diff --git a/common/test/acceptance/pages/lms/learner_profile.py b/common/test/acceptance/pages/lms/learner_profile.py
index 91d1d6e255..3b20ca47d5 100644
--- a/common/test/acceptance/pages/lms/learner_profile.py
+++ b/common/test/acceptance/pages/lms/learner_profile.py
@@ -144,8 +144,9 @@ class LearnerProfilePage(FieldsMixin, PageObject):
 
         if privacy != self.privacy:
             query = self.q(css=PROFILE_VISIBILITY_INPUT)
-            select_option_by_value(query, privacy, focus_out=True)
+            select_option_by_value(query, privacy)
             EmptyPromise(lambda: privacy == self.privacy, 'Privacy is set to {}'.format(privacy)).fulfill()
+            self.q(css='.btn-change-privacy').first.click()
             self.wait_for_ajax()
 
             if privacy == 'all_users':
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/features/_learner-profile.scss b/lms/static/sass/features/_learner-profile.scss
index 9e7a4a00bb..5c48fa5871 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/features/_learner-profile.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/features/_learner-profile.scss
@@ -282,6 +282,15 @@
           max-width: calc(100% - 40px);
           min-width: auto;
         }
+
+        .btn-change-privacy {
+          @extend %btn-primary-blue;
+
+          padding-top: 4px;
+          padding-bottom: 5px;
+          background-image: none;
+          box-shadow: none;
+        }
       }
 
       .u-field-title {
diff --git a/lms/templates/fields/field_dropdown.underscore b/lms/templates/fields/field_dropdown.underscore
index 48826683a1..906d2bb53e 100644
--- a/lms/templates/fields/field_dropdown.underscore
+++ b/lms/templates/fields/field_dropdown.underscore
@@ -40,6 +40,12 @@
     <% } %>
 </span>
 
+<% if (editable != 'never' && id === 'account_privacy') { %>
+    <button class="btn btn-change-privacy hidden">
+        <span><%- gettext('Save') %></span>
+    </button>
+<% } %>
+
 <span class="u-field-message" id="u-field-message-<%- id %>">
     <span class="u-field-message-notification" aria-live="polite"></span>
     <span class="u-field-message-help" id="u-field-help-message-<%- id %>"><%- message %></span>
diff --git a/openedx/features/learner_profile/static/learner_profile/js/views/learner_profile_fields.js b/openedx/features/learner_profile/static/learner_profile/js/views/learner_profile_fields.js
index ae72da3015..28c24ab37b 100644
--- a/openedx/features/learner_profile/static/learner_profile/js/views/learner_profile_fields.js
+++ b/openedx/features/learner_profile/static/learner_profile/js/views/learner_profile_fields.js
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@
 
         LearnerProfileFieldViews.AccountPrivacyFieldView = FieldViews.DropdownFieldView.extend({
 
+            events: {
+                'click button.btn-change-privacy': 'finishEditing',
+                'change select': 'showSaveButton'
+            },
+
             render: function() {
                 this._super();
                 this.showNotificationMessage();
@@ -57,6 +62,10 @@
                     this.$('.u-field-value select').val('private');
                     this.disableField(true);
                 }
+            },
+
+            showSaveButton: function() {
+                $('.btn-change-privacy').removeClass('hidden');
             }
         });