diff --git a/packages/firebase_messaging/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/firebase_messaging/CHANGELOG.md
index e8448c875253..a818b23895c8 100644
--- a/packages/firebase_messaging/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/firebase_messaging/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## 5.1.5
+
+* Enable background message handling on Android.
+
 ## 5.1.4
 
 * Update documentation to reflect new repository location.
diff --git a/packages/firebase_messaging/README.md b/packages/firebase_messaging/README.md
index 1d71ab81d848..4e126949b929 100644
--- a/packages/firebase_messaging/README.md
+++ b/packages/firebase_messaging/README.md
@@ -54,7 +54,82 @@ Note: When you are debugging on Android, use a device or AVD with Google Play se
       <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
   </intent-filter>
   ```
-
+#### Optionally handle background messages
+
+>Background message handling is intended to be performed quickly. Do not perform
+long running tasks as they may not be allowed to finish by the Android system.
+See [Background Execution Limits](https://developer.android.com/about/versions/oreo/background)
+for more.
+
+By default background messaging is not enabled. To handle messages in the background:
+
+1. Add an Application.java class to your app
+
+    ```
+    package io.flutter.plugins.firebasemessagingexample;
+    
+    import io.flutter.app.FlutterApplication;
+    import io.flutter.plugin.common.PluginRegistry;
+    import io.flutter.plugin.common.PluginRegistry.PluginRegistrantCallback;
+    import io.flutter.plugins.GeneratedPluginRegistrant;
+    import io.flutter.plugins.firebasemessaging.FlutterFirebaseMessagingService;
+    
+    public class Application extends FlutterApplication implements PluginRegistrantCallback {
+      @Override
+      public void onCreate() {
+        super.onCreate();
+        FlutterFirebaseMessagingService.setPluginRegistrant(this);
+      }
+    
+      @Override
+      public void registerWith(PluginRegistry registry) {
+        GeneratedPluginRegistrant.registerWith(registry);
+      }
+    }
+    ```
+1. Set name property of application in `AndroidManifest.xml`
+    ```
+    <application android:name=".Application" ...>
+    ```
+1. Define a top level Dart method to handle background messages
+    ```
+    Future<dynamic> myBackgroundMessageHandler(Map<String, dynamic> message) {
+      if (message.containsKey('data')) {
+        // Handle data message
+        final dynamic data = message['data'];
+      }
+    
+      if (message.containsKey('notification')) {
+        // Handle notification message
+        final dynamic notification = message['notification'];
+      }
+    
+      // Or do other work.
+    }
+    ```
+   Note: the protocol of `data` and `notification` are in line with the
+   fields defined by a [RemoteMessage](https://firebase.google.com/docs/reference/android/com/google/firebase/messaging/RemoteMessage). 
+1. Set `onBackgroundMessage` handler when calling `configure`
+    ```
+    _firebaseMessaging.configure(
+          onMessage: (Map<String, dynamic> message) async {
+            print("onMessage: $message");
+            _showItemDialog(message);
+          },
+          onBackgroundMessage: myBackgroundMessageHandler,
+          onLaunch: (Map<String, dynamic> message) async {
+            print("onLaunch: $message");
+            _navigateToItemDetail(message);
+          },
+          onResume: (Map<String, dynamic> message) async {
+            print("onResume: $message");
+            _navigateToItemDetail(message);
+          },
+        );
+    ```
+   Note: `configure` should be called early in the lifecycle of your application
+   so that it can be ready to receive messages as early as possible. See the
+   example app for a demonstration.
 
 ### iOS Integration
 
diff --git a/packages/firebase_messaging/android/src/main/java/io/flutter/plugins/firebasemessaging/FirebaseMessagingPlugin.java b/packages/firebase_messaging/android/src/main/java/io/flutter/plugins/firebasemessaging/FirebaseMessagingPlugin.java
index 4ab56e01d299..28e7eb2f1152 100644
--- a/packages/firebase_messaging/android/src/main/java/io/flutter/plugins/firebasemessaging/FirebaseMessagingPlugin.java
+++ b/packages/firebase_messaging/android/src/main/java/io/flutter/plugins/firebasemessaging/FirebaseMessagingPlugin.java
@@ -41,9 +41,15 @@ public class FirebaseMessagingPlugin extends BroadcastReceiver
   public static void registerWith(Registrar registrar) {
     final MethodChannel channel =
         new MethodChannel(registrar.messenger(), "plugins.flutter.io/firebase_messaging");
+    final MethodChannel backgroundCallbackChannel =
+        new MethodChannel(
+            registrar.messenger(), "plugins.flutter.io/firebase_messaging_background");
     final FirebaseMessagingPlugin plugin = new FirebaseMessagingPlugin(registrar, channel);
     registrar.addNewIntentListener(plugin);
     channel.setMethodCallHandler(plugin);
+    backgroundCallbackChannel.setMethodCallHandler(plugin);
+
+    FlutterFirebaseMessagingService.setBackgroundChannel(backgroundCallbackChannel);
   }
 
   private FirebaseMessagingPlugin(Registrar registrar, MethodChannel channel) {
@@ -99,7 +105,40 @@ private Map<String, Object> parseRemoteMessage(RemoteMessage message) {
 
   @Override
   public void onMethodCall(final MethodCall call, final Result result) {
-    if ("configure".equals(call.method)) {
+    /*  Even when the app is not active the `FirebaseMessagingService` extended by
+     *  `FlutterFirebaseMessagingService` allows incoming FCM messages to be handled.
+     *
+     *  `FcmDartService#start` and `FcmDartService#initialized` are the two methods used
+     *  to optionally setup handling messages received while the app is not active.
+     *
+     *  `FcmDartService#start` sets up the plumbing that allows messages received while
+     *  the app is not active to be handled by a background isolate.
+     *
+     *  `FcmDartService#initialized` is called by the Dart side when the plumbing for
+     *  background message handling is complete.
+     */
+    if ("FcmDartService#start".equals(call.method)) {
+      long setupCallbackHandle = 0;
+      long backgroundMessageHandle = 0;
+      try {
+        Map<String, Long> callbacks = ((Map<String, Long>) call.arguments);
+        setupCallbackHandle = callbacks.get("setupHandle");
+        backgroundMessageHandle = callbacks.get("backgroundHandle");
+      } catch (Exception e) {
+        Log.e(TAG, "There was an exception when getting callback handle from Dart side");
+        e.printStackTrace();
+      }
+      FlutterFirebaseMessagingService.setBackgroundSetupHandle(
+          this.registrar.context(), setupCallbackHandle);
+      FlutterFirebaseMessagingService.startBackgroundIsolate(
+          this.registrar.context(), setupCallbackHandle);
+      FlutterFirebaseMessagingService.setBackgroundMessageHandle(
+          this.registrar.context(), backgroundMessageHandle);
+      result.success(true);
+    } else if ("FcmDartService#initialized".equals(call.method)) {
+      FlutterFirebaseMessagingService.onInitialized();
+      result.success(true);
+    } else if ("configure".equals(call.method)) {
       FirebaseInstanceId.getInstance()
           .getInstanceId()
           .addOnCompleteListener(
diff --git a/packages/firebase_messaging/android/src/main/java/io/flutter/plugins/firebasemessaging/FlutterFirebaseMessagingService.java b/packages/firebase_messaging/android/src/main/java/io/flutter/plugins/firebasemessaging/FlutterFirebaseMessagingService.java
index 345c0161e192..3b88b98b2c6b 100644
--- a/packages/firebase_messaging/android/src/main/java/io/flutter/plugins/firebasemessaging/FlutterFirebaseMessagingService.java
+++ b/packages/firebase_messaging/android/src/main/java/io/flutter/plugins/firebasemessaging/FlutterFirebaseMessagingService.java
@@ -4,10 +4,31 @@
 
 package io.flutter.plugins.firebasemessaging;
 
+import android.app.ActivityManager;
+import android.app.KeyguardManager;
+import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
+import android.content.SharedPreferences;
+import android.os.Handler;
+import android.os.Process;
+import android.util.Log;
 import androidx.localbroadcastmanager.content.LocalBroadcastManager;
 import com.google.firebase.messaging.FirebaseMessagingService;
 import com.google.firebase.messaging.RemoteMessage;
+import io.flutter.plugin.common.MethodChannel;
+import io.flutter.plugin.common.PluginRegistry;
+import io.flutter.view.FlutterCallbackInformation;
+import io.flutter.view.FlutterMain;
+import io.flutter.view.FlutterNativeView;
+import io.flutter.view.FlutterRunArguments;
+import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.Iterator;
+import java.util.LinkedList;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 
 public class FlutterFirebaseMessagingService extends FirebaseMessagingService {
 
@@ -18,16 +39,81 @@ public class FlutterFirebaseMessagingService extends FirebaseMessagingService {
   public static final String ACTION_TOKEN = "io.flutter.plugins.firebasemessaging.TOKEN";
   public static final String EXTRA_TOKEN = "token";
 
+  private static final String SHARED_PREFERENCES_KEY = "io.flutter.android_fcm_plugin";
+  private static final String BACKGROUND_SETUP_CALLBACK_HANDLE_KEY = "background_setup_callback";
+  private static final String BACKGROUND_MESSAGE_CALLBACK_HANDLE_KEY =
+      "background_message_callback";
+
+  // TODO(kroikie): make isIsolateRunning per-instance, not static.
+  private static AtomicBoolean isIsolateRunning = new AtomicBoolean(false);
+
+  /** Background Dart execution context. */
+  private static FlutterNativeView backgroundFlutterView;
+
+  private static MethodChannel backgroundChannel;
+
+  private static Long backgroundMessageHandle;
+
+  private static List<RemoteMessage> backgroundMessageQueue =
+      Collections.synchronizedList(new LinkedList<RemoteMessage>());
+
+  private static PluginRegistry.PluginRegistrantCallback pluginRegistrantCallback;
+
+  private static final String TAG = "FlutterFcmService";
+
+  private static Context backgroundContext;
+
+  @Override
+  public void onCreate() {
+    super.onCreate();
+
+    backgroundContext = getApplicationContext();
+    FlutterMain.ensureInitializationComplete(backgroundContext, null);
+
+    // If background isolate is not running start it.
+    if (!isIsolateRunning.get()) {
+      SharedPreferences p = backgroundContext.getSharedPreferences(SHARED_PREFERENCES_KEY, 0);
+      long callbackHandle = p.getLong(BACKGROUND_SETUP_CALLBACK_HANDLE_KEY, 0);
+      startBackgroundIsolate(backgroundContext, callbackHandle);
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Called when message is received.
    *
    * @param remoteMessage Object representing the message received from Firebase Cloud Messaging.
    */
   @Override
-  public void onMessageReceived(RemoteMessage remoteMessage) {
-    Intent intent = new Intent(ACTION_REMOTE_MESSAGE);
-    intent.putExtra(EXTRA_REMOTE_MESSAGE, remoteMessage);
-    LocalBroadcastManager.getInstance(this).sendBroadcast(intent);
+  public void onMessageReceived(final RemoteMessage remoteMessage) {
+    // If application is running in the foreground use local broadcast to handle message.
+    // Otherwise use the background isolate to handle message.
+    if (isApplicationForeground(this)) {
+      Intent intent = new Intent(ACTION_REMOTE_MESSAGE);
+      intent.putExtra(EXTRA_REMOTE_MESSAGE, remoteMessage);
+      LocalBroadcastManager.getInstance(this).sendBroadcast(intent);
+    } else {
+      // If background isolate is not running yet, put message in queue and it will be handled
+      // when the isolate starts.
+      if (!isIsolateRunning.get()) {
+        backgroundMessageQueue.add(remoteMessage);
+      } else {
+        final CountDownLatch latch = new CountDownLatch(1);
+        new Handler(getMainLooper())
+            .post(
+                new Runnable() {
+                  @Override
+                  public void run() {
+                    executeDartCallbackInBackgroundIsolate(
+                        FlutterFirebaseMessagingService.this, remoteMessage, latch);
+                  }
+                });
+        try {
+          latch.await();
+        } catch (InterruptedException ex) {
+          Log.i(TAG, "Exception waiting to execute Dart callback", ex);
+        }
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   /**
@@ -42,4 +128,205 @@ public void onNewToken(String token) {
     intent.putExtra(EXTRA_TOKEN, token);
     LocalBroadcastManager.getInstance(this).sendBroadcast(intent);
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Setup the background isolate that would allow background messages to be handled on the Dart
+   * side. Called either by the plugin when the app is starting up or when the app receives a
+   * message while it is inactive.
+   *
+   * @param context Registrar or FirebaseMessagingService context.
+   * @param callbackHandle Handle used to retrieve the Dart function that sets up background
+   *     handling on the dart side.
+   */
+  public static void startBackgroundIsolate(Context context, long callbackHandle) {
+    FlutterMain.ensureInitializationComplete(context, null);
+    String appBundlePath = FlutterMain.findAppBundlePath(context);
+    FlutterCallbackInformation flutterCallback =
+        FlutterCallbackInformation.lookupCallbackInformation(callbackHandle);
+    if (flutterCallback == null) {
+      Log.e(TAG, "Fatal: failed to find callback");
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Note that we're passing `true` as the second argument to our
+    // FlutterNativeView constructor. This specifies the FlutterNativeView
+    // as a background view and does not create a drawing surface.
+    backgroundFlutterView = new FlutterNativeView(context, true);
+    if (appBundlePath != null && !isIsolateRunning.get()) {
+      if (pluginRegistrantCallback == null) {
+        throw new RuntimeException("PluginRegistrantCallback is not set.");
+      }
+      FlutterRunArguments args = new FlutterRunArguments();
+      args.bundlePath = appBundlePath;
+      args.entrypoint = flutterCallback.callbackName;
+      args.libraryPath = flutterCallback.callbackLibraryPath;
+      backgroundFlutterView.runFromBundle(args);
+      pluginRegistrantCallback.registerWith(backgroundFlutterView.getPluginRegistry());
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Acknowledge that background message handling on the Dart side is ready. This is called by the
+   * Dart side once all background initialization is complete via `FcmDartService#initialized`.
+   */
+  public static void onInitialized() {
+    isIsolateRunning.set(true);
+    synchronized (backgroundMessageQueue) {
+      // Handle all the messages received before the Dart isolate was
+      // initialized, then clear the queue.
+      Iterator<RemoteMessage> i = backgroundMessageQueue.iterator();
+      while (i.hasNext()) {
+        executeDartCallbackInBackgroundIsolate(backgroundContext, i.next(), null);
+      }
+      backgroundMessageQueue.clear();
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Set the method channel that is used for handling background messages. This method is only
+   * called when the plugin registers.
+   *
+   * @param channel Background method channel.
+   */
+  public static void setBackgroundChannel(MethodChannel channel) {
+    backgroundChannel = channel;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Set the background message handle for future use. When background messages need to be handled
+   * on the Dart side the handler must be retrieved in the background isolate to allow processing of
+   * the incoming message. This method is called by the Dart side via `FcmDartService#start`.
+   *
+   * @param context Registrar context.
+   * @param handle Handle representing the Dart side method that will handle background messages.
+   */
+  public static void setBackgroundMessageHandle(Context context, Long handle) {
+    backgroundMessageHandle = handle;
+
+    // Store background message handle in shared preferences so it can be retrieved
+    // by other application instances.
+    SharedPreferences prefs = context.getSharedPreferences(SHARED_PREFERENCES_KEY, 0);
+    prefs.edit().putLong(BACKGROUND_MESSAGE_CALLBACK_HANDLE_KEY, handle).apply();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Set the background message setup handle for future use. The Dart side of this plugin has a
+   * method that sets up the background method channel. When ready to setup the background channel
+   * the Dart side needs to be able to retrieve the setup method. This method is called by the Dart
+   * side via `FcmDartService#start`.
+   *
+   * @param context Registrar context.
+   * @param setupBackgroundHandle Handle representing the dart side method that will setup the
+   *     background method channel.
+   */
+  public static void setBackgroundSetupHandle(Context context, long setupBackgroundHandle) {
+    // Store background setup handle in shared preferences so it can be retrieved
+    // by other application instances.
+    SharedPreferences prefs = context.getSharedPreferences(SHARED_PREFERENCES_KEY, 0);
+    prefs.edit().putLong(BACKGROUND_SETUP_CALLBACK_HANDLE_KEY, setupBackgroundHandle).apply();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Retrieve the background message handle. When a background message is received and must be
+   * processed on the dart side the handle representing the Dart side handle is retrieved so the
+   * appropriate method can be called to process the message on the Dart side. This method is called
+   * by FlutterFirebaseMessagingServcie either when a new background message is received or if
+   * background messages were queued up while background message handling was being setup.
+   *
+   * @param context Application context.
+   * @return Dart side background message handle.
+   */
+  public static Long getBackgroundMessageHandle(Context context) {
+    return context
+        .getSharedPreferences(SHARED_PREFERENCES_KEY, 0)
+        .getLong(BACKGROUND_MESSAGE_CALLBACK_HANDLE_KEY, 0);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Process the incoming message in the background isolate. This method is called only after
+   * background method channel is setup, it is called by FlutterFirebaseMessagingServcie either when
+   * a new background message is received or after background method channel setup for queued
+   * messages received during setup.
+   *
+   * @param context Application or FirebaseMessagingService context.
+   * @param remoteMessage Message received from Firebase Cloud Messaging.
+   * @param latch If set will count down when the Dart side message processing is complete. Allowing
+   *     any waiting threads to continue.
+   */
+  private static void executeDartCallbackInBackgroundIsolate(
+      Context context, RemoteMessage remoteMessage, final CountDownLatch latch) {
+    if (backgroundChannel == null) {
+      throw new RuntimeException(
+          "setBackgroundChannel was not called before messages came in, exiting.");
+    }
+
+    // If another thread is waiting, then wake that thread when the callback returns a result.
+    MethodChannel.Result result = null;
+    if (latch != null) {
+      result = new LatchResult(latch).getResult();
+    }
+
+    Map<String, Object> args = new HashMap<>();
+    Map<String, Object> messageData = new HashMap<>();
+    if (backgroundMessageHandle == null) {
+      backgroundMessageHandle = getBackgroundMessageHandle(context);
+    }
+    args.put("handle", backgroundMessageHandle);
+
+    if (remoteMessage.getData() != null) {
+      messageData.put("data", remoteMessage.getData());
+    }
+    if (remoteMessage.getNotification() != null) {
+      messageData.put("notification", remoteMessage.getNotification());
+    }
+
+    args.put("message", messageData);
+
+    backgroundChannel.invokeMethod("handleBackgroundMessage", args, result);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Set the registrant callback. This is called by the app's Application class if background
+   * message handling is enabled.
+   *
+   * @param callback Application class which implements PluginRegistrantCallback.
+   */
+  public static void setPluginRegistrant(PluginRegistry.PluginRegistrantCallback callback) {
+    pluginRegistrantCallback = callback;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Identify if the application is currently in a state where user interaction is possible. This
+   * method is only called by FlutterFirebaseMessagingService when a message is received to
+   * determine how the incoming message should be handled.
+   *
+   * @param context FlutterFirebaseMessagingService context.
+   * @return True if the application is currently in a state where user interaction is possible,
+   *     false otherwise.
+   */
+  // TODO(kroikie): Find a better way to determine application state.
+  private static boolean isApplicationForeground(Context context) {
+    KeyguardManager keyguardManager =
+        (KeyguardManager) context.getSystemService(Context.KEYGUARD_SERVICE);
+
+    if (keyguardManager.inKeyguardRestrictedInputMode()) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    int myPid = Process.myPid();
+
+    ActivityManager activityManager =
+        (ActivityManager) context.getSystemService(Context.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
+
+    List<ActivityManager.RunningAppProcessInfo> list;
+
+    if ((list = activityManager.getRunningAppProcesses()) != null) {
+      for (ActivityManager.RunningAppProcessInfo aList : list) {
+        ActivityManager.RunningAppProcessInfo info;
+        if ((info = aList).pid == myPid) {
+          return info.importance == ActivityManager.RunningAppProcessInfo.IMPORTANCE_FOREGROUND;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/packages/firebase_messaging/android/src/main/java/io/flutter/plugins/firebasemessaging/LatchResult.java b/packages/firebase_messaging/android/src/main/java/io/flutter/plugins/firebasemessaging/LatchResult.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7c4c9dfaeafa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/firebase_messaging/android/src/main/java/io/flutter/plugins/firebasemessaging/LatchResult.java
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package io.flutter.plugins.firebasemessaging;
+
+import io.flutter.plugin.common.MethodChannel;
+import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
+
+public class LatchResult {
+
+  private MethodChannel.Result result;
+
+  public LatchResult(final CountDownLatch latch) {
+    result =
+        new MethodChannel.Result() {
+          @Override
+          public void success(Object result) {
+            latch.countDown();
+          }
+
+          @Override
+          public void error(String errorCode, String errorMessage, Object errorDetails) {
+            latch.countDown();
+          }
+
+          @Override
+          public void notImplemented() {
+            latch.countDown();
+          }
+        };
+  }
+
+  public MethodChannel.Result getResult() {
+    return result;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/firebase_messaging/lib/firebase_messaging.dart b/packages/firebase_messaging/lib/firebase_messaging.dart
index f40420c6dbe5..49699fd4bae9 100644
--- a/packages/firebase_messaging/lib/firebase_messaging.dart
+++ b/packages/firebase_messaging/lib/firebase_messaging.dart
@@ -3,13 +3,53 @@
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
 import 'dart:async';
+import 'dart:io';
+import 'dart:ui';
 
 import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/widgets.dart';
 import 'package:meta/meta.dart';
 import 'package:platform/platform.dart';
 
 typedef Future<dynamic> MessageHandler(Map<String, dynamic> message);
 
+/// Setup method channel to handle Firebase Cloud Messages received while
+/// the Flutter app is not active. The handle for this method is generated
+/// and passed to the Android side so that the background isolate knows where
+/// to send background messages for processing.
+///
+/// Your app should never call this method directly, this is only for use
+/// by the firebase_messaging plugin to setup background message handling.
+void _fcmSetupBackgroundChannel(
+    {MethodChannel backgroundChannel = const MethodChannel(
+        'plugins.flutter.io/firebase_messaging_background')}) async {
+  // Setup Flutter state needed for MethodChannels.
+  WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
+
+  // This is where the magic happens and we handle background events from the
+  // native portion of the plugin.
+  backgroundChannel.setMethodCallHandler((MethodCall call) async {
+    if (call.method == 'handleBackgroundMessage') {
+      final CallbackHandle handle =
+          CallbackHandle.fromRawHandle(call.arguments['handle']);
+      final Function handlerFunction =
+          PluginUtilities.getCallbackFromHandle(handle);
+      try {
+        await handlerFunction(
+            Map<String, dynamic>.from(call.arguments['message']));
+      } catch (e) {
+        print('Unable to handle incoming background message.');
+        print(e);
+      }
+      return Future<void>.value();
+    }
+  });
+
+  // Once we've finished initializing, let the native portion of the plugin
+  // know that it can start scheduling handling messages.
+  backgroundChannel.invokeMethod<void>('FcmDartService#initialized');
+}
+
 /// Implementation of the Firebase Cloud Messaging API for Flutter.
 ///
 /// Your app should call [requestNotificationPermissions] first and then
@@ -30,6 +70,7 @@ class FirebaseMessaging {
   final Platform _platform;
 
   MessageHandler _onMessage;
+  MessageHandler _onBackgroundMessage;
   MessageHandler _onLaunch;
   MessageHandler _onResume;
 
@@ -59,6 +100,7 @@ class FirebaseMessaging {
   /// Sets up [MessageHandler] for incoming messages.
   void configure({
     MessageHandler onMessage,
+    MessageHandler onBackgroundMessage,
     MessageHandler onLaunch,
     MessageHandler onResume,
   }) {
@@ -67,6 +109,20 @@ class FirebaseMessaging {
     _onResume = onResume;
     _channel.setMethodCallHandler(_handleMethod);
     _channel.invokeMethod<void>('configure');
+    if (onBackgroundMessage != null) {
+      _onBackgroundMessage = onBackgroundMessage;
+      final CallbackHandle backgroundSetupHandle =
+          PluginUtilities.getCallbackHandle(_fcmSetupBackgroundChannel);
+      final CallbackHandle backgroundMessageHandle =
+          PluginUtilities.getCallbackHandle(_onBackgroundMessage);
+      _channel.invokeMethod<bool>(
+        'FcmDartService#start',
+        <String, dynamic>{
+          'setupHandle': backgroundSetupHandle.toRawHandle(),
+          'backgroundHandle': backgroundMessageHandle.toRawHandle()
+        },
+      );
+    }
   }
 
   final StreamController<String> _tokenStreamController =
diff --git a/packages/firebase_messaging/pubspec.yaml b/packages/firebase_messaging/pubspec.yaml
index aaf0a873c4a5..df38e5dbfa5b 100644
--- a/packages/firebase_messaging/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/packages/firebase_messaging/pubspec.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ description: Flutter plugin for Firebase Cloud Messaging, a cross-platform
   messaging solution that lets you reliably deliver messages on Android and iOS.
 author: Flutter Team <flutter-dev@googlegroups.com>
 homepage: https://github.com/FirebaseExtended/flutterfire/tree/master/packages/firebase_messaging
-version: 5.1.4
+version: 5.1.5
 
 flutter:
   plugin: