diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ca5879bc3..d5deed023 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -211,7 +211,16 @@ See [Specifying Android library versions](#specifying-android-library-versions)
 
 ### iOS only
 - `IOS_STRIP_DEBUG` - prevents symbolification of all libraries included via Cocoapods. See [Strip debug symbols](#strip-debug-symbols) for more info.
-- `SETUP_RECAPTCHA_VERIFICATION` - automatically sets up reCAPTCHA verification for phone authentication on iOS. See [verifyPhoneNumber](#verifyphonenumber) for more info. 
+    - e.g.  `--variable IOS_STRIP_DEBUG=true`
+    - Defaults to `false` if not specified.
+- `SETUP_RECAPTCHA_VERIFICATION` - automatically sets up reCAPTCHA verification for phone authentication on iOS. See [verifyPhoneNumber](#verifyphonenumber) for more info.
+    - e.g.  `--variable IOS_STRIP_DEBUG=true`
+    - Defaults to `false` if not specified.
+- `IOS_SHOULD_ESTABLISH_DIRECT_CHANNEL` - If `true` Firebase Messaging will automatically establish a socket-based, direct channel to the FCM server.
+   - e.g.  `--variable IOS_SHOULD_ESTABLISH_DIRECT_CHANNEL=true`
+   - Defaults to `false` if not specified.
+   - See [`shouldEstablishDirectChannel`](https://firebase.google.com/docs/reference/ios/firebasemessaging/api/reference/Classes/FIRMessaging#/c:objc(cs)FIRMessaging(py)shouldEstablishDirectChannel)
+   - Note: Firebase Messaging iOS SDK version 7.0 will be a breaking change where the SDK will no longer support iOS Direct Channel API.
 
 ## Supported Cordova Versions
 - cordova: `>= 9`
diff --git a/scripts/ios/helper.js b/scripts/ios/helper.js
index 5b312b812..e4507cdf6 100755
--- a/scripts/ios/helper.js
+++ b/scripts/ios/helper.js
@@ -200,6 +200,10 @@ module.exports = {
             googlePlist["FIREBASE_CRASHLYTICS_COLLECTION_ENABLED"] = (pluginVariables['FIREBASE_CRASHLYTICS_COLLECTION_ENABLED'] !== "false" ? "true" : "false") ;
             googlePlistModified = true;
         }
+        if(typeof pluginVariables['IOS_SHOULD_ESTABLISH_DIRECT_CHANNEL'] !== 'undefined'){
+            appPlist["shouldEstablishDirectChannel"] = (pluginVariables['IOS_SHOULD_ESTABLISH_DIRECT_CHANNEL'] === "true") ;
+            appPlistModified = true;
+        }
         if(pluginVariables['SETUP_RECAPTCHA_VERIFICATION'] === 'true'){
             var reversedClientId = googlePlist['REVERSED_CLIENT_ID'];
 
diff --git a/src/ios/AppDelegate+FirebasePlugin.m b/src/ios/AppDelegate+FirebasePlugin.m
index 98d52701b..bf3d4d1c9 100644
--- a/src/ios/AppDelegate+FirebasePlugin.m
+++ b/src/ios/AppDelegate+FirebasePlugin.m
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ + (AppDelegate*) instance {
 static NSDictionary* mutableUserInfo;
 static FIRAuthStateDidChangeListenerHandle authStateChangeListener;
 static bool authStateChangeListenerInitialized = false;
+static bool shouldEstablishDirectChannel = false;
 
 - (void)setDelegate:(id)delegate {
     objc_setAssociatedObject(self, kDelegateKey, delegate, OBJC_ASSOCIATION_RETAIN_NONATOMIC);
@@ -77,10 +78,12 @@ - (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application swizzledDidFinishLaunchingWithO
             [FirebasePlugin.firebasePlugin _logError:@"GoogleService-Info.plist NOT FOUND, setup: [FIRApp defaultApp]"];
             [FIRApp configure];
         }
+        
+        shouldEstablishDirectChannel = [[[NSBundle mainBundle] objectForInfoDictionaryKey:@"shouldEstablishDirectChannel"] boolValue];
 
         // Set FCM messaging delegate
         [FIRMessaging messaging].delegate = self;
-        [FIRMessaging messaging].shouldEstablishDirectChannel = true;
+        [FIRMessaging messaging].shouldEstablishDirectChannel = shouldEstablishDirectChannel;
         
         // Setup Firestore
         [FirebasePlugin setFirestore:[FIRFirestore firestore]];
@@ -119,15 +122,15 @@ - (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application swizzledDidFinishLaunchingWithO
 }
 
 - (void)applicationDidBecomeActive:(UIApplication *)application {
-    [FIRMessaging messaging].shouldEstablishDirectChannel = true;
     self.applicationInBackground = @(NO);
-    [FirebasePlugin.firebasePlugin _logMessage:@"FCM direct channel = true"];
+    [FIRMessaging messaging].shouldEstablishDirectChannel = shouldEstablishDirectChannel;
+    [FirebasePlugin.firebasePlugin _logMessage:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"Enter foreground: FCM direct channel = %@", shouldEstablishDirectChannel ? @"true" : @"false"]];
 }
 
 - (void)applicationDidEnterBackground:(UIApplication *)application {
-    [FIRMessaging messaging].shouldEstablishDirectChannel = false;
     self.applicationInBackground = @(YES);
-    [FirebasePlugin.firebasePlugin _logMessage:@"FCM direct channel = false"];
+    [FIRMessaging messaging].shouldEstablishDirectChannel = false;
+    [FirebasePlugin.firebasePlugin _logMessage:@"Enter background: FCM direct channel = false"];
 }
 
 # pragma mark - Google SignIn