diff --git a/mediapipe/framework/formats/BUILD b/mediapipe/framework/formats/BUILD
index b23209f7d..242de6ff9 100644
--- a/mediapipe/framework/formats/BUILD
+++ b/mediapipe/framework/formats/BUILD
@@ -427,6 +427,17 @@ cc_test(
     ],
 )
 
+# Used by vendor processes that don't have access to libandroid.so, but want to use AHardwareBuffer.
+config_setting(
+    name = "android_link_native_window",
+    define_values = {
+        "MEDIAPIPE_ANDROID_LINK_NATIVE_WINDOW": "1",
+        "MEDIAPIPE_NO_JNI": "1",
+    },
+    values = {"crosstool_top": "//external:android/crosstool"},
+    visibility = ["//visibility:private"],
+)
+
 cc_library(
     name = "tensor",
     srcs =
@@ -449,7 +460,13 @@ cc_library(
         "//conditions:default": [],
     }),
     defines = select({
+        # Excludes AHardwareBuffer features from vendor processes
         "//mediapipe/framework:android_no_jni": ["MEDIAPIPE_NO_JNI"],
+        # unless they're linked against nativewindow.
+        ":android_link_native_window": [
+            "MEDIAPIPE_ANDROID_LINK_NATIVE_WINDOW",
+            "MEDIAPIPE_NO_JNI",
+        ],
         "//conditions:default": [],
     }),
     linkopts = select({
@@ -462,6 +479,9 @@ cc_library(
         "//mediapipe:android": [
             "-landroid",
         ],
+        ":android_link_native_window": [
+            "-lnativewindow",  # Provides <android/hardware_buffer.h> to vendor processes on Android API >= 26.
+        ],
     }),
     deps = [
         "//mediapipe/framework:port",
diff --git a/mediapipe/framework/formats/tensor.h b/mediapipe/framework/formats/tensor.h
index 4f95eb27b..fea200f94 100644
--- a/mediapipe/framework/formats/tensor.h
+++ b/mediapipe/framework/formats/tensor.h
@@ -29,12 +29,16 @@
 #include "mediapipe/framework/formats/tensor/internal.h"
 #include "mediapipe/framework/port.h"
 
-#ifndef MEDIAPIPE_NO_JNI
+// Supported use cases for tensor_ahwb:
+// 1. Native code running in Android apps.
+// 2. Android vendor processes linked against nativewindow.
+#if !defined(MEDIAPIPE_NO_JNI) || defined(MEDIAPIPE_ANDROID_LINK_NATIVE_WINDOW)
 #if __ANDROID_API__ >= 26 || defined(__ANDROID_UNAVAILABLE_SYMBOLS_ARE_WEAK__)
 #define MEDIAPIPE_TENSOR_USE_AHWB 1
 #endif  // __ANDROID_API__ >= 26 ||
         // defined(__ANDROID_UNAVAILABLE_SYMBOLS_ARE_WEAK__)
-#endif  // MEDIAPIPE_NO_JNI
+#endif  // !defined(MEDIAPIPE_NO_JNI) ||
+        // defined(MEDIAPIPE_ANDROID_LINK_NATIVE_WINDOW)
 
 #ifdef MEDIAPIPE_TENSOR_USE_AHWB
 #include <EGL/egl.h>