diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat.hs
index 37722a41d2..136010a06e 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat.hs
@@ -735,14 +735,14 @@ processChatCommand' vr = \case
   APIGetChat (ChatRef cType cId) pagination search -> withUser $ \user -> case cType of
     -- TODO optimize queries calculating ChatStats, currently they're disabled
     CTDirect -> do
-      directChat <- withFastStore (\db -> getDirectChat db vr user cId pagination search)
-      pure $ CRApiChat user (AChat SCTDirect directChat)
+      (directChat, section) <- withFastStore (\db -> getDirectChat db vr user cId pagination search)
+      pure $ CRApiChat user (AChat SCTDirect directChat) section
     CTGroup -> do
-      groupChat <- withFastStore (\db -> getGroupChat db vr user cId pagination search)
-      pure $ CRApiChat user (AChat SCTGroup groupChat)
+      (groupChat, section) <- withFastStore (\db -> getGroupChat db vr user cId pagination search)
+      pure $ CRApiChat user (AChat SCTGroup groupChat) section
     CTLocal -> do
-      localChat <- withFastStore (\db -> getLocalChat db user cId pagination search)
-      pure $ CRApiChat user (AChat SCTLocal localChat)
+      (localChat, section) <- withFastStore (\db -> getLocalChat db user cId pagination search)
+      pure $ CRApiChat user (AChat SCTLocal localChat) section
     CTContactRequest -> pure $ chatCmdError (Just user) "not implemented"
     CTContactConnection -> pure $ chatCmdError (Just user) "not supported"
   APIGetChatItems pagination search -> withUser $ \user -> do
@@ -8297,6 +8297,7 @@ chatCommandP =
         <|> (CPAfter <$ "after=" <*> A.decimal <* A.space <* "count=" <*> A.decimal)
         <|> (CPBefore <$ "before=" <*> A.decimal <* A.space <* "count=" <*> A.decimal)
         <|> (CPAround <$ "around=" <*> A.decimal <* A.space <* "count=" <*> A.decimal)
+        <|> (CPInitial <$ "initial" <* A.space <*> A.decimal)
     paginationByTimeP =
       (PTLast <$ "count=" <*> A.decimal)
         <|> (PTAfter <$ "after=" <*> strP <* A.space <* "count=" <*> A.decimal)
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs
index a706d50f9e..babbacf861 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ data ChatResponse
   | CRChatSuspended
   | CRApiChats {user :: User, chats :: [AChat]}
   | CRChats {chats :: [AChat]}
-  | CRApiChat {user :: User, chat :: AChat}
+  | CRApiChat {user :: User, chat :: AChat, section :: ChatSection}
   | CRChatItems {user :: User, chatName_ :: Maybe ChatName, chatItems :: [AChatItem]}
   | CRChatItemInfo {user :: User, chatItem :: AChatItem, chatItemInfo :: ChatItemInfo}
   | CRChatItemId User (Maybe ChatItemId)
@@ -840,6 +840,12 @@ data ChatPagination
   | CPAfter ChatItemId Int
   | CPBefore ChatItemId Int
   | CPAround ChatItemId Int
+  | CPInitial Int
+  deriving (Show)
+
+data ChatSection
+  = CSBottom
+  | CSUnread
   deriving (Show)
 
 data PaginationByTime
@@ -1583,6 +1589,8 @@ $(JQ.deriveJSON (sumTypeJSON $ dropPrefix "RCSR") ''RemoteCtrlStopReason)
 
 $(JQ.deriveJSON (sumTypeJSON $ dropPrefix "RHSR") ''RemoteHostStopReason)
 
+$(JQ.deriveJSON defaultJSON ''ChatSection)
+
 $(JQ.deriveJSON (sumTypeJSON $ dropPrefix "CR") ''ChatResponse)
 
 $(JQ.deriveFromJSON defaultJSON ''ArchiveConfig)
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/Messages.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/Messages.hs
index 8f35e3dff0..f00a33d37e 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/Messages.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/Messages.hs
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ import Data.Time (addUTCTime)
 import Data.Time.Clock (UTCTime (..), getCurrentTime)
 import Database.SQLite.Simple (NamedParam (..), Only (..), Query, (:.) (..))
 import Database.SQLite.Simple.QQ (sql)
-import Simplex.Chat.Controller (ChatListQuery (..), ChatPagination (..), PaginationByTime (..))
+import Simplex.Chat.Controller (ChatListQuery (..), ChatPagination (..), ChatSection (CSBottom, CSUnread), PaginationByTime (..))
 import Simplex.Chat.Markdown
 import Simplex.Chat.Messages
 import Simplex.Chat.Messages.CIContent
@@ -947,15 +947,16 @@ getContactConnectionChatPreviews_ db User {userId} pagination clq = case clq of
           aChat = AChat SCTContactConnection $ Chat (ContactConnection conn) [] stats
        in ACPD SCTContactConnection $ ContactConnectionPD updatedAt aChat
 
-getDirectChat :: DB.Connection -> VersionRangeChat -> User -> Int64 -> ChatPagination -> Maybe String -> ExceptT StoreError IO (Chat 'CTDirect)
+getDirectChat :: DB.Connection -> VersionRangeChat -> User -> Int64 -> ChatPagination -> Maybe String -> ExceptT StoreError IO (Chat 'CTDirect, ChatSection)
 getDirectChat db vr user contactId pagination search_ = do
   let search = fromMaybe "" search_
   ct <- getContact db vr user contactId
   case pagination of
-    CPLast count -> liftIO $ getDirectChatLast_ db user ct count search
-    CPAfter afterId count -> getDirectChatAfter_ db user ct afterId count search
-    CPBefore beforeId count -> getDirectChatBefore_ db user ct beforeId count search
-    CPAround aroundId count -> getDirectChatAround_ db user ct aroundId count search
+    CPLast count -> liftIO $ (,CSBottom) <$> getDirectChatLast_ db user ct count search
+    CPAfter afterId count -> (,CSBottom) <$> getDirectChatAfter_ db user ct afterId count search
+    CPBefore beforeId count -> (,CSBottom) <$> getDirectChatBefore_ db user ct beforeId count search
+    CPAround aroundId count -> (,CSBottom) <$> getDirectChatAround_ db user ct aroundId count search
+    CPInitial count -> getDirectChatInitial_ db user ct count
 
 -- the last items in reverse order (the last item in the conversation is the first in the returned list)
 getDirectChatLast_ :: DB.Connection -> User -> Contact -> Int -> String -> IO (Chat 'CTDirect)
@@ -1083,15 +1084,35 @@ getDirectChatAround_ db user ct@Contact {contactId} aroundItemId count search =
   let chatItems = beforeChatItems <> [middleChatItem] <> afterChatItems
   pure $ Chat (DirectChat ct) chatItems stats
 
-getGroupChat :: DB.Connection -> VersionRangeChat -> User -> Int64 -> ChatPagination -> Maybe String -> ExceptT StoreError IO (Chat 'CTGroup)
+getDirectChatInitial_ :: DB.Connection -> User -> Contact -> Int -> ExceptT StoreError IO (Chat 'CTDirect, ChatSection)
+getDirectChatInitial_ db user@User {userId} ct@Contact {contactId} count = do
+  firstUnreadItem <- liftIO getDirectChatMinUnreadItemId_
+  case firstUnreadItem of
+    Just firstUnreadItemId -> (,CSUnread) <$> getDirectChatAround_ db user ct firstUnreadItemId count ""
+    Nothing -> liftIO $ (,CSBottom) <$> getDirectChatLast_ db user ct count ""
+  where
+    getDirectChatMinUnreadItemId_ :: IO (Maybe ChatItemId)
+    getDirectChatMinUnreadItemId_ =
+      maybeFirstRow fromOnly $
+        DB.query
+          db
+          [sql|
+            SELECT MIN(chat_item_id)
+            FROM chat_items
+            WHERE user_id = ? AND contact_id = ? AND item_status = :rcv_new
+          |]
+          (userId, contactId)
+
+getGroupChat :: DB.Connection -> VersionRangeChat -> User -> Int64 -> ChatPagination -> Maybe String -> ExceptT StoreError IO (Chat 'CTGroup, ChatSection)
 getGroupChat db vr user groupId pagination search_ = do
   let search = fromMaybe "" search_
   g <- getGroupInfo db vr user groupId
   case pagination of
-    CPLast count -> liftIO $ getGroupChatLast_ db user g count search
-    CPAfter afterId count -> getGroupChatAfter_ db user g afterId count search
-    CPBefore beforeId count -> getGroupChatBefore_ db user g beforeId count search
-    CPAround aroundId count -> getGroupChatAround_ db user g aroundId count search
+    CPLast count -> liftIO $ (,CSBottom) <$> getGroupChatLast_ db user g count search
+    CPAfter afterId count -> (,CSBottom) <$> getGroupChatAfter_ db user g afterId count search
+    CPBefore beforeId count -> (,CSBottom) <$> getGroupChatBefore_ db user g beforeId count search
+    CPAround aroundId count -> (,CSBottom) <$> getGroupChatAround_ db user g aroundId count search
+    CPInitial count -> getGroupChatInitial_ db user g count
 
 getGroupChatLast_ :: DB.Connection -> User -> GroupInfo -> Int -> String -> IO (Chat 'CTGroup)
 getGroupChatLast_ db user@User {userId} g@GroupInfo {groupId} count search = do
@@ -1218,15 +1239,35 @@ getGroupChatAround_ db user g@GroupInfo {groupId} aroundItemId count search = do
   let chatItems = beforeChatItems <> [middleChatItem] <> afterChatItems
   pure $ Chat (GroupChat g) chatItems stats
 
-getLocalChat :: DB.Connection -> User -> Int64 -> ChatPagination -> Maybe String -> ExceptT StoreError IO (Chat 'CTLocal)
+getGroupChatInitial_ :: DB.Connection -> User -> GroupInfo -> Int -> ExceptT StoreError IO (Chat 'CTGroup, ChatSection)
+getGroupChatInitial_ db user@User {userId} g@GroupInfo {groupId} count = do
+  firstUnreadItem <- liftIO getGroupChatMinUnreadItemId_
+  case firstUnreadItem of
+    Just firstUnreadItemId -> (,CSUnread) <$> getGroupChatAround_ db user g firstUnreadItemId count ""
+    Nothing -> liftIO $ (,CSBottom) <$> getGroupChatLast_ db user g count ""
+  where
+    getGroupChatMinUnreadItemId_ :: IO (Maybe ChatItemId)
+    getGroupChatMinUnreadItemId_ =
+      maybeFirstRow fromOnly $
+        DB.query
+          db
+          [sql|
+            SELECT MIN(chat_item_id)
+            FROM chat_items
+            WHERE user_id = ? AND group_id = ? AND item_status = :rcv_new
+          |]
+          (userId, groupId)
+
+getLocalChat :: DB.Connection -> User -> Int64 -> ChatPagination -> Maybe String -> ExceptT StoreError IO (Chat 'CTLocal, ChatSection)
 getLocalChat db user folderId pagination search_ = do
   let search = fromMaybe "" search_
   nf <- getNoteFolder db user folderId
   case pagination of
-    CPLast count -> liftIO $ getLocalChatLast_ db user nf count search
-    CPAfter afterId count -> getLocalChatAfter_ db user nf afterId count search
-    CPBefore beforeId count -> getLocalChatBefore_ db user nf beforeId count search
-    CPAround aroundId count -> getLocalChatAround_ db user nf aroundId count search
+    CPLast count -> liftIO $ (,CSBottom) <$> getLocalChatLast_ db user nf count search
+    CPAfter afterId count -> (,CSBottom) <$> getLocalChatAfter_ db user nf afterId count search
+    CPBefore beforeId count -> (,CSBottom) <$> getLocalChatBefore_ db user nf beforeId count search
+    CPAround aroundId count -> (,CSBottom) <$> getLocalChatAround_ db user nf aroundId count search
+    CPInitial count -> getLocalChatInitial_ db user nf count
 
 getLocalChatLast_ :: DB.Connection -> User -> NoteFolder -> Int -> String -> IO (Chat 'CTLocal)
 getLocalChatLast_ db user@User {userId} nf@NoteFolder {noteFolderId} count search = do
@@ -1337,6 +1378,25 @@ getLocalChatAround_ db user nf@NoteFolder {noteFolderId} aroundItemId count sear
   let chatItems = beforeChatItems <> [middleChatItem] <> afterChatItems
   pure $ Chat (LocalChat nf) chatItems stats
 
+getLocalChatInitial_ :: DB.Connection -> User -> NoteFolder -> Int -> ExceptT StoreError IO (Chat 'CTLocal, ChatSection)
+getLocalChatInitial_ db user@User {userId} nf@NoteFolder {noteFolderId} count = do
+  firstUnreadItem <- liftIO getLocalChatMinUnreadItemId_
+  case firstUnreadItem of
+    Just firstUnreadItemId -> (,CSUnread) <$> getLocalChatAround_ db user nf firstUnreadItemId count ""
+    Nothing -> liftIO $ (,CSBottom) <$> getLocalChatLast_ db user nf count ""
+  where
+    getLocalChatMinUnreadItemId_ :: IO (Maybe ChatItemId)
+    getLocalChatMinUnreadItemId_ =
+      maybeFirstRow fromOnly $
+        DB.query
+          db
+          [sql|
+            SELECT MIN(chat_item_id)
+            FROM chat_items
+            WHERE user_id = ? AND note_folder_id = ? AND item_status = :rcv_new
+          |]
+          (userId, noteFolderId)
+
 toChatItemRef :: (ChatItemId, Maybe Int64, Maybe Int64, Maybe Int64) -> Either StoreError (ChatRef, ChatItemId)
 toChatItemRef = \case
   (itemId, Just contactId, Nothing, Nothing) -> Right (ChatRef CTDirect contactId, itemId)