diff --git a/src/Defaults/index.ts b/src/Defaults/index.ts
index e557e54..fda44dd 100644
--- a/src/Defaults/index.ts
+++ b/src/Defaults/index.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ const BASE_CONNECTION_CONFIG: CommonSocketConfig<any> = {
 
 export const DEFAULT_CONNECTION_CONFIG: SocketConfig = {
 	...BASE_CONNECTION_CONFIG,
+	downloadHistory: true,
 	linkPreviewImageThumbnailWidth: 192,
 	getMessage: async() => undefined
 }
diff --git a/src/Socket/messages-recv.ts b/src/Socket/messages-recv.ts
index 239aef1..170ad0a 100644
--- a/src/Socket/messages-recv.ts
+++ b/src/Socket/messages-recv.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ export const makeMessagesRecvSocket = (config: SocketConfig) => {
 	const {
 		logger,
 		treatCiphertextMessagesAsReal,
-		retryRequestDelayMs
+		retryRequestDelayMs,
+		downloadHistory
 	} = config
 	const sock = makeChatsSocket(config)
 	const {
@@ -149,7 +150,15 @@ export const makeMessagesRecvSocket = (config: SocketConfig) => {
 		// process message and emit events
 		const newEvents = await processMessage(
 			msg,
-			{ historyCache, meId, accountSettings: authState.creds.accountSettings, keyStore: authState.keys, logger, treatCiphertextMessagesAsReal }
+			{
+				downloadHistory,
+				historyCache,
+				meId,
+				accountSettings: authState.creds.accountSettings,
+				keyStore: authState.keys,
+				logger,
+				treatCiphertextMessagesAsReal
+			}
 		)
 
 		// send ack for history message
diff --git a/src/Types/index.ts b/src/Types/index.ts
index 8786e7c..8788d0e 100644
--- a/src/Types/index.ts
+++ b/src/Types/index.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ import { CommonSocketConfig } from './Socket'
 export type MessageRetryMap = { [msgId: string]: number }
 
 export type SocketConfig = CommonSocketConfig<AuthenticationState> & {
+    /** By default true, should history messages be downloaded and processed */
+    downloadHistory: boolean
     /** provide a cache to store a user's device list */
     userDevicesCache?: NodeCache
     /**
diff --git a/src/Utils/process-message.ts b/src/Utils/process-message.ts
index 228ee44..958897a 100644
--- a/src/Utils/process-message.ts
+++ b/src/Utils/process-message.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { areJidsSameUser, jidNormalizedUser } from '../WABinary'
 
 type ProcessMessageContext = {
 	historyCache: Set<string>
+	downloadHistory: boolean
 	meId: string
 	keyStore: SignalKeyStoreWithTransaction
 	accountSettings: AccountSettings
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ const MSG_MISSED_CALL_TYPES = new Set([
 
 const processMessage = async(
 	message: proto.IWebMessageInfo,
-	{ historyCache, meId, keyStore, accountSettings, logger, treatCiphertextMessagesAsReal }: ProcessMessageContext
+	{ downloadHistory, historyCache, meId, keyStore, accountSettings, logger, treatCiphertextMessagesAsReal }: ProcessMessageContext
 ) => {
 	const map: Partial<BaileysEventMap<any>> = { }
 
@@ -59,18 +60,20 @@ const processMessage = async(
 
 			logger?.info({ histNotification, id: message.key.id }, 'got history notification')
 
-			const { chats, contacts, messages, isLatest } = await downloadAndProcessHistorySyncNotification(histNotification, historyCache)
+			if(downloadHistory) {
+				const { chats, contacts, messages, isLatest } = await downloadAndProcessHistorySyncNotification(histNotification, historyCache)
 
-			if(chats.length) {
-				map['chats.set'] = { chats, isLatest }
-			}
+				if(chats.length) {
+					map['chats.set'] = { chats, isLatest }
+				}
 
-			if(messages.length) {
-				map['messages.set'] = { messages, isLatest }
-			}
+				if(messages.length) {
+					map['messages.set'] = { messages, isLatest }
+				}
 
-			if(contacts.length) {
-				map['contacts.set'] = { contacts }
+				if(contacts.length) {
+					map['contacts.set'] = { contacts }
+				}
 			}
 
 			break