diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 31416a0440..fd2fc340a4 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -156,6 +156,11 @@ project(":library:diff-match-patch") {
     }
 }
 
+// Global configuration across all modules
+ext {
+    isPresenceSyncEnabled = true
+}
+
 //project(":matrix-sdk-android") {
 //    sonarqube {
 //        properties {
diff --git a/changelog.d/5563.misc b/changelog.d/5563.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c0867365f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/5563.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Add a presence sync enabling build config
diff --git a/matrix-sdk-android/build.gradle b/matrix-sdk-android/build.gradle
index 2b2c38e22a..9ec3962650 100644
--- a/matrix-sdk-android/build.gradle
+++ b/matrix-sdk-android/build.gradle
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ android {
         buildConfigField "String", "GIT_SDK_REVISION_UNIX_DATE", "\"${gitRevisionUnixDate()}\""
         buildConfigField "String", "GIT_SDK_REVISION_DATE", "\"${gitRevisionDate()}\""
 
+        buildConfigField "Boolean", "PRESENCE_SYNC_ENABLED", "${isPresenceSyncEnabled}"
         defaultConfig {
             consumerProguardFiles 'proguard-rules.pro'
         }
diff --git a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/org/matrix/android/sdk/internal/session/sync/handler/PresenceSyncHandler.kt b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/org/matrix/android/sdk/internal/session/sync/handler/PresenceSyncHandler.kt
index fe173a35c3..1ba9552500 100644
--- a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/org/matrix/android/sdk/internal/session/sync/handler/PresenceSyncHandler.kt
+++ b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/org/matrix/android/sdk/internal/session/sync/handler/PresenceSyncHandler.kt
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 package org.matrix.android.sdk.internal.session.sync.handler
 
 import io.realm.Realm
+import org.matrix.android.sdk.BuildConfig
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.session.events.model.EventType
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.session.events.model.getPresenceContent
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.session.sync.model.PresenceSyncResponse
@@ -30,24 +31,26 @@ import javax.inject.Inject
 internal class PresenceSyncHandler @Inject constructor() {
 
     fun handle(realm: Realm, presenceSyncResponse: PresenceSyncResponse?) {
-        presenceSyncResponse?.events
-                ?.filter { event -> event.type == EventType.PRESENCE }
-                ?.forEach { event ->
-                    val content = event.getPresenceContent() ?: return@forEach
-                    val userId = event.senderId ?: return@forEach
-                    val userPresenceEntity = UserPresenceEntity(
-                            userId = userId,
-                            lastActiveAgo = content.lastActiveAgo,
-                            statusMessage = content.statusMessage,
-                            isCurrentlyActive = content.isCurrentlyActive,
-                            avatarUrl = content.avatarUrl,
-                            displayName = content.displayName
-                    ).also {
-                        it.presence = content.presence
-                    }
+        if (BuildConfig.PRESENCE_SYNC_ENABLED) {
+            presenceSyncResponse?.events
+                    ?.filter { event -> event.type == EventType.PRESENCE }
+                    ?.forEach { event ->
+                        val content = event.getPresenceContent() ?: return@forEach
+                        val userId = event.senderId ?: return@forEach
+                        val userPresenceEntity = UserPresenceEntity(
+                                userId = userId,
+                                lastActiveAgo = content.lastActiveAgo,
+                                statusMessage = content.statusMessage,
+                                isCurrentlyActive = content.isCurrentlyActive,
+                                avatarUrl = content.avatarUrl,
+                                displayName = content.displayName
+                        ).also {
+                            it.presence = content.presence
+                        }
 
-                    storePresenceToDB(realm, userPresenceEntity)
-                }
+                        storePresenceToDB(realm, userPresenceEntity)
+                    }
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/vector/build.gradle b/vector/build.gradle
index 2d9c097da8..0b78973457 100644
--- a/vector/build.gradle
+++ b/vector/build.gradle
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ android {
 
         buildConfigField "Boolean", "enableLocationSharing", "true"
         buildConfigField "String", "mapTilerKey", "\"fU3vlMsMn4Jb6dnEIFsx\""
+        buildConfigField "Boolean", "PRESENCE_SYNC_ENABLED", "${isPresenceSyncEnabled}"
 
         testInstrumentationRunner "androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
 
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/core/ui/views/PresenceStateImageView.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/core/ui/views/PresenceStateImageView.kt
index 301f8afdc9..d2c379de40 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/core/ui/views/PresenceStateImageView.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/core/ui/views/PresenceStateImageView.kt
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import android.content.Context
 import android.util.AttributeSet
 import androidx.appcompat.widget.AppCompatImageView
 import androidx.core.view.isVisible
+import im.vector.app.BuildConfig
 import im.vector.app.R
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.session.presence.model.PresenceEnum
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.session.presence.model.UserPresence
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ class PresenceStateImageView @JvmOverloads constructor(
 ) : AppCompatImageView(context, attrs, defStyleAttr) {
 
     fun render(showPresence: Boolean = true, userPresence: UserPresence?) {
-        isVisible = showPresence && userPresence != null
+        isVisible = showPresence && userPresence != null && BuildConfig.PRESENCE_SYNC_ENABLED
 
         when (userPresence?.presence) {
             PresenceEnum.ONLINE      -> {