diff --git a/platform/android/MapboxGLAndroidSDK/src/main/java/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/location/LocationComponent.java b/platform/android/MapboxGLAndroidSDK/src/main/java/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/location/LocationComponent.java
index f27af0a51..ddb211f8f 100644
--- a/platform/android/MapboxGLAndroidSDK/src/main/java/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/location/LocationComponent.java
+++ b/platform/android/MapboxGLAndroidSDK/src/main/java/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/location/LocationComponent.java
@@ -265,6 +265,30 @@ public final class LocationComponent {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * This method initializes the component and needs to be called before any other operations are performed.
+   * Afterwards, you can manage component's visibility by {@link #setLocationComponentEnabled(boolean)}.
+   *
+   * @param context                  the context
+   * @param style                    the proxy object for current map style. More info at {@link Style}
+   * @param useDefaultLocationEngine true if you want to initialize and use the built-in location engine or false if
+   *                                 there should be no location engine initialized
+   * @param locationEngineRequest    the location request
+   * @param options                  the options
+   */
+  @RequiresPermission(anyOf = {ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION})
+  public void activateLocationComponent(@NonNull Context context, @NonNull Style style,
+                                        boolean useDefaultLocationEngine,
+                                        @NonNull LocationEngineRequest locationEngineRequest,
+                                        @NonNull LocationComponentOptions options) {
+    setLocationEngineRequest(locationEngineRequest);
+    if (useDefaultLocationEngine) {
+      activateLocationComponent(context, style, options);
+    } else {
+      activateLocationComponent(context, style, null, options);
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * This method initializes the component and needs to be called before any other operations are performed.
    * Afterwards, you can manage component's visibility by {@link #setLocationComponentEnabled(boolean)}.
diff --git a/platform/android/MapboxGLAndroidSDK/src/test/java/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/location/LocationComponentTest.kt b/platform/android/MapboxGLAndroidSDK/src/test/java/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/location/LocationComponentTest.kt
index cf513068a..0f316fa48 100644
--- a/platform/android/MapboxGLAndroidSDK/src/test/java/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/location/LocationComponentTest.kt
+++ b/platform/android/MapboxGLAndroidSDK/src/test/java/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/location/LocationComponentTest.kt
@@ -97,6 +97,20 @@ class LocationComponentTest {
     Assert.assertEquals(locationEngineRequest, locationComponent.locationEngineRequest)
   }
 
+  @Test
+  fun activateWithDefaultLocationEngineRequestAndOptionsTestDefaultLocationEngine() {
+    locationComponent.activateLocationComponent(context, mockk(), true, locationEngineRequest, locationComponentOptions)
+    Assert.assertEquals(locationEngineRequest, locationComponent.locationEngineRequest)
+    Assert.assertNotNull(locationComponent.locationEngine)
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  fun activateWithDefaultLocationEngineRequestAndOptionsTestCustomLocationEngine() {
+    locationComponent.activateLocationComponent(context, mockk(), false, locationEngineRequest, locationComponentOptions)
+    Assert.assertEquals(locationEngineRequest, locationComponent.locationEngineRequest)
+    Assert.assertNull(locationComponent.locationEngine)
+  }
+
   @Test
   fun locationUpdatesWhenEnabledDisableTest() {
     locationComponent.activateLocationComponent(context, mockk(), locationEngine, locationEngineRequest, locationComponentOptions)