diff --git a/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/appstate/AppStateModule.kt b/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/appstate/AppStateModule.kt
index 543ab79fba8677..385fd1582a261c 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/appstate/AppStateModule.kt
+++ b/packages/react-native/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/appstate/AppStateModule.kt
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 
 package com.facebook.react.modules.appstate
 
+import android.app.ActivityManager
+import com.facebook.common.logging.FLog
 import com.facebook.fbreact.specs.NativeAppStateSpec
 import com.facebook.react.bridge.Arguments
 import com.facebook.react.bridge.Callback
@@ -26,11 +28,27 @@ internal class AppStateModule(reactContext: ReactApplicationContext) :
   init {
     reactContext.addLifecycleEventListener(this)
     reactContext.addWindowFocusChangeListener(this)
+    val isAppForegroundedByMemoryState = isAppForegroundedByMemoryState()
+    // pasten: temporary debug log - remove after we validate with real users
+    FLog.w("AppStateModule", "initial isAppForegroundedByMemoryState = $isAppForegroundedByMemoryState, " +
+    "reactContext.lifecycleState = ${reactContext.lifecycleState}")
+
     appState =
         if (reactContext.lifecycleState === LifecycleState.RESUMED) APP_STATE_ACTIVE
+        // pasten: during cold start appState=APP_STATE_BACKGROUND while tha is actually in the foreground
+        // best effort foreground detection when LifecycleState.BEFORE_CREATE (which is the initial state)
+        else if (reactContext.lifecycleState === LifecycleState.BEFORE_CREATE && isAppForegroundedByMemoryState) {
+          APP_STATE_ACTIVE
+        } else if (isAppForegroundedByMemoryState) APP_STATE_ACTIVE
         else APP_STATE_BACKGROUND
   }
 
+  private fun isAppForegroundedByMemoryState(): Boolean {
+    return ActivityManager.RunningAppProcessInfo().apply {
+      ActivityManager.getMyMemoryState(this)
+    }.importance == ActivityManager.RunningAppProcessInfo.IMPORTANCE_FOREGROUND
+  }
+
   public override fun getTypedExportedConstants(): Map<String, Any> =
       mapOf(INITIAL_STATE to appState)