diff --git a/changelog.d/5719.feature b/changelog.d/5719.feature
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7561dfd82fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/5719.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Do not cancel the current incremental sync request and treatment when the app goes to background
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/org/matrix/android/sdk/internal/session/sync/job/SyncThread.kt b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/org/matrix/android/sdk/internal/session/sync/job/SyncThread.kt
index 2460720adc6..204c26a8d60 100644
--- a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/org/matrix/android/sdk/internal/session/sync/job/SyncThread.kt
+++ b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/org/matrix/android/sdk/internal/session/sync/job/SyncThread.kt
@@ -107,7 +107,11 @@ internal class SyncThread @Inject constructor(private val syncTask: SyncTask,
             Timber.tag(loggerTag.value).d("Pause sync...")
             isStarted = false
             retryNoNetworkTask?.cancel()
-            syncScope.coroutineContext.cancelChildren()
+            // Do not cancel the current incremental sync.
+            // Incremental sync can be long and it requires the user to wait for the treatment to end,
+            // else all is restarted from the beginning each time the user moves the app to foreground.
+            Timber.tag(loggerTag.value).d("Pause sync... Not cancelling incremental sync")
+            // syncScope.coroutineContext.cancelChildren()
         }
     }