diff --git a/packages/flutter_driver/lib/src/extension/extension.dart b/packages/flutter_driver/lib/src/extension/extension.dart
index 324decc9d4..d0219174b3 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_driver/lib/src/extension/extension.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_driver/lib/src/extension/extension.dart
@@ -32,17 +32,18 @@ const String _extensionMethodName = 'driver';
 typedef DataHandler = Future<String> Function(String? message);
 
 class _DriverBinding extends BindingBase with SchedulerBinding, ServicesBinding, GestureBinding, PaintingBinding, SemanticsBinding, RendererBinding, WidgetsBinding {
-  _DriverBinding(this._handler, this._silenceErrors, this.finders, this.commands);
+  _DriverBinding(this._handler, this._silenceErrors, this._enableTextEntryEmulation, this.finders, this.commands);
 
   final DataHandler? _handler;
   final bool _silenceErrors;
+  final bool _enableTextEntryEmulation;
   final List<FinderExtension>? finders;
   final List<CommandExtension>? commands;
 
   @override
   void initServiceExtensions() {
     super.initServiceExtensions();
-    final FlutterDriverExtension extension = FlutterDriverExtension(_handler, _silenceErrors, finders: finders ?? const <FinderExtension>[], commands: commands ?? const <CommandExtension>[]);
+    final FlutterDriverExtension extension = FlutterDriverExtension(_handler, _silenceErrors, _enableTextEntryEmulation, finders: finders ?? const <FinderExtension>[], commands: commands ?? const <CommandExtension>[]);
     registerServiceExtension(
       name: _extensionMethodName,
       callback: extension.call,
@@ -78,6 +79,12 @@ class _DriverBinding extends BindingBase with SchedulerBinding, ServicesBinding,
 /// will still be returned in the `response` field of the result JSON along
 /// with an `isError` boolean.
 ///
+/// The `enableTextEntryEmulation` parameter controls whether the application interacts
+/// with the system's text entry methods or a mocked out version used by Flutter Driver.
+/// If it is set to false, [FlutterDriver.enterText] will fail,
+/// but testing the application with real keyboard input is possible.
+/// This value may be updated during a test by calling [FlutterDriver.setTextEntryEmulation].
+///
 /// The `finders` and `commands` parameters are optional and used to add custom
 /// finders or commands, as in the following example.
 ///
@@ -217,9 +224,9 @@ class _DriverBinding extends BindingBase with SchedulerBinding, ServicesBinding,
 /// }
 /// ```
 ///
-void enableFlutterDriverExtension({ DataHandler? handler, bool silenceErrors = false, List<FinderExtension>? finders, List<CommandExtension>? commands}) {
+void enableFlutterDriverExtension({ DataHandler? handler, bool silenceErrors = false, bool enableTextEntryEmulation = true, List<FinderExtension>? finders, List<CommandExtension>? commands}) {
   assert(WidgetsBinding.instance == null);
-  _DriverBinding(handler, silenceErrors, finders ?? <FinderExtension>[], commands ?? <CommandExtension>[]);
+  _DriverBinding(handler, silenceErrors, enableTextEntryEmulation, finders ?? <FinderExtension>[], commands ?? <CommandExtension>[]);
   assert(WidgetsBinding.instance is _DriverBinding);
 }
 
@@ -315,11 +322,14 @@ class FlutterDriverExtension with DeserializeFinderFactory, CreateFinderFactory,
   /// Creates an object to manage a Flutter Driver connection.
   FlutterDriverExtension(
     this._requestDataHandler,
-    this._silenceErrors, {
+    this._silenceErrors,
+    this._enableTextEntryEmulation, {
     List<FinderExtension> finders = const <FinderExtension>[],
     List<CommandExtension> commands = const <CommandExtension>[],
   }) : assert(finders != null) {
-    registerTextInput();
+    if (_enableTextEntryEmulation) {
+      registerTextInput();
+    }
 
     for(final FinderExtension finder in finders) {
       _finderExtensions[finder.finderType] = finder;
@@ -336,6 +346,8 @@ class FlutterDriverExtension with DeserializeFinderFactory, CreateFinderFactory,
 
   final bool _silenceErrors;
 
+  final bool _enableTextEntryEmulation;
+
   void _log(String message) {
     driverLog('FlutterDriverExtension', message);
   }
diff --git a/packages/flutter_driver/test/src/real_tests/extension_test.dart b/packages/flutter_driver/test/src/real_tests/extension_test.dart
index 899bc16128..8b75fb0894 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_driver/test/src/real_tests/extension_test.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_driver/test/src/real_tests/extension_test.dart
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void main() {
 
     setUp(() {
       result = null;
-      driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String message) async { log.add(message); return (messageId += 1).toString(); }, false);
+      driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String message) async { log.add(message); return (messageId += 1).toString(); }, false, true);
     });
 
     testWidgets('returns immediately when transient callback queue is empty', (WidgetTester tester) async {
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ void main() {
 
     setUp(() {
       result = null;
-      driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String message) async { log.add(message); return (messageId += 1).toString(); }, false);
+      driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String message) async { log.add(message); return (messageId += 1).toString(); }, false, true);
     });
 
     testWidgets('waiting for NoTransientCallbacks returns immediately when transient callback queue is empty', (WidgetTester tester) async {
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ void main() {
   group('getSemanticsId', () {
     FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension;
     setUp(() {
-      driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true);
+      driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true, true);
     });
 
     testWidgets('works when semantics are enabled', (WidgetTester tester) async {
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ void main() {
   });
 
   testWidgets('getOffset', (WidgetTester tester) async {
-    final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true);
+    final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true, true);
 
     Future<Offset> getOffset(OffsetType offset) async {
       final Map<String, String> arguments = GetOffset(ByValueKey(1), offset).serialize();
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ void main() {
 
   testWidgets('getText', (WidgetTester tester) async {
     await silenceDriverLogger(() async {
-      final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true);
+      final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true, true);
 
       Future<String> getTextInternal(SerializableFinder search) async {
         final Map<String, String> arguments = GetText(search, timeout: const Duration(seconds: 1)).serialize();
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ void main() {
 
   testWidgets('descendant finder', (WidgetTester tester) async {
     await silenceDriverLogger(() async {
-      final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true);
+      final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true, true);
 
       Future<String> getDescendantText({ String of, bool matchRoot = false}) async {
         final Map<String, String> arguments = GetText(Descendant(
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ void main() {
 
   testWidgets('descendant finder firstMatchOnly', (WidgetTester tester) async {
     await silenceDriverLogger(() async {
-      final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true);
+      final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true, true);
 
       Future<String> getDescendantText() async {
         final Map<String, String> arguments = GetText(Descendant(
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ void main() {
 
   testWidgets('ancestor finder', (WidgetTester tester) async {
     await silenceDriverLogger(() async {
-      final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true);
+      final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true, true);
 
       Future<Offset> getAncestorTopLeft({ String of, String matching, bool matchRoot = false}) async {
         final Map<String, String> arguments = GetOffset(Ancestor(
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ void main() {
 
   testWidgets('ancestor finder firstMatchOnly', (WidgetTester tester) async {
     await silenceDriverLogger(() async {
-      final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true);
+      final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true, true);
 
       Future<Offset> getAncestorTopLeft() async {
         final Map<String, String> arguments = GetOffset(Ancestor(
@@ -819,7 +819,7 @@ void main() {
   });
 
   testWidgets('GetDiagnosticsTree', (WidgetTester tester) async {
-    final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true);
+    final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true, true);
 
     Future<Map<String, Object>> getDiagnosticsTree(DiagnosticsType type, SerializableFinder finder, { int depth = 0, bool properties = true }) async {
       final Map<String, String> arguments = GetDiagnosticsTree(finder, type, subtreeDepth: depth, includeProperties: properties).serialize();
@@ -884,6 +884,45 @@ void main() {
     expect(children.single['children'], isEmpty);
   });
 
+  group('enableTextEntryEmulation', () {
+    FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension;
+
+    Future<Map<String, dynamic>> enterText() async {
+      final Map<String, String> arguments = const EnterText('foo').serialize();
+      final Map<String, dynamic> result = await driverExtension.call(arguments);
+      return result;
+    }
+
+    const Widget testWidget = MaterialApp(
+      home: Material(
+        child: Center(
+          child: TextField(
+            key: ValueKey<String>('foo'),
+            autofocus: true,
+          ),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+
+    testWidgets('enableTextEntryEmulation false', (WidgetTester tester) async {
+      driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true, false);
+
+      await tester.pumpWidget(testWidget);
+
+      final Map<String, dynamic> enterTextResult = await enterText();
+      expect(enterTextResult['isError'], isTrue);
+    });
+
+    testWidgets('enableTextEntryEmulation true', (WidgetTester tester) async {
+      driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true, true);
+
+      await tester.pumpWidget(testWidget);
+
+      final Map<String, dynamic> enterTextResult = await enterText();
+      expect(enterTextResult['isError'], isFalse);
+    });
+  });
+
   group('extension finders', () {
     final Widget debugTree = Directionality(
       textDirection: TextDirection.ltr,
@@ -907,6 +946,7 @@ void main() {
       final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension(
         (String arg) async => '',
         true,
+        true,
         finders: <FinderExtension>[],
       );
 
@@ -927,6 +967,7 @@ void main() {
       final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension(
         (String arg) async => '',
         true,
+        true,
         finders: <FinderExtension>[
           StubFinderExtension(),
         ],
@@ -948,6 +989,7 @@ void main() {
       final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension(
         (String arg) async => '',
         true,
+        true,
         finders: <FinderExtension>[
           StubFinderExtension(),
         ],
@@ -969,6 +1011,7 @@ void main() {
       final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension(
         (String arg) async => '',
         true,
+        true,
         finders: <FinderExtension>[
           StubFinderExtension(),
         ],
@@ -1013,6 +1056,7 @@ void main() {
       final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension(
         (String arg) async => '',
         true,
+        true,
         commands: <CommandExtension>[],
       );
 
@@ -1033,6 +1077,7 @@ void main() {
       final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension(
         (String arg) async => '',
         true,
+        true,
         commands: <CommandExtension>[
           StubNestedCommandExtension(),
         ],
@@ -1058,6 +1103,7 @@ void main() {
       final FlutterDriverExtension driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension(
         (String arg) async => '',
         true,
+        true,
         commands: <CommandExtension>[
           StubProberCommandExtension(),
         ],
@@ -1085,7 +1131,7 @@ void main() {
     Map<String, dynamic> result;
 
     setUp(() {
-      driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true);
+      driverExtension = FlutterDriverExtension((String arg) async => '', true, true);
       result = null;
     });