActivityInterface.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/BaseActivityInterface.java
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ import com.android.launcher3.touch.PagedOrientationHandler;
 import com.android.launcher3.util.DisplayController;
 import com.android.launcher3.util.NavigationMode;
 import com.android.launcher3.views.ScrimView;
+import com.android.quickstep.util.ActiveGestureLog;
 import com.android.quickstep.util.ActivityInitListener;
 import com.android.quickstep.util.AnimatorControllerWithResistance;
 import com.android.quickstep.views.RecentsView;
@@ -393,14 +394,16 @@ public abstract class BaseActivityInterface<STATE_TYPE extends BaseState<STATE_T
 
     public interface AnimationFactory {
 
-        void createActivityInterface(long transitionLength);
+        void createActivityInterface(long transitionLength, ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString reason);
 
         /**
          * @param attached Whether to show RecentsView alongside the app window. If false, recents
          *                 will be hidden by some property we can animate, e.g. alpha.
          * @param animate Whether to animate recents to/from its new attached state.
+         * @param reason Explanation for why this method is being called with the given param values
          */
-        default void setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow(boolean attached, boolean animate) { }
+        default void setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow(
+                boolean attached, boolean animate, ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString reason) { }
 
         default boolean isRecentsAttachedToAppWindow() {
             return false;
@@ -442,7 +445,8 @@ public abstract class BaseActivityInterface<STATE_TYPE extends BaseState<STATE_T
         }
 
         @Override
-        public void createActivityInterface(long transitionLength) {
+        public void createActivityInterface(
+                long transitionLength, ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString reason) {
             PendingAnimation pa = new PendingAnimation(transitionLength * 2);
             createBackgroundToOverviewAnim(mActivity, pa);
             AnimatorPlaybackController controller = pa.createPlaybackController();
@@ -465,13 +469,29 @@ public abstract class BaseActivityInterface<STATE_TYPE extends BaseState<STATE_T
             // (because we set the animation as the current state animation), so we reapply the
             // attached state here as well to ensure recents is shown/hidden appropriately.
             if (DisplayController.getNavigationMode(mActivity) == NavigationMode.NO_BUTTON) {
-                setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow(mIsAttachedToWindow, false);
+                setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow(
+                        mIsAttachedToWindow,
+                        false,
+                        reason.append("; reapplying the attached state (attached=")
+                                .append(Boolean.toString(mIsAttachedToWindow))
+                                .append(", animate=false)"));
             }
         }
 
         @Override
-        public void setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow(boolean attached, boolean animate) {
+        public void setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow(
+                boolean attached, boolean animate, ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString reason) {
+            // TODO(b/244593270): remove these logs; too verbose
+            ActiveGestureLog.INSTANCE.addLog(
+                    new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString("setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow: attached=")
+                            .append(Boolean.toString(attached))
+                            .append(", animate=")
+                            .append(Boolean.toString(animate))
+                            .append(", reason=")
+                            .append(reason));
             if (mIsAttachedToWindow == attached && animate) {
+                ActiveGestureLog.INSTANCE.addLog(new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString(
+                        "setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow: exiting early"));
                 return;
             }
             mIsAttachedToWindow = attached;
@@ -488,9 +508,21 @@ public abstract class BaseActivityInterface<STATE_TYPE extends BaseState<STATE_T
                     .cancelStateElementAnimation(INDEX_RECENTS_TRANSLATE_X_ANIM);
             if (!recentsView.isShown() && animate) {
                 ADJACENT_PAGE_HORIZONTAL_OFFSET.set(recentsView, fromTranslation);
+                ActiveGestureLog.INSTANCE.addLog(new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString(
+                        "setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow: recents view not shown, setting ")
+                        .append("ADJACENT_PAGE_HORIZONTAL_OFFSET to ")
+                        .append(Float.toString(fromTranslation)));
             } else {
                 fromTranslation = ADJACENT_PAGE_HORIZONTAL_OFFSET.get(recentsView);
+                ActiveGestureLog.INSTANCE.addLog(new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString(
+                        "setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow: updating fromTranslation to ")
+                        .append(Float.toString(fromTranslation)));
             }
+            ActiveGestureLog.INSTANCE.addLog(new ActiveGestureLog.CompoundString(
+                    "setRecentsAttachedToAppWindow: fromTranslation=")
+                    .append(Float.toString(fromTranslation))
+                    .append(", toTranslation=")
+                    .append(Float.toString(toTranslation)));
             if (!animate) {
                 ADJACENT_PAGE_HORIZONTAL_OFFSET.set(recentsView, toTranslation);
             } else {