diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index da17864f..fb27dcf8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## 2.0.4
+* iOS: make Bluetooth state restoration optional by enabling it only when the `bluetooth-central` background mode is declared
+* iOS: when state restoration is enabled, init `CBCentralManager` at launch only if Bluetooth permission is granted
+
 ## 2.0.3
 * iOS/macOS: defer `CBPeripheralManager` creation until peripheral APIs are used, fixing Bluetooth permission prompt on app launch
 * iOS: add CoreBluetooth state preservation/restoration so the app can be relaunched in the background by a connected peripheral and resume the live connection. Requires the `bluetooth-central` background mode in `Info.plist` (see README → Permissions → iOS / macOS).
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c898fb47..dff8b9de 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -996,9 +996,9 @@ Add the `Bluetooth` capability to the macOS app from Xcode.
 
 #### iOS background state restoration
 
-On iOS, the central manager is created with a `CBCentralManagerOptionRestoreIdentifierKey`, so CoreBluetooth can [relaunch your app](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/technotes/tn3115-bluetooth-state-restoration-app-relaunch-rules) in the background when a connected peripheral has activity, and hand the live connection back to the plugin. This happens automatically — no API call is required.
+On iOS, when your app declares the `bluetooth-central` background mode and Bluetooth permission is already granted, the central manager is created at launch with a `CBCentralManagerOptionRestoreIdentifierKey`, so CoreBluetooth can [relaunch your app](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/technotes/tn3115-bluetooth-state-restoration-app-relaunch-rules) in the background when a connected peripheral has activity, and hand the live connection back to the plugin. If permission has not been granted yet, creation is deferred until a central BLE API (such as `startScan()` or `connect()`) is called.
 
-To benefit from it, your app must declare the `Uses Bluetooth LE accessories` background mode. After enabling it, in `Info.plist` you should have:
+To opt in, declare the `Uses Bluetooth LE accessories` background mode. After enabling it, in `Info.plist` you should have:
 
 ```xml
 <key>UIBackgroundModes</key>
@@ -1007,10 +1007,10 @@ To benefit from it, your app must declare the `Uses Bluetooth LE accessories` ba
   <string>bluetooth-central</string>
   ...
 </array>
-
+```
 Notes:
 
-- Without the `bluetooth-central` background mode, iOS will not relaunch the app for Bluetooth events and state restoration is effectively disabled.
+- Without the `bluetooth-central` background mode, `CBCentralManager` is created lazily on the first central BLE API call and state restoration is disabled.
 - macOS does not support CoreBluetooth state restoration; this behavior is iOS-only.
 - On relaunch, the plugin re-adopts the restored peripherals and emits `onConnectionChanged` for any that are still connected, so your Dart code can resume where it left off.
 
diff --git a/darwin/universal_ble/Sources/universal_ble/UniversalBlePlugin.swift b/darwin/universal_ble/Sources/universal_ble/UniversalBlePlugin.swift
index 42c75797..10f8c871 100644
--- a/darwin/universal_ble/Sources/universal_ble/UniversalBlePlugin.swift
+++ b/darwin/universal_ble/Sources/universal_ble/UniversalBlePlugin.swift
@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ public class UniversalBlePlugin: NSObject, FlutterPlugin {
     let peripheralApi = UniversalBlePeripheralPlugin(callbackChannel: peripheralCallbackChannel)
     UniversalBlePlatformChannelSetup.setUp(binaryMessenger: messenger, api: api)
     #if os(iOS)
-      // Build the manager during launch so CoreBluetooth can deliver
-      // `willRestoreState:` after a background relaunch (see activateStateRestoration).
+      // When the host app declares `bluetooth-central`, build the manager during
+      // launch so CoreBluetooth can deliver `willRestoreState:` after a background
+      // relaunch (see activateStateRestoration).
       api.activateStateRestoration()
     #endif
     UniversalBlePeripheralChannelSetup.setUp(
@@ -43,17 +44,48 @@ private class BleCentralDarwin: NSObject, UniversalBlePlatformChannel, CBCentral
   // Identifier CoreBluetooth uses to restore this central across relaunches.
   static let stateRestorationIdentifier = "com.universalble.central.restoration"
 
+  #if os(iOS)
+    /// True when the host app declares the `bluetooth-central` background mode.
+    /// State restoration and eager manager creation are only enabled in that case.
+    private static let hasBluetoothCentralBackgroundMode: Bool = {
+      guard let modes = Bundle.main.object(forInfoDictionaryKey: "UIBackgroundModes") as? [String] else {
+        return false
+      }
+      return modes.contains("bluetooth-central")
+    }()
+
+    private static var hasBluetoothPermission: Bool {
+      CBCentralManager.authorization == .allowedAlways
+    }
+
+    /// Availability derived from `CBCentralManager.authorization` without creating a manager.
+    private static var availabilityStateFromAuthorization: AvailabilityState {
+      switch CBCentralManager.authorization {
+      case .restricted, .denied:
+        return .unauthorized
+      case .notDetermined:
+        return .unknown
+      default:
+        return .unknown
+      }
+    }
+  #endif
+
   var callbackChannel: UniversalBleCallbackChannel
   private var universalBleFilterUtil = UniversalBleFilterUtil()
   #if os(iOS)
-    // iOS: opt into state restoration so `willRestoreState:` fires on relaunch.
-    private lazy var manager: CBCentralManager = .init(
-      delegate: self,
-      queue: nil,
-      options: [
-        CBCentralManagerOptionRestoreIdentifierKey: BleCentralDarwin.stateRestorationIdentifier,
-      ]
-    )
+    private lazy var manager: CBCentralManager = {
+      if Self.hasBluetoothCentralBackgroundMode {
+        return CBCentralManager(
+          delegate: self,
+          queue: nil,
+          options: [
+            CBCentralManagerOptionRestoreIdentifierKey: BleCentralDarwin.stateRestorationIdentifier,
+          ]
+        )
+      }
+      return CBCentralManager(delegate: self, queue: nil)
+    }()
   #else
     // macOS does not support CoreBluetooth state restoration.
     private lazy var manager: CBCentralManager = .init(delegate: self, queue: nil)
@@ -75,13 +107,25 @@ private class BleCentralDarwin: NSObject, UniversalBlePlatformChannel, CBCentral
     super.init()
   }
 
-  /// Eagerly creates the central manager at launch so CoreBluetooth can deliver
-  /// `willRestoreState:` when a managed peripheral relaunches the app.
-  func activateStateRestoration() {
-    _ = manager
-  }
+  #if os(iOS)
+    /// Eagerly creates the central manager at launch when the app declares the
+    /// `bluetooth-central` background mode and Bluetooth permission is already
+    /// granted, so CoreBluetooth can deliver `willRestoreState:` when a managed
+    /// peripheral relaunches the app. Otherwise creation stays deferred until
+    /// a central BLE API (e.g. `startScan`, `connect`) is called.
+    func activateStateRestoration() {
+      guard Self.hasBluetoothCentralBackgroundMode, Self.hasBluetoothPermission else { return }
+      _ = manager
+    }
+  #endif
 
   func getBluetoothAvailabilityState(completion: @escaping (Result<AvailabilityState, Error>) -> Void) {
+    #if os(iOS)
+      if Self.hasBluetoothCentralBackgroundMode, !Self.hasBluetoothPermission {
+        completion(.success(Self.availabilityStateFromAuthorization))
+        return
+      }
+    #endif
     if manager.state != .unknown {
       completion(.success(manager.state.toAvailabilityState()))
     } else {
diff --git a/pubspec.yaml b/pubspec.yaml
index 47aa8d4a..3fd55acf 100644
--- a/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/pubspec.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 name: universal_ble
 description: A cross-platform (Android/iOS/macOS/Windows/Linux/Web) Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) plugin for Flutter
-version: 2.0.3
+version: 2.0.4
 homepage: https://navideck.com
 repository: https://github.com/Navideck/universal_ble
 issue_tracker: https://github.com/Navideck/universal_ble/issues