diff --git a/RELEASENOTES.md b/RELEASENOTES.md
index 757f51d57d..e27d4fd5eb 100644
--- a/RELEASENOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASENOTES.md
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
     *   Fix potential infinite loop in `ProgressiveDownloader` caused by
         simultaneous download and playback with the same `PriorityTaskManager`
         ([#10570](https://github.com/google/ExoPlayer/pull/10570)).
+    *   Make download notification appear immediately
+        ([#183](https://github.com/androidx/media/pull/183))
 *   Audio:
     *   Adds `AudioOffloadListener.onExperimentalOffloadedPlayback` for the
         AudioTrack offload state.
diff --git a/libraries/exoplayer/src/main/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/offline/DownloadNotificationHelper.java b/libraries/exoplayer/src/main/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/offline/DownloadNotificationHelper.java
index c8aa4b3d37..e0fe53ef65 100644
--- a/libraries/exoplayer/src/main/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/offline/DownloadNotificationHelper.java
+++ b/libraries/exoplayer/src/main/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/offline/DownloadNotificationHelper.java
@@ -15,15 +15,21 @@
  */
 package androidx.media3.exoplayer.offline;
 
+import static androidx.core.app.NotificationCompat.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_IMMEDIATE;
+
+import android.annotation.SuppressLint;
 import android.app.Notification;
 import android.app.PendingIntent;
 import android.content.Context;
+import androidx.annotation.DoNotInline;
 import androidx.annotation.DrawableRes;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
+import androidx.annotation.RequiresApi;
 import androidx.annotation.StringRes;
 import androidx.core.app.NotificationCompat;
 import androidx.media3.common.C;
 import androidx.media3.common.util.UnstableApi;
+import androidx.media3.common.util.Util;
 import androidx.media3.exoplayer.R;
 import androidx.media3.exoplayer.scheduler.Requirements;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -237,6 +243,19 @@ public final class DownloadNotificationHelper {
     notificationBuilder.setProgress(maxProgress, currentProgress, indeterminateProgress);
     notificationBuilder.setOngoing(ongoing);
     notificationBuilder.setShowWhen(showWhen);
+    if (Util.SDK_INT >= 31) {
+      Api31.setForegroundServiceBehavior(notificationBuilder);
+    }
     return notificationBuilder.build();
   }
+
+  @RequiresApi(31)
+  private static final class Api31 {
+    @SuppressLint("WrongConstant") // TODO(b/254277605): remove lint suppression
+    @DoNotInline
+    public static void setForegroundServiceBehavior(
+        NotificationCompat.Builder notificationBuilder) {
+      notificationBuilder.setForegroundServiceBehavior(FOREGROUND_SERVICE_IMMEDIATE);
+    }
+  }
 }