diff --git a/res/values/strings.xml b/res/values/strings.xml
index b1180c423e0..2f2167eaf5d 100644
--- a/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -7903,4 +7903,7 @@
 
     <!-- Section title for the Domain URL app preference list [CHAR LIMIT=60]-->
     <string name="domain_url_section_title">Installed apps</string>
+
+    <!-- Warning when activating the automatic storage manager on legacy devices. [CHAR LIMIT=NONE] -->
+    <string name="automatic_storage_manager_activation_warning">Your storage is now being managed by the storage manager</string>
 </resources>
diff --git a/src/com/android/settings/deletionhelper/ActivationWarningFragment.java b/src/com/android/settings/deletionhelper/ActivationWarningFragment.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f7d46d1c433
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/com/android/settings/deletionhelper/ActivationWarningFragment.java
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2016 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.settings.deletionhelper;
+
+import android.app.AlertDialog;
+import android.app.Dialog;
+import android.app.DialogFragment;
+import android.content.DialogInterface;
+import android.os.Bundle;
+import com.android.settings.R;
+
+/**
+ * Fragment to warn the user about activating the storage manager.
+ */
+public class ActivationWarningFragment extends DialogFragment {
+    public static final String TAG = "ActivationWarningFragment";
+
+    public static ActivationWarningFragment newInstance() {
+        return new ActivationWarningFragment();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Dialog onCreateDialog(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
+        return new AlertDialog.Builder(getActivity())
+                .setMessage(R.string.automatic_storage_manager_activation_warning)
+                .setPositiveButton(android.R.string.ok, null)
+                .create();
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/com/android/settings/deletionhelper/AutomaticStorageManagerSettings.java b/src/com/android/settings/deletionhelper/AutomaticStorageManagerSettings.java
index 6177ab4059d..861bbf85191 100644
--- a/src/com/android/settings/deletionhelper/AutomaticStorageManagerSettings.java
+++ b/src/com/android/settings/deletionhelper/AutomaticStorageManagerSettings.java
@@ -17,9 +17,11 @@
 package com.android.settings.deletionhelper;
 
 import android.app.Activity;
+import android.app.AlertDialog;
 import android.content.ContentResolver;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.os.Bundle;
+import android.os.SystemProperties;
 import android.os.storage.StorageManager;
 import android.provider.Settings;
 import android.support.v14.preference.SwitchPreference;
@@ -47,6 +49,8 @@ public class AutomaticStorageManagerSettings extends SettingsPreferenceFragment
     private static final String KEY_STORAGE_MANAGER_SWITCH = "storage_manager_active";
     private static final String KEY_DOWNLOADS_BACKUP_SWITCH = "downloads_backup_active";
     private static final String KEY_DOWNLOADS_DAYS = "downloads_days";
+    private static final String STORAGE_MANAGER_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT_PROPERTY =
+            "ro.storage_manager.enabled";
 
     private DropDownPreference mDaysToRetain;
     private DropDownPreference mDownloadsDaysToRetain;
@@ -138,6 +142,10 @@ public class AutomaticStorageManagerSettings extends SettingsPreferenceFragment
                 Settings.Secure.putInt(getContentResolver(),
                         Settings.Secure.AUTOMATIC_STORAGE_MANAGER_ENABLED,
                         storageManagerChecked ? 1 : 0);
+                // Only show a warning if enabling.
+                if (storageManagerChecked) {
+                    maybeShowWarning();
+                }
                 break;
             case KEY_DOWNLOADS_BACKUP_SWITCH:
                 boolean downloadsBackupChecked = (boolean) newValue;
@@ -186,4 +194,15 @@ public class AutomaticStorageManagerSettings extends SettingsPreferenceFragment
         }
         return indices.length - 1;
     }
+
+    private void maybeShowWarning() {
+        // If the storage manager is on by default, we can use the normal message.
+        boolean warningUnneeded = SystemProperties.getBoolean(
+                STORAGE_MANAGER_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT_PROPERTY, false);
+        if (warningUnneeded) {
+            return;
+        }
+        ActivationWarningFragment fragment = ActivationWarningFragment.newInstance();
+        fragment.show(getFragmentManager(), ActivationWarningFragment.TAG);
+    }
 }