diff --git a/Downloader.h b/Downloader.h
index bd0c8c1a..a997921e 100644
--- a/Downloader.h
+++ b/Downloader.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ typedef void (^ProgressCallback)(NSNumber*, NSNumber*);
 @property (copy) BeginCallback beginCallback;                 // Download has started (headers received)
 @property (copy) ProgressCallback progressCallback;           // Download is progressing
 @property        bool background;                             // Whether to continue download when app is in background
+@property        bool discretionary;                          // Whether the file may be downloaded at the OS's discretion (iOS only)
 @property (copy) NSNumber* progressDivider;
 
 
diff --git a/Downloader.m b/Downloader.m
index e42177cb..ca0a3fd3 100644
--- a/Downloader.m
+++ b/Downloader.m
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ - (void)downloadFile:(RNFSDownloadParams*)params
   if (_params.background) {
     NSString *uuid = [[NSUUID UUID] UUIDString];
     config = [NSURLSessionConfiguration backgroundSessionConfigurationWithIdentifier:uuid];
+    config.discretionary = _params.discretionary;
   } else {
     config = [NSURLSessionConfiguration defaultSessionConfiguration];
   }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 488dc304..7120cffd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -486,7 +486,8 @@ type DownloadFileOptions = {
   fromUrl: string;          // URL to download file from
   toFile: string;           // Local filesystem path to save the file to
   headers?: Headers;        // An object of headers to be passed to the server
-  background?: boolean;
+  background?: boolean;     // Continue the download in the background after the app terminates (iOS only)
+  discretionary?: boolean;  // Allow the OS to control the timing and speed of the download to improve perceived performance  (iOS only)
   progressDivider?: number;
   begin?: (res: DownloadBeginCallbackResult) => void;
   progress?: (res: DownloadProgressCallbackResult) => void;
diff --git a/RNFSManager.m b/RNFSManager.m
index 101c7c16..f5694eda 100755
--- a/RNFSManager.m
+++ b/RNFSManager.m
@@ -422,6 +422,8 @@ - (dispatch_queue_t)methodQueue
   params.headers = headers;
   NSNumber* background = options[@"background"];
   params.background = [background boolValue];
+  NSNumber* discretionary = options[@"discretionary"];
+  params.discretionary = [discretionary boolValue];
   NSNumber* progressDivider = options[@"progressDivider"];
   params.progressDivider = progressDivider;