diff --git a/modules/background-downloader/android/src/main/java/expo/modules/backgrounddownloader/DownloadService.kt b/modules/background-downloader/android/src/main/java/expo/modules/backgrounddownloader/DownloadService.kt
index ed05fc5c..e7cc01b9 100644
--- a/modules/background-downloader/android/src/main/java/expo/modules/backgrounddownloader/DownloadService.kt
+++ b/modules/background-downloader/android/src/main/java/expo/modules/backgrounddownloader/DownloadService.kt
@@ -5,42 +5,92 @@ import android.app.NotificationChannel
 import android.app.NotificationManager
 import android.app.Service
 import android.content.Intent
+import android.content.pm.ServiceInfo
 import android.os.Binder
 import android.os.Build
 import android.os.IBinder
+import android.os.SystemClock
 import android.util.Log
 import androidx.core.app.NotificationCompat
+import androidx.core.app.ServiceCompat
 
 class DownloadService : Service() {
   private val TAG = "DownloadService"
   private val NOTIFICATION_ID = 1001
   private val CHANNEL_ID = "download_channel"
-  
+
+  // Time threshold to detect if we're in boot context (10 minutes after boot)
+  private val BOOT_THRESHOLD_MS = 10 * 60 * 1000L
+
   private val binder = DownloadServiceBinder()
   private var activeDownloadCount = 0
   private var currentDownloadTitle = "Preparing download..."
   private var currentProgress = 0
-  
+  private var isForegroundStarted = false
+
   inner class DownloadServiceBinder : Binder() {
     fun getService(): DownloadService = this@DownloadService
   }
-  
+
   override fun onCreate() {
     super.onCreate()
     Log.d(TAG, "DownloadService created")
     createNotificationChannel()
   }
-  
+
   override fun onBind(intent: Intent?): IBinder {
     Log.d(TAG, "DownloadService bound")
     return binder
   }
-  
+
   override fun onStartCommand(intent: Intent?, flags: Int, startId: Int): Int {
     Log.d(TAG, "DownloadService started")
-    startForeground(NOTIFICATION_ID, createNotification())
+
+    // On Android 15+, dataSync foreground services cannot be started from BOOT_COMPLETED context
+    // Check if we're likely in a boot context and skip foreground start if so
+    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 35 && isLikelyBootContext()) {
+      Log.w(TAG, "Skipping foreground start - likely boot context on Android 15+")
+      stopSelf()
+      return START_NOT_STICKY
+    }
+
+    startForegroundSafely()
     return START_STICKY
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Check if we're likely in a boot context by checking system uptime.
+   * If the system has been up for less than the threshold, we might be in boot context.
+   */
+  private fun isLikelyBootContext(): Boolean {
+    val uptimeMs = SystemClock.elapsedRealtime()
+    return uptimeMs < BOOT_THRESHOLD_MS
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Start foreground service safely with proper service type for Android 14+
+   */
+  private fun startForegroundSafely() {
+    if (isForegroundStarted) return
+
+    try {
+      if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 34) {
+        ServiceCompat.startForeground(
+          this,
+          NOTIFICATION_ID,
+          createNotification(),
+          ServiceInfo.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_TYPE_DATA_SYNC
+        )
+      } else {
+        startForeground(NOTIFICATION_ID, createNotification())
+      }
+      isForegroundStarted = true
+    } catch (e: Exception) {
+      Log.e(TAG, "Failed to start foreground service", e)
+      // If we can't start foreground, stop the service
+      stopSelf()
+    }
+  }
   
   override fun onDestroy() {
     Log.d(TAG, "DownloadService destroyed")
@@ -86,7 +136,7 @@ class DownloadService : Service() {
     activeDownloadCount++
     Log.d(TAG, "Download started, active count: $activeDownloadCount")
     if (activeDownloadCount == 1) {
-      startForeground(NOTIFICATION_ID, createNotification())
+      startForegroundSafely()
     }
   }
   
@@ -94,7 +144,10 @@ class DownloadService : Service() {
     activeDownloadCount = maxOf(0, activeDownloadCount - 1)
     Log.d(TAG, "Download stopped, active count: $activeDownloadCount")
     if (activeDownloadCount == 0) {
-      stopForeground(STOP_FOREGROUND_REMOVE)
+      if (isForegroundStarted) {
+        ServiceCompat.stopForeground(this, ServiceCompat.STOP_FOREGROUND_REMOVE)
+        isForegroundStarted = false
+      }
       stopSelf()
     }
   }