diff --git a/sentry-android-core/api/sentry-android-core.api b/sentry-android-core/api/sentry-android-core.api
index 5b3dd6ed83..dd4cfdf353 100644
--- a/sentry-android-core/api/sentry-android-core.api
+++ b/sentry-android-core/api/sentry-android-core.api
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ public class io/sentry/android/core/AndroidContinuousProfiler : io/sentry/IConti
 	public fun close ()V
 	public fun getProfilerId ()Lio/sentry/protocol/SentryId;
 	public fun isRunning ()Z
-	public fun setScopes (Lio/sentry/IScopes;)V
 	public fun start ()V
 	public fun stop ()V
 }
@@ -448,6 +447,7 @@ public class io/sentry/android/core/performance/AppStartMetrics : io/sentry/andr
 	public fun addActivityLifecycleTimeSpans (Lio/sentry/android/core/performance/ActivityLifecycleTimeSpan;)V
 	public fun clear ()V
 	public fun getActivityLifecycleTimeSpans ()Ljava/util/List;
+	public fun getAppStartContinuousProfiler ()Lio/sentry/IContinuousProfiler;
 	public fun getAppStartProfiler ()Lio/sentry/ITransactionProfiler;
 	public fun getAppStartSamplingDecision ()Lio/sentry/TracesSamplingDecision;
 	public fun getAppStartTimeSpan ()Lio/sentry/android/core/performance/TimeSpan;
@@ -466,6 +466,7 @@ public class io/sentry/android/core/performance/AppStartMetrics : io/sentry/andr
 	public static fun onContentProviderPostCreate (Landroid/content/ContentProvider;)V
 	public fun registerApplicationForegroundCheck (Landroid/app/Application;)V
 	public fun setAppLaunchedInForeground (Z)V
+	public fun setAppStartContinuousProfiler (Lio/sentry/IContinuousProfiler;)V
 	public fun setAppStartProfiler (Lio/sentry/ITransactionProfiler;)V
 	public fun setAppStartSamplingDecision (Lio/sentry/TracesSamplingDecision;)V
 	public fun setAppStartType (Lio/sentry/android/core/performance/AppStartMetrics$AppStartType;)V
diff --git a/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidContinuousProfiler.java b/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidContinuousProfiler.java
index 12d2129383..0536dcabc7 100644
--- a/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidContinuousProfiler.java
+++ b/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidContinuousProfiler.java
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@
 import io.sentry.ILogger;
 import io.sentry.IScopes;
 import io.sentry.ISentryExecutorService;
+import io.sentry.NoOpScopes;
 import io.sentry.PerformanceCollectionData;
 import io.sentry.ProfileChunk;
+import io.sentry.Sentry;
 import io.sentry.SentryLevel;
 import io.sentry.SentryOptions;
 import io.sentry.android.core.internal.util.SentryFrameMetricsCollector;
@@ -88,12 +90,14 @@ private void init() {
             logger);
   }
 
-  public synchronized void setScopes(final @NotNull IScopes scopes) {
-    this.scopes = scopes;
-    this.performanceCollector = scopes.getOptions().getCompositePerformanceCollector();
-  }
-
   public synchronized void start() {
+    if ((scopes == null || scopes != NoOpScopes.getInstance())
+        && Sentry.getCurrentScopes() != NoOpScopes.getInstance()) {
+      this.scopes = Sentry.getCurrentScopes();
+      this.performanceCollector =
+          Sentry.getCurrentScopes().getOptions().getCompositePerformanceCollector();
+    }
+
     // Debug.startMethodTracingSampling() is only available since Lollipop, but Android Profiler
     // causes crashes on api 21 -> https://github.com/getsentry/sentry-java/issues/3392
     if (buildInfoProvider.getSdkInfoVersion() < Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP_MR1) return;
diff --git a/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidOptionsInitializer.java b/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidOptionsInitializer.java
index 788c63aa4b..605294f666 100644
--- a/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidOptionsInitializer.java
+++ b/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidOptionsInitializer.java
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import android.content.pm.PackageInfo;
 import io.sentry.DeduplicateMultithreadedEventProcessor;
 import io.sentry.DefaultCompositePerformanceCollector;
+import io.sentry.IContinuousProfiler;
 import io.sentry.ILogger;
 import io.sentry.ISentryLifecycleToken;
 import io.sentry.ITransactionProfiler;
@@ -158,43 +159,26 @@ static void initializeIntegrationsAndProcessors(
     options.addEventProcessor(new AnrV2EventProcessor(context, options, buildInfoProvider));
     options.setTransportGate(new AndroidTransportGate(options));
 
-    if (options.isProfilingEnabled()) {
-      options.setContinuousProfiler(NoOpContinuousProfiler.getInstance());
-      // Check if the profiler was already instantiated in the app start.
-      // We use the Android profiler, that uses a global start/stop api, so we need to preserve the
-      // state of the profiler, and it's only possible retaining the instance.
-      try (final @NotNull ISentryLifecycleToken ignored = AppStartMetrics.staticLock.acquire()) {
-        final @Nullable ITransactionProfiler appStartProfiler =
-            AppStartMetrics.getInstance().getAppStartProfiler();
-        if (appStartProfiler != null) {
-          options.setTransactionProfiler(appStartProfiler);
-          AppStartMetrics.getInstance().setAppStartProfiler(null);
-        } else {
-          options.setTransactionProfiler(
-              new AndroidTransactionProfiler(
-                  context,
-                  options,
-                  buildInfoProvider,
-                  Objects.requireNonNull(
-                      options.getFrameMetricsCollector(),
-                      "options.getFrameMetricsCollector is required")));
-        }
-      }
-    } else {
-      options.setTransactionProfiler(NoOpTransactionProfiler.getInstance());
-      // todo handle app start continuous profiler
-      options.setContinuousProfiler(
-          new AndroidContinuousProfiler(
-              buildInfoProvider,
-              Objects.requireNonNull(
-                  options.getFrameMetricsCollector(),
-                  "options.getFrameMetricsCollector is required"),
-              options.getLogger(),
-              options.getProfilingTracesDirPath(),
-              options.getProfilingTracesHz(),
-              options.getExecutorService()));
+    // Check if the profiler was already instantiated in the app start.
+    // We use the Android profiler, that uses a global start/stop api, so we need to preserve the
+    // state of the profiler, and it's only possible retaining the instance.
+    final @NotNull AppStartMetrics appStartMetrics = AppStartMetrics.getInstance();
+    final @Nullable ITransactionProfiler appStartTransactionProfiler;
+    final @Nullable IContinuousProfiler appStartContinuousProfiler;
+    try (final @NotNull ISentryLifecycleToken ignored = AppStartMetrics.staticLock.acquire()) {
+      appStartTransactionProfiler = appStartMetrics.getAppStartProfiler();
+      appStartContinuousProfiler = appStartMetrics.getAppStartContinuousProfiler();
+      appStartMetrics.setAppStartProfiler(null);
+      appStartMetrics.setAppStartContinuousProfiler(null);
     }
 
+    setupProfiler(
+        options,
+        context,
+        buildInfoProvider,
+        appStartTransactionProfiler,
+        appStartContinuousProfiler);
+
     options.setModulesLoader(new AssetsModulesLoader(context, options.getLogger()));
     options.setDebugMetaLoader(new AssetsDebugMetaLoader(context, options.getLogger()));
 
@@ -252,6 +236,56 @@ static void initializeIntegrationsAndProcessors(
     }
   }
 
+  /** Setup the correct profiler (transaction or continuous) based on the options. */
+  private static void setupProfiler(
+      final @NotNull SentryAndroidOptions options,
+      final @NotNull Context context,
+      final @NotNull BuildInfoProvider buildInfoProvider,
+      final @Nullable ITransactionProfiler appStartTransactionProfiler,
+      final @Nullable IContinuousProfiler appStartContinuousProfiler) {
+    if (options.isProfilingEnabled() || options.getProfilesSampleRate() != null) {
+      options.setContinuousProfiler(NoOpContinuousProfiler.getInstance());
+      // This is a safeguard, but it should never happen, as the app start profiler should be the
+      // continuous one.
+      if (appStartContinuousProfiler != null) {
+        appStartContinuousProfiler.close();
+      }
+      if (appStartTransactionProfiler != null) {
+        options.setTransactionProfiler(appStartTransactionProfiler);
+      } else {
+        options.setTransactionProfiler(
+            new AndroidTransactionProfiler(
+                context,
+                options,
+                buildInfoProvider,
+                Objects.requireNonNull(
+                    options.getFrameMetricsCollector(),
+                    "options.getFrameMetricsCollector is required")));
+      }
+    } else {
+      options.setTransactionProfiler(NoOpTransactionProfiler.getInstance());
+      // This is a safeguard, but it should never happen, as the app start profiler should be the
+      // transaction one.
+      if (appStartTransactionProfiler != null) {
+        appStartTransactionProfiler.close();
+      }
+      if (appStartContinuousProfiler != null) {
+        options.setContinuousProfiler(appStartContinuousProfiler);
+      } else {
+        options.setContinuousProfiler(
+            new AndroidContinuousProfiler(
+                buildInfoProvider,
+                Objects.requireNonNull(
+                    options.getFrameMetricsCollector(),
+                    "options.getFrameMetricsCollector is required"),
+                options.getLogger(),
+                options.getProfilingTracesDirPath(),
+                options.getProfilingTracesHz(),
+                options.getExecutorService()));
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   static void installDefaultIntegrations(
       final @NotNull Context context,
       final @NotNull SentryAndroidOptions options,
diff --git a/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/SentryPerformanceProvider.java b/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/SentryPerformanceProvider.java
index 64a1ceda60..1d76775b3f 100644
--- a/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/SentryPerformanceProvider.java
+++ b/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/SentryPerformanceProvider.java
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import android.os.Process;
 import android.os.SystemClock;
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
+import io.sentry.IContinuousProfiler;
 import io.sentry.ILogger;
 import io.sentry.ISentryLifecycleToken;
 import io.sentry.ITransactionProfiler;
@@ -100,6 +101,11 @@ public void shutdown() {
       if (appStartProfiler != null) {
         appStartProfiler.close();
       }
+      final @Nullable IContinuousProfiler appStartContinuousProfiler =
+          AppStartMetrics.getInstance().getAppStartContinuousProfiler();
+      if (appStartContinuousProfiler != null) {
+        appStartContinuousProfiler.close();
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -132,40 +138,18 @@ private void launchAppStartProfiler(final @NotNull AppStartMetrics appStartMetri
         return;
       }
 
+      if (profilingOptions.isContinuousProfilingEnabled()) {
+        createAndStartContinuousProfiler(context, profilingOptions, appStartMetrics);
+        return;
+      }
+
       if (!profilingOptions.isProfilingEnabled()) {
         logger.log(
             SentryLevel.INFO, "Profiling is not enabled. App start profiling will not start.");
         return;
       }
 
-      final @NotNull TracesSamplingDecision appStartSamplingDecision =
-          new TracesSamplingDecision(
-              profilingOptions.isTraceSampled(),
-              profilingOptions.getTraceSampleRate(),
-              profilingOptions.isProfileSampled(),
-              profilingOptions.getProfileSampleRate());
-      // We store any sampling decision, so we can respect it when the first transaction starts
-      appStartMetrics.setAppStartSamplingDecision(appStartSamplingDecision);
-
-      if (!(appStartSamplingDecision.getProfileSampled()
-          && appStartSamplingDecision.getSampled())) {
-        logger.log(SentryLevel.DEBUG, "App start profiling was not sampled. It will not start.");
-        return;
-      }
-      logger.log(SentryLevel.DEBUG, "App start profiling started.");
-
-      final @NotNull ITransactionProfiler appStartProfiler =
-          new AndroidTransactionProfiler(
-              context,
-              buildInfoProvider,
-              new SentryFrameMetricsCollector(context, logger, buildInfoProvider),
-              logger,
-              profilingOptions.getProfilingTracesDirPath(),
-              profilingOptions.isProfilingEnabled(),
-              profilingOptions.getProfilingTracesHz(),
-              new SentryExecutorService());
-      appStartMetrics.setAppStartProfiler(appStartProfiler);
-      appStartProfiler.start();
+      createAndStartTransactionProfiler(context, profilingOptions, appStartMetrics);
 
     } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
       logger.log(SentryLevel.ERROR, "App start profiling config file not found. ", e);
@@ -174,6 +158,59 @@ private void launchAppStartProfiler(final @NotNull AppStartMetrics appStartMetri
     }
   }
 
+  private void createAndStartContinuousProfiler(
+      final @NotNull Context context,
+      final @NotNull SentryAppStartProfilingOptions profilingOptions,
+      final @NotNull AppStartMetrics appStartMetrics) {
+    final @NotNull IContinuousProfiler appStartContinuousProfiler =
+        new AndroidContinuousProfiler(
+            buildInfoProvider,
+            new SentryFrameMetricsCollector(
+                context.getApplicationContext(), logger, buildInfoProvider),
+            logger,
+            profilingOptions.getProfilingTracesDirPath(),
+            profilingOptions.getProfilingTracesHz(),
+            new SentryExecutorService());
+    appStartMetrics.setAppStartProfiler(null);
+    appStartMetrics.setAppStartContinuousProfiler(appStartContinuousProfiler);
+    logger.log(SentryLevel.DEBUG, "App start continuous profiling started.");
+    appStartContinuousProfiler.start();
+  }
+
+  private void createAndStartTransactionProfiler(
+      final @NotNull Context context,
+      final @NotNull SentryAppStartProfilingOptions profilingOptions,
+      final @NotNull AppStartMetrics appStartMetrics) {
+    final @NotNull TracesSamplingDecision appStartSamplingDecision =
+        new TracesSamplingDecision(
+            profilingOptions.isTraceSampled(),
+            profilingOptions.getTraceSampleRate(),
+            profilingOptions.isProfileSampled(),
+            profilingOptions.getProfileSampleRate());
+    // We store any sampling decision, so we can respect it when the first transaction starts
+    appStartMetrics.setAppStartSamplingDecision(appStartSamplingDecision);
+
+    if (!(appStartSamplingDecision.getProfileSampled() && appStartSamplingDecision.getSampled())) {
+      logger.log(SentryLevel.DEBUG, "App start profiling was not sampled. It will not start.");
+      return;
+    }
+
+    final @NotNull ITransactionProfiler appStartProfiler =
+        new AndroidTransactionProfiler(
+            context,
+            buildInfoProvider,
+            new SentryFrameMetricsCollector(context, logger, buildInfoProvider),
+            logger,
+            profilingOptions.getProfilingTracesDirPath(),
+            profilingOptions.isProfilingEnabled(),
+            profilingOptions.getProfilingTracesHz(),
+            new SentryExecutorService());
+    appStartMetrics.setAppStartContinuousProfiler(null);
+    appStartMetrics.setAppStartProfiler(appStartProfiler);
+    logger.log(SentryLevel.DEBUG, "App start profiling started.");
+    appStartProfiler.start();
+  }
+
   @SuppressLint("NewApi")
   private void onAppLaunched(
       final @Nullable Context context, final @NotNull AppStartMetrics appStartMetrics) {
diff --git a/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/performance/AppStartMetrics.java b/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/performance/AppStartMetrics.java
index 996c6ab171..f43b44a5ad 100644
--- a/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/performance/AppStartMetrics.java
+++ b/sentry-android-core/src/main/java/io/sentry/android/core/performance/AppStartMetrics.java
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
 import androidx.annotation.VisibleForTesting;
+import io.sentry.IContinuousProfiler;
 import io.sentry.ISentryLifecycleToken;
 import io.sentry.ITransactionProfiler;
 import io.sentry.SentryDate;
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ public enum AppStartType {
   private final @NotNull Map<ContentProvider, TimeSpan> contentProviderOnCreates;
   private final @NotNull List<ActivityLifecycleTimeSpan> activityLifecycles;
   private @Nullable ITransactionProfiler appStartProfiler = null;
+  private @Nullable IContinuousProfiler appStartContinuousProfiler = null;
   private @Nullable TracesSamplingDecision appStartSamplingDecision = null;
   private @Nullable SentryDate onCreateTime = null;
   private boolean appLaunchTooLong = false;
@@ -186,6 +188,10 @@ public void clear() {
       appStartProfiler.close();
     }
     appStartProfiler = null;
+    if (appStartContinuousProfiler != null) {
+      appStartContinuousProfiler.close();
+    }
+    appStartContinuousProfiler = null;
     appStartSamplingDecision = null;
     appLaunchTooLong = false;
     appLaunchedInForeground = false;
@@ -201,6 +207,15 @@ public void setAppStartProfiler(final @Nullable ITransactionProfiler appStartPro
     this.appStartProfiler = appStartProfiler;
   }
 
+  public @Nullable IContinuousProfiler getAppStartContinuousProfiler() {
+    return appStartContinuousProfiler;
+  }
+
+  public void setAppStartContinuousProfiler(
+      final @Nullable IContinuousProfiler appStartContinuousProfiler) {
+    this.appStartContinuousProfiler = appStartContinuousProfiler;
+  }
+
   public void setAppStartSamplingDecision(
       final @Nullable TracesSamplingDecision appStartSamplingDecision) {
     this.appStartSamplingDecision = appStartSamplingDecision;
@@ -259,11 +274,15 @@ private void checkCreateTimeOnMain(final @NotNull Application application) {
               if (onCreateTime == null) {
                 appLaunchedInForeground = false;
 
-                // we stop the app start profiler, as it's useless and likely to timeout
+                // we stop the app start profilers, as they are useless and likely to timeout
                 if (appStartProfiler != null && appStartProfiler.isRunning()) {
                   appStartProfiler.close();
                   appStartProfiler = null;
                 }
+                if (appStartContinuousProfiler != null && appStartContinuousProfiler.isRunning()) {
+                  appStartContinuousProfiler.close();
+                  appStartContinuousProfiler = null;
+                }
               }
               application.unregisterActivityLifecycleCallbacks(instance);
             });
diff --git a/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidContinuousProfilerTest.kt b/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidContinuousProfilerTest.kt
index 6e532f8f2b..70ed75186c 100644
--- a/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidContinuousProfilerTest.kt
+++ b/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidContinuousProfilerTest.kt
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import io.sentry.IScopes
 import io.sentry.ISentryExecutorService
 import io.sentry.MemoryCollectionData
 import io.sentry.PerformanceCollectionData
+import io.sentry.Sentry
 import io.sentry.SentryLevel
 import io.sentry.SentryNanotimeDate
 import io.sentry.SentryTracer
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ class AndroidContinuousProfilerTest {
                 options.profilingTracesDirPath,
                 options.profilingTracesHz,
                 options.executorService
-            ).also { it.setScopes(scopes) }
+            )
         }
     }
 
@@ -118,6 +119,8 @@ class AndroidContinuousProfilerTest {
         // Profiler doesn't start if the folder doesn't exists.
         // Usually it's generated when calling Sentry.init, but for tests we can create it manually.
         File(fixture.options.profilingTracesDirPath!!).mkdirs()
+
+        Sentry.setCurrentScopes(fixture.scopes)
     }
 
     @AfterTest
diff --git a/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidOptionsInitializerTest.kt b/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidOptionsInitializerTest.kt
index 2e00b24e63..56571b4431 100644
--- a/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidOptionsInitializerTest.kt
+++ b/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/AndroidOptionsInitializerTest.kt
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ import android.os.Bundle
 import androidx.test.core.app.ApplicationProvider
 import androidx.test.ext.junit.runners.AndroidJUnit4
 import io.sentry.DefaultCompositePerformanceCollector
+import io.sentry.IContinuousProfiler
 import io.sentry.ILogger
+import io.sentry.ITransactionProfiler
 import io.sentry.MainEventProcessor
 import io.sentry.NoOpContinuousProfiler
 import io.sentry.NoOpTransactionProfiler
@@ -16,6 +18,7 @@ import io.sentry.android.core.cache.AndroidEnvelopeCache
 import io.sentry.android.core.internal.gestures.AndroidViewGestureTargetLocator
 import io.sentry.android.core.internal.modules.AssetsModulesLoader
 import io.sentry.android.core.internal.util.AndroidThreadChecker
+import io.sentry.android.core.performance.AppStartMetrics
 import io.sentry.android.fragment.FragmentLifecycleIntegration
 import io.sentry.android.replay.ReplayIntegration
 import io.sentry.android.timber.SentryTimberIntegration
@@ -37,6 +40,7 @@ import kotlin.test.Test
 import kotlin.test.assertEquals
 import kotlin.test.assertFalse
 import kotlin.test.assertIs
+import kotlin.test.assertNotEquals
 import kotlin.test.assertNotNull
 import kotlin.test.assertNull
 import kotlin.test.assertTrue
@@ -365,6 +369,17 @@ class AndroidOptionsInitializerTest {
         assertEquals(fixture.sentryOptions.continuousProfiler, NoOpContinuousProfiler.getInstance())
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `init with profilesSampleRate 0 should set Android transaction profiler`() {
+        fixture.initSut(configureOptions = {
+            profilesSampleRate = 0.0
+        })
+
+        assertNotNull(fixture.sentryOptions.transactionProfiler)
+        assertTrue(fixture.sentryOptions.transactionProfiler is AndroidTransactionProfiler)
+        assertEquals(fixture.sentryOptions.continuousProfiler, NoOpContinuousProfiler.getInstance())
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `init with profilesSampler should set Android transaction profiler`() {
         fixture.initSut(configureOptions = {
@@ -376,6 +391,74 @@ class AndroidOptionsInitializerTest {
         assertEquals(fixture.sentryOptions.continuousProfiler, NoOpContinuousProfiler.getInstance())
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `init reuses transaction profiler of appStartMetrics, if exists`() {
+        val appStartProfiler = mock<ITransactionProfiler>()
+        AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler = appStartProfiler
+        fixture.initSut(configureOptions = {
+            profilesSampler = mock()
+        })
+
+        assertEquals(appStartProfiler, fixture.sentryOptions.transactionProfiler)
+        assertEquals(fixture.sentryOptions.continuousProfiler, NoOpContinuousProfiler.getInstance())
+
+        // AppStartMetrics should be cleared
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `init reuses continuous profiler of appStartMetrics, if exists`() {
+        val appStartContinuousProfiler = mock<IContinuousProfiler>()
+        AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler = appStartContinuousProfiler
+        fixture.initSut()
+
+        assertEquals(fixture.sentryOptions.transactionProfiler, NoOpTransactionProfiler.getInstance())
+        assertEquals(appStartContinuousProfiler, fixture.sentryOptions.continuousProfiler)
+
+        // AppStartMetrics should be cleared
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `init with transaction profiling closes continuous profiler of appStartMetrics`() {
+        val appStartContinuousProfiler = mock<IContinuousProfiler>()
+        AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler = appStartContinuousProfiler
+        fixture.initSut(configureOptions = {
+            profilesSampler = mock()
+        })
+
+        assertNotNull(fixture.sentryOptions.transactionProfiler)
+        assertNotEquals(NoOpTransactionProfiler.getInstance(), fixture.sentryOptions.transactionProfiler)
+        assertEquals(fixture.sentryOptions.continuousProfiler, NoOpContinuousProfiler.getInstance())
+
+        // app start profiler is closed, because it will never be used
+        verify(appStartContinuousProfiler).close()
+
+        // AppStartMetrics should be cleared
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `init with continuous profiling closes transaction profiler of appStartMetrics`() {
+        val appStartProfiler = mock<ITransactionProfiler>()
+        AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler = appStartProfiler
+        fixture.initSut()
+
+        assertEquals(NoOpTransactionProfiler.getInstance(), fixture.sentryOptions.transactionProfiler)
+        assertNotNull(fixture.sentryOptions.continuousProfiler)
+        assertNotEquals(NoOpContinuousProfiler.getInstance(), fixture.sentryOptions.continuousProfiler)
+
+        // app start profiler is closed, because it will never be used
+        verify(appStartProfiler).close()
+
+        // AppStartMetrics should be cleared
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler)
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `NdkIntegration will load SentryNdk class and add to the integration list`() {
         fixture.initSutWithClassLoader(classesToLoad = listOfNotNull(NdkIntegration.SENTRY_NDK_CLASS_NAME))
diff --git a/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/SentryPerformanceProviderTest.kt b/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/SentryPerformanceProviderTest.kt
index 26a76af30e..237bc54867 100644
--- a/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/SentryPerformanceProviderTest.kt
+++ b/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/SentryPerformanceProviderTest.kt
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ class SentryPerformanceProviderTest {
     fun `when config file does not exists, nothing happens`() {
         fixture.getSut()
         assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler)
         verify(fixture.logger, never()).log(any(), any())
     }
 
@@ -186,6 +187,7 @@ class SentryPerformanceProviderTest {
             config.setReadable(false)
         }
         assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler)
         verify(fixture.logger, never()).log(any(), any())
     }
 
@@ -195,6 +197,7 @@ class SentryPerformanceProviderTest {
             config.createNewFile()
         }
         assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler)
         verify(fixture.logger).log(
             eq(SentryLevel.WARNING),
             eq("Unable to deserialize the SentryAppStartProfilingOptions. App start profiling will not start.")
@@ -204,7 +207,7 @@ class SentryPerformanceProviderTest {
     @Test
     fun `when profiling is disabled, profiler is not started`() {
         fixture.getSut { config ->
-            writeConfig(config, profilingEnabled = false)
+            writeConfig(config, profilingEnabled = false, continuousProfilingEnabled = false)
         }
         assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
         verify(fixture.logger).log(
@@ -213,10 +216,22 @@ class SentryPerformanceProviderTest {
         )
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `when continuous profiling is disabled, continuous profiler is not started`() {
+        fixture.getSut { config ->
+            writeConfig(config, continuousProfilingEnabled = false, profilingEnabled = false)
+        }
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler)
+        verify(fixture.logger).log(
+            eq(SentryLevel.INFO),
+            eq("Profiling is not enabled. App start profiling will not start.")
+        )
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `when trace is not sampled, profiler is not started and sample decision is stored`() {
         fixture.getSut { config ->
-            writeConfig(config, traceSampled = false, profileSampled = true)
+            writeConfig(config, continuousProfilingEnabled = false, traceSampled = false, profileSampled = true)
         }
         assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
         assertNotNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartSamplingDecision)
@@ -232,7 +247,7 @@ class SentryPerformanceProviderTest {
     @Test
     fun `when profile is not sampled, profiler is not started and sample decision is stored`() {
         fixture.getSut { config ->
-            writeConfig(config, traceSampled = true, profileSampled = false)
+            writeConfig(config, continuousProfilingEnabled = false, traceSampled = true, profileSampled = false)
         }
         assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
         assertNotNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartSamplingDecision)
@@ -244,11 +259,26 @@ class SentryPerformanceProviderTest {
         )
     }
 
+    // This case should never happen in reality, but it's technically possible to have such configuration
     @Test
-    fun `when profiler starts, it is set in AppStartMetrics`() {
+    fun `when both transaction and continuous profilers are enabled, only continuous profiler is created`() {
         fixture.getSut { config ->
             writeConfig(config)
         }
+        assertNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
+        assertNotNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler)
+        assertTrue(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler!!.isRunning)
+        verify(fixture.logger).log(
+            eq(SentryLevel.DEBUG),
+            eq("App start continuous profiling started.")
+        )
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `when profiler starts, it is set in AppStartMetrics`() {
+        fixture.getSut { config ->
+            writeConfig(config, continuousProfilingEnabled = false)
+        }
         assertNotNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
         assertNotNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartSamplingDecision)
         assertTrue(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler!!.isRunning)
@@ -260,19 +290,43 @@ class SentryPerformanceProviderTest {
         )
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `when continuous profiler starts, it is set in AppStartMetrics`() {
+        fixture.getSut { config ->
+            writeConfig(config, profilingEnabled = false)
+        }
+        assertNotNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler)
+        assertTrue(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler!!.isRunning)
+        verify(fixture.logger).log(
+            eq(SentryLevel.DEBUG),
+            eq("App start continuous profiling started.")
+        )
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `when provider is closed, profiler is stopped`() {
         val provider = fixture.getSut { config ->
-            writeConfig(config)
+            writeConfig(config, continuousProfilingEnabled = false)
         }
         provider.shutdown()
         assertNotNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler)
         assertFalse(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartProfiler!!.isRunning)
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `when provider is closed, continuous profiler is stopped`() {
+        val provider = fixture.getSut { config ->
+            writeConfig(config, profilingEnabled = false)
+        }
+        provider.shutdown()
+        assertNotNull(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler)
+        assertFalse(AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler!!.isRunning)
+    }
+
     private fun writeConfig(
         configFile: File,
         profilingEnabled: Boolean = true,
+        continuousProfilingEnabled: Boolean = true,
         traceSampled: Boolean = true,
         traceSampleRate: Double = 1.0,
         profileSampled: Boolean = true,
@@ -281,6 +335,7 @@ class SentryPerformanceProviderTest {
     ) {
         val appStartProfilingOptions = SentryAppStartProfilingOptions()
         appStartProfilingOptions.isProfilingEnabled = profilingEnabled
+        appStartProfilingOptions.isContinuousProfilingEnabled = continuousProfilingEnabled
         appStartProfilingOptions.isTraceSampled = traceSampled
         appStartProfilingOptions.traceSampleRate = traceSampleRate
         appStartProfilingOptions.isProfileSampled = profileSampled
diff --git a/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/performance/AppStartMetricsTest.kt b/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/performance/AppStartMetricsTest.kt
index eb0e85dc28..8d3cf062b2 100644
--- a/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/performance/AppStartMetricsTest.kt
+++ b/sentry-android-core/src/test/java/io/sentry/android/core/performance/AppStartMetricsTest.kt
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import android.content.ContentProvider
 import android.os.Build
 import android.os.Looper
 import androidx.test.ext.junit.runners.AndroidJUnit4
+import io.sentry.IContinuousProfiler
 import io.sentry.ITransactionProfiler
 import io.sentry.android.core.SentryAndroidOptions
 import io.sentry.android.core.SentryShadowProcess
@@ -56,7 +57,8 @@ class AppStartMetricsTest {
         metrics.addActivityLifecycleTimeSpans(ActivityLifecycleTimeSpan())
         AppStartMetrics.onApplicationCreate(mock<Application>())
         AppStartMetrics.onContentProviderCreate(mock<ContentProvider>())
-        metrics.setAppStartProfiler(mock())
+        metrics.appStartProfiler = mock()
+        metrics.appStartContinuousProfiler = mock()
         metrics.appStartSamplingDecision = mock()
 
         metrics.clear()
@@ -69,6 +71,7 @@ class AppStartMetricsTest {
         assertTrue(metrics.activityLifecycleTimeSpans.isEmpty())
         assertTrue(metrics.contentProviderOnCreateTimeSpans.isEmpty())
         assertNull(metrics.appStartProfiler)
+        assertNull(metrics.appStartContinuousProfiler)
         assertNull(metrics.appStartSamplingDecision)
     }
 
@@ -196,6 +199,19 @@ class AppStartMetricsTest {
         verify(profiler).close()
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `if activity is never started, stops app start continuous profiler if running`() {
+        val profiler = mock<IContinuousProfiler>()
+        whenever(profiler.isRunning).thenReturn(true)
+        AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler = profiler
+
+        AppStartMetrics.getInstance().registerApplicationForegroundCheck(mock())
+        // Job on main thread checks if activity was launched
+        Shadows.shadowOf(Looper.getMainLooper()).idle()
+
+        verify(profiler).close()
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `if activity is started, does not stop app start profiler if running`() {
         val profiler = mock<ITransactionProfiler>()
@@ -210,6 +226,20 @@ class AppStartMetricsTest {
         verify(profiler, never()).close()
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `if activity is started, does not stop app start continuous profiler if running`() {
+        val profiler = mock<IContinuousProfiler>()
+        whenever(profiler.isRunning).thenReturn(true)
+        AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartContinuousProfiler = profiler
+        AppStartMetrics.getInstance().onActivityCreated(mock(), mock())
+
+        AppStartMetrics.getInstance().registerApplicationForegroundCheck(mock())
+        // Job on main thread checks if activity was launched
+        Shadows.shadowOf(Looper.getMainLooper()).idle()
+
+        verify(profiler, never()).close()
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `if app start span is longer than 1 minute, appStartTimeSpanWithFallback returns an empty span`() {
         val appStartTimeSpan = AppStartMetrics.getInstance().appStartTimeSpan
diff --git a/sentry-samples/sentry-samples-android/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/sentry-samples/sentry-samples-android/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index ac85411017..fa070ac644 100644
--- a/sentry-samples/sentry-samples-android/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/sentry-samples/sentry-samples-android/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
         <meta-data android:name="io.sentry.traces.sample-rate" android:value="1.0" />
 
         <!--    how to enable profiling when starting transactions -->
-        <meta-data android:name="io.sentry.traces.profiling.sample-rate" android:value="1" />
+<!--        <meta-data android:name="io.sentry.traces.profiling.sample-rate" android:value="1.0" />-->
 
         <!--    how to enable app start profiling -->
         <meta-data android:name="io.sentry.traces.profiling.enable-app-start" android:value="true" />
diff --git a/sentry-samples/sentry-samples-android/src/main/java/io/sentry/samples/android/MyApplication.java b/sentry-samples/sentry-samples-android/src/main/java/io/sentry/samples/android/MyApplication.java
index a4a1c5397a..572c4cdba7 100644
--- a/sentry-samples/sentry-samples-android/src/main/java/io/sentry/samples/android/MyApplication.java
+++ b/sentry-samples/sentry-samples-android/src/main/java/io/sentry/samples/android/MyApplication.java
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 
 import android.app.Application;
 import android.os.StrictMode;
+import io.sentry.Sentry;
 
 /** Apps. main Application. */
 public class MyApplication extends Application {
 
   @Override
   public void onCreate() {
+    Sentry.startProfiler();
     strictMode();
     super.onCreate();
 
diff --git a/sentry/api/sentry.api b/sentry/api/sentry.api
index 5709c80f66..f3a84217b5 100644
--- a/sentry/api/sentry.api
+++ b/sentry/api/sentry.api
@@ -619,8 +619,10 @@ public final class io/sentry/HubAdapter : io/sentry/IHub {
 	public fun setTag (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public fun setTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public fun setUser (Lio/sentry/protocol/User;)V
+	public fun startProfiler ()V
 	public fun startSession ()V
 	public fun startTransaction (Lio/sentry/TransactionContext;Lio/sentry/TransactionOptions;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
+	public fun stopProfiler ()V
 	public fun withIsolationScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 	public fun withScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 }
@@ -684,8 +686,10 @@ public final class io/sentry/HubScopesWrapper : io/sentry/IHub {
 	public fun setTag (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public fun setTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public fun setUser (Lio/sentry/protocol/User;)V
+	public fun startProfiler ()V
 	public fun startSession ()V
 	public fun startTransaction (Lio/sentry/TransactionContext;Lio/sentry/TransactionOptions;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
+	public fun stopProfiler ()V
 	public fun withIsolationScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 	public fun withScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 }
@@ -714,7 +718,6 @@ public abstract interface class io/sentry/IContinuousProfiler {
 	public abstract fun close ()V
 	public abstract fun getProfilerId ()Lio/sentry/protocol/SentryId;
 	public abstract fun isRunning ()Z
-	public abstract fun setScopes (Lio/sentry/IScopes;)V
 	public abstract fun start ()V
 	public abstract fun stop ()V
 }
@@ -921,11 +924,13 @@ public abstract interface class io/sentry/IScopes {
 	public abstract fun setTag (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public abstract fun setTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public abstract fun setUser (Lio/sentry/protocol/User;)V
+	public abstract fun startProfiler ()V
 	public abstract fun startSession ()V
 	public fun startTransaction (Lio/sentry/TransactionContext;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
 	public abstract fun startTransaction (Lio/sentry/TransactionContext;Lio/sentry/TransactionOptions;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
 	public fun startTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
 	public fun startTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;Lio/sentry/TransactionOptions;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
+	public abstract fun stopProfiler ()V
 	public abstract fun withIsolationScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 	public abstract fun withScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 }
@@ -1395,7 +1400,6 @@ public final class io/sentry/NoOpContinuousProfiler : io/sentry/IContinuousProfi
 	public static fun getInstance ()Lio/sentry/NoOpContinuousProfiler;
 	public fun getProfilerId ()Lio/sentry/protocol/SentryId;
 	public fun isRunning ()Z
-	public fun setScopes (Lio/sentry/IScopes;)V
 	public fun start ()V
 	public fun stop ()V
 }
@@ -1465,8 +1469,10 @@ public final class io/sentry/NoOpHub : io/sentry/IHub {
 	public fun setTag (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public fun setTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public fun setUser (Lio/sentry/protocol/User;)V
+	public fun startProfiler ()V
 	public fun startSession ()V
 	public fun startTransaction (Lio/sentry/TransactionContext;Lio/sentry/TransactionOptions;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
+	public fun stopProfiler ()V
 	public fun withIsolationScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 	public fun withScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 }
@@ -1625,8 +1631,10 @@ public final class io/sentry/NoOpScopes : io/sentry/IScopes {
 	public fun setTag (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public fun setTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public fun setUser (Lio/sentry/protocol/User;)V
+	public fun startProfiler ()V
 	public fun startSession ()V
 	public fun startTransaction (Lio/sentry/TransactionContext;Lio/sentry/TransactionOptions;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
+	public fun stopProfiler ()V
 	public fun withIsolationScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 	public fun withScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 }
@@ -2278,8 +2286,10 @@ public final class io/sentry/Scopes : io/sentry/IScopes {
 	public fun setTag (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public fun setTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public fun setUser (Lio/sentry/protocol/User;)V
+	public fun startProfiler ()V
 	public fun startSession ()V
 	public fun startTransaction (Lio/sentry/TransactionContext;Lio/sentry/TransactionOptions;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
+	public fun stopProfiler ()V
 	public fun withIsolationScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 	public fun withScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 }
@@ -2343,8 +2353,10 @@ public final class io/sentry/ScopesAdapter : io/sentry/IScopes {
 	public fun setTag (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public fun setTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public fun setUser (Lio/sentry/protocol/User;)V
+	public fun startProfiler ()V
 	public fun startSession ()V
 	public fun startTransaction (Lio/sentry/TransactionContext;Lio/sentry/TransactionOptions;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
+	public fun stopProfiler ()V
 	public fun withIsolationScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 	public fun withScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 }
@@ -2447,12 +2459,14 @@ public final class io/sentry/Sentry {
 	public static fun setTag (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public static fun setTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;)V
 	public static fun setUser (Lio/sentry/protocol/User;)V
+	public static fun startProfiler ()V
 	public static fun startSession ()V
 	public static fun startTransaction (Lio/sentry/TransactionContext;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
 	public static fun startTransaction (Lio/sentry/TransactionContext;Lio/sentry/TransactionOptions;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
 	public static fun startTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
 	public static fun startTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;Lio/sentry/TransactionOptions;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
 	public static fun startTransaction (Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;Ljava/lang/String;Lio/sentry/TransactionOptions;)Lio/sentry/ITransaction;
+	public static fun stopProfiler ()V
 	public static fun withIsolationScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 	public static fun withScope (Lio/sentry/ScopeCallback;)V
 }
@@ -2468,10 +2482,12 @@ public final class io/sentry/SentryAppStartProfilingOptions : io/sentry/JsonSeri
 	public fun getProfilingTracesHz ()I
 	public fun getTraceSampleRate ()Ljava/lang/Double;
 	public fun getUnknown ()Ljava/util/Map;
+	public fun isContinuousProfilingEnabled ()Z
 	public fun isProfileSampled ()Z
 	public fun isProfilingEnabled ()Z
 	public fun isTraceSampled ()Z
 	public fun serialize (Lio/sentry/ObjectWriter;Lio/sentry/ILogger;)V
+	public fun setContinuousProfilingEnabled (Z)V
 	public fun setProfileSampleRate (Ljava/lang/Double;)V
 	public fun setProfileSampled (Z)V
 	public fun setProfilingEnabled (Z)V
@@ -2489,6 +2505,7 @@ public final class io/sentry/SentryAppStartProfilingOptions$Deserializer : io/se
 }
 
 public final class io/sentry/SentryAppStartProfilingOptions$JsonKeys {
+	public static final field IS_CONTINUOUS_PROFILING_ENABLED Ljava/lang/String;
 	public static final field IS_PROFILING_ENABLED Ljava/lang/String;
 	public static final field PROFILE_SAMPLED Ljava/lang/String;
 	public static final field PROFILE_SAMPLE_RATE Ljava/lang/String;
@@ -2993,6 +3010,7 @@ public class io/sentry/SentryOptions {
 	public fun isAttachServerName ()Z
 	public fun isAttachStacktrace ()Z
 	public fun isAttachThreads ()Z
+	public fun isContinuousProfilingEnabled ()Z
 	public fun isDebug ()Z
 	public fun isEnableAppStartProfiling ()Z
 	public fun isEnableAutoSessionTracking ()Z
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/HubAdapter.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/HubAdapter.java
index d71f5b10ba..537bcdf104 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/HubAdapter.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/HubAdapter.java
@@ -277,6 +277,16 @@ public boolean isAncestorOf(final @Nullable IScopes otherScopes) {
     return Sentry.startTransaction(transactionContext, transactionOptions);
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void startProfiler() {
+    Sentry.startProfiler();
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public void stopProfiler() {
+    Sentry.stopProfiler();
+  }
+
   @Override
   public @NotNull SentryId captureProfileChunk(
       final @NotNull ProfileChunk profilingContinuousData) {
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/HubScopesWrapper.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/HubScopesWrapper.java
index 31c2270431..d6755c2c41 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/HubScopesWrapper.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/HubScopesWrapper.java
@@ -277,6 +277,16 @@ public boolean isAncestorOf(final @Nullable IScopes otherScopes) {
     return scopes.startTransaction(transactionContext, transactionOptions);
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void startProfiler() {
+    scopes.startProfiler();
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public void stopProfiler() {
+    scopes.stopProfiler();
+  }
+
   @ApiStatus.Internal
   @Override
   public void setSpanContext(
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/IContinuousProfiler.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/IContinuousProfiler.java
index 3fe19f614b..14ce41a815 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/IContinuousProfiler.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/IContinuousProfiler.java
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@ public interface IContinuousProfiler {
 
   void stop();
 
-  void setScopes(final @NotNull IScopes scopes);
-
   /** Cancel the profiler and stops it. Used on SDK close. */
   void close();
 
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/IScopes.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/IScopes.java
index 14b8753b28..59a577f04b 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/IScopes.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/IScopes.java
@@ -592,6 +592,10 @@ ITransaction startTransaction(
       final @NotNull TransactionContext transactionContext,
       final @NotNull TransactionOptions transactionOptions);
 
+  void startProfiler();
+
+  void stopProfiler();
+
   /**
    * Associates {@link ISpan} and the transaction name with the {@link Throwable}. Used to determine
    * in which trace the exception has been thrown in framework integrations.
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/NoOpContinuousProfiler.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/NoOpContinuousProfiler.java
index 0ae5d6d81b..4ccf7cc681 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/NoOpContinuousProfiler.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/NoOpContinuousProfiler.java
@@ -19,9 +19,6 @@ public void start() {}
   @Override
   public void stop() {}
 
-  @Override
-  public void setScopes(@NotNull IScopes scopes) {}
-
   @Override
   public boolean isRunning() {
     return false;
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/NoOpHub.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/NoOpHub.java
index a304619b27..925f1e64ee 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/NoOpHub.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/NoOpHub.java
@@ -243,6 +243,12 @@ public boolean isAncestorOf(@Nullable IScopes otherScopes) {
     return NoOpTransaction.getInstance();
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void startProfiler() {}
+
+  @Override
+  public void stopProfiler() {}
+
   @Override
   public void setSpanContext(
       final @NotNull Throwable throwable,
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/NoOpScopes.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/NoOpScopes.java
index 9ec3db2a62..11bae042b0 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/NoOpScopes.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/NoOpScopes.java
@@ -238,6 +238,12 @@ public boolean isAncestorOf(@Nullable IScopes otherScopes) {
     return NoOpTransaction.getInstance();
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void startProfiler() {}
+
+  @Override
+  public void stopProfiler() {}
+
   @Override
   public void setSpanContext(
       final @NotNull Throwable throwable,
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/Scopes.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/Scopes.java
index 33d7f65d60..86f0f5f8bc 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/Scopes.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/Scopes.java
@@ -923,6 +923,34 @@ public void flush(long timeoutMillis) {
     return transaction;
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void startProfiler() {
+    if (getOptions().isContinuousProfilingEnabled()) {
+      getOptions().getLogger().log(SentryLevel.DEBUG, "Started continuous Profiling.");
+      getOptions().getContinuousProfiler().start();
+    } else {
+      getOptions()
+          .getLogger()
+          .log(
+              SentryLevel.WARNING,
+              "Continuous Profiling is not enabled. Set profilesSampleRate and profilesSampler to null to enable it.");
+    }
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public void stopProfiler() {
+    if (getOptions().isContinuousProfilingEnabled()) {
+      getOptions().getLogger().log(SentryLevel.DEBUG, "Stopped continuous Profiling.");
+      getOptions().getContinuousProfiler().stop();
+    } else {
+      getOptions()
+          .getLogger()
+          .log(
+              SentryLevel.WARNING,
+              "Continuous Profiling is not enabled. Set profilesSampleRate and profilesSampler to null to enable it.");
+    }
+  }
+
   @Override
   @ApiStatus.Internal
   public void setSpanContext(
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/ScopesAdapter.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/ScopesAdapter.java
index 8da3c4f615..9944a87a0a 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/ScopesAdapter.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/ScopesAdapter.java
@@ -280,6 +280,16 @@ public boolean isAncestorOf(final @Nullable IScopes otherScopes) {
     return Sentry.startTransaction(transactionContext, transactionOptions);
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public void startProfiler() {
+    Sentry.startProfiler();
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public void stopProfiler() {
+    Sentry.stopProfiler();
+  }
+
   @ApiStatus.Internal
   @Override
   public void setSpanContext(
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/Sentry.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/Sentry.java
index 7a35720e2d..3c30597b92 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/Sentry.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/Sentry.java
@@ -1049,6 +1049,16 @@ public static void endSession() {
     return getCurrentScopes().startTransaction(transactionContext, transactionOptions);
   }
 
+  /** Starts the continuous profiler, if enabled. */
+  public static void startProfiler() {
+    getCurrentScopes().startProfiler();
+  }
+
+  /** Starts the continuous profiler, if enabled. */
+  public static void stopProfiler() {
+    getCurrentScopes().stopProfiler();
+  }
+
   /**
    * Gets the current active transaction or span.
    *
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/SentryAppStartProfilingOptions.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/SentryAppStartProfilingOptions.java
index a9828792d7..b0926b9d93 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/SentryAppStartProfilingOptions.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/SentryAppStartProfilingOptions.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ public final class SentryAppStartProfilingOptions implements JsonUnknown, JsonSe
   @Nullable Double traceSampleRate;
   @Nullable String profilingTracesDirPath;
   boolean isProfilingEnabled;
+  boolean isContinuousProfilingEnabled;
   int profilingTracesHz;
 
   private @Nullable Map<String, Object> unknown;
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ public SentryAppStartProfilingOptions() {
     profileSampleRate = null;
     profilingTracesDirPath = null;
     isProfilingEnabled = false;
+    isContinuousProfilingEnabled = false;
     profilingTracesHz = 0;
   }
 
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@ public SentryAppStartProfilingOptions() {
     profileSampleRate = samplingDecision.getProfileSampleRate();
     profilingTracesDirPath = options.getProfilingTracesDirPath();
     isProfilingEnabled = options.isProfilingEnabled();
+    isContinuousProfilingEnabled = options.isContinuousProfilingEnabled();
     profilingTracesHz = options.getProfilingTracesHz();
   }
 
@@ -93,6 +96,14 @@ public boolean isProfilingEnabled() {
     return isProfilingEnabled;
   }
 
+  public void setContinuousProfilingEnabled(final boolean continuousProfilingEnabled) {
+    isContinuousProfilingEnabled = continuousProfilingEnabled;
+  }
+
+  public boolean isContinuousProfilingEnabled() {
+    return isContinuousProfilingEnabled;
+  }
+
   public void setProfilingTracesHz(final int profilingTracesHz) {
     this.profilingTracesHz = profilingTracesHz;
   }
@@ -110,6 +121,7 @@ public static final class JsonKeys {
     public static final String TRACE_SAMPLE_RATE = "trace_sample_rate";
     public static final String PROFILING_TRACES_DIR_PATH = "profiling_traces_dir_path";
     public static final String IS_PROFILING_ENABLED = "is_profiling_enabled";
+    public static final String IS_CONTINUOUS_PROFILING_ENABLED = "is_continuous_profiling_enabled";
     public static final String PROFILING_TRACES_HZ = "profiling_traces_hz";
   }
 
@@ -123,6 +135,9 @@ public void serialize(final @NotNull ObjectWriter writer, final @NotNull ILogger
     writer.name(JsonKeys.TRACE_SAMPLE_RATE).value(logger, traceSampleRate);
     writer.name(JsonKeys.PROFILING_TRACES_DIR_PATH).value(logger, profilingTracesDirPath);
     writer.name(JsonKeys.IS_PROFILING_ENABLED).value(logger, isProfilingEnabled);
+    writer
+        .name(JsonKeys.IS_CONTINUOUS_PROFILING_ENABLED)
+        .value(logger, isContinuousProfilingEnabled);
     writer.name(JsonKeys.PROFILING_TRACES_HZ).value(logger, profilingTracesHz);
 
     if (unknown != null) {
@@ -195,6 +210,12 @@ public static final class Deserializer
               options.isProfilingEnabled = isProfilingEnabled;
             }
             break;
+          case JsonKeys.IS_CONTINUOUS_PROFILING_ENABLED:
+            Boolean isContinuousProfilingEnabled = reader.nextBooleanOrNull();
+            if (isContinuousProfilingEnabled != null) {
+              options.isContinuousProfilingEnabled = isContinuousProfilingEnabled;
+            }
+            break;
           case JsonKeys.PROFILING_TRACES_HZ:
             Integer profilingTracesHz = reader.nextIntegerOrNull();
             if (profilingTracesHz != null) {
diff --git a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/SentryOptions.java b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/SentryOptions.java
index fdf985b132..9c914eda4f 100644
--- a/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/SentryOptions.java
+++ b/sentry/src/main/java/io/sentry/SentryOptions.java
@@ -1699,6 +1699,17 @@ public boolean isProfilingEnabled() {
         || getProfilesSampler() != null;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns if continuous profiling is enabled. This means that no profile sample rate has been
+   * set.
+   *
+   * @return if continuous profiling is enabled.
+   */
+  @ApiStatus.Internal
+  public boolean isContinuousProfilingEnabled() {
+    return getProfilesSampleRate() == null && getProfilesSampler() == null;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Returns the callback used to determine if a profile is sampled.
    *
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/HubAdapterTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/HubAdapterTest.kt
index b48ae79703..310c153709 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/HubAdapterTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/HubAdapterTest.kt
@@ -265,4 +265,14 @@ class HubAdapterTest {
         HubAdapter.getInstance().reportFullyDisplayed()
         verify(scopes).reportFullyDisplayed()
     }
+
+    @Test fun `startProfiler calls Hub`() {
+        HubAdapter.getInstance().startProfiler()
+        verify(scopes).startProfiler()
+    }
+
+    @Test fun `stopProfiler calls Hub`() {
+        HubAdapter.getInstance().stopProfiler()
+        verify(scopes).stopProfiler()
+    }
 }
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/JsonSerializerTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/JsonSerializerTest.kt
index 001ac46c67..53dd7d85bf 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/JsonSerializerTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/JsonSerializerTest.kt
@@ -1230,7 +1230,8 @@ class JsonSerializerTest {
         val actual = serializeToString(appStartProfilingOptions)
 
         val expected = "{\"profile_sampled\":true,\"profile_sample_rate\":0.8,\"trace_sampled\":false," +
-            "\"trace_sample_rate\":0.1,\"profiling_traces_dir_path\":null,\"is_profiling_enabled\":false,\"profiling_traces_hz\":65}"
+            "\"trace_sample_rate\":0.1,\"profiling_traces_dir_path\":null,\"is_profiling_enabled\":false," +
+            "\"is_continuous_profiling_enabled\":false,\"profiling_traces_hz\":65}"
 
         assertEquals(expected, actual)
     }
@@ -1247,6 +1248,7 @@ class JsonSerializerTest {
         assertEquals(appStartProfilingOptions.profileSampled, actual.profileSampled)
         assertEquals(appStartProfilingOptions.profileSampleRate, actual.profileSampleRate)
         assertEquals(appStartProfilingOptions.isProfilingEnabled, actual.isProfilingEnabled)
+        assertEquals(appStartProfilingOptions.isContinuousProfilingEnabled, actual.isContinuousProfilingEnabled)
         assertEquals(appStartProfilingOptions.profilingTracesHz, actual.profilingTracesHz)
         assertEquals(appStartProfilingOptions.profilingTracesDirPath, actual.profilingTracesDirPath)
         assertNull(actual.unknown)
@@ -1550,6 +1552,7 @@ class JsonSerializerTest {
         profileSampled = true
         profileSampleRate = 0.8
         isProfilingEnabled = false
+        isContinuousProfilingEnabled = false
         profilingTracesHz = 65
     }
 
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/NoOpHubTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/NoOpHubTest.kt
index fbd6e4c41b..e0eb08ded0 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/NoOpHubTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/NoOpHubTest.kt
@@ -115,4 +115,10 @@ class NoOpHubTest {
         sut.withScope(scopeCallback)
         verify(scopeCallback).run(NoOpScope.getInstance())
     }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `startProfiler doesnt throw`() = sut.startProfiler()
+
+    @Test
+    fun `stopProfiler doesnt throw`() = sut.stopProfiler()
 }
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/ScopesAdapterTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/ScopesAdapterTest.kt
index d30b653456..9c7418c6b5 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/ScopesAdapterTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/ScopesAdapterTest.kt
@@ -265,4 +265,14 @@ class ScopesAdapterTest {
         ScopesAdapter.getInstance().reportFullyDisplayed()
         verify(scopes).reportFullyDisplayed()
     }
+
+    @Test fun `startProfiler calls Scopes`() {
+        ScopesAdapter.getInstance().startProfiler()
+        verify(scopes).startProfiler()
+    }
+
+    @Test fun `stopProfiler calls Scopes`() {
+        ScopesAdapter.getInstance().stopProfiler()
+        verify(scopes).stopProfiler()
+    }
 }
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/ScopesTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/ScopesTest.kt
index 39b03d7ad2..68a1fee5d6 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/ScopesTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/ScopesTest.kt
@@ -2160,6 +2160,56 @@ class ScopesTest {
         assertEquals("other.span.origin", transaction.spanContext.origin)
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `startProfiler starts the continuous profiler`() {
+        val profiler = mock<IContinuousProfiler>()
+        val scopes = generateScopes {
+            it.setContinuousProfiler(profiler)
+        }
+        scopes.startProfiler()
+        verify(profiler).start()
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `stopProfiler stops the continuous profiler`() {
+        val profiler = mock<IContinuousProfiler>()
+        val scopes = generateScopes {
+            it.setContinuousProfiler(profiler)
+        }
+        scopes.stopProfiler()
+        verify(profiler).stop()
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `startProfiler logs instructions if continuous profiling is disabled`() {
+        val profiler = mock<IContinuousProfiler>()
+        val logger = mock<ILogger>()
+        val scopes = generateScopes {
+            it.setContinuousProfiler(profiler)
+            it.profilesSampleRate = 1.0
+            it.setLogger(logger)
+            it.isDebug = true
+        }
+        scopes.startProfiler()
+        verify(profiler, never()).start()
+        verify(logger).log(eq(SentryLevel.WARNING), eq("Continuous Profiling is not enabled. Set profilesSampleRate and profilesSampler to null to enable it."))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `stopProfiler logs instructions if continuous profiling is disabled`() {
+        val profiler = mock<IContinuousProfiler>()
+        val logger = mock<ILogger>()
+        val scopes = generateScopes {
+            it.setContinuousProfiler(profiler)
+            it.profilesSampleRate = 1.0
+            it.setLogger(logger)
+            it.isDebug = true
+        }
+        scopes.stopProfiler()
+        verify(profiler, never()).stop()
+        verify(logger).log(eq(SentryLevel.WARNING), eq("Continuous Profiling is not enabled. Set profilesSampleRate and profilesSampler to null to enable it."))
+    }
+
     private val dsnTest = "https://key@sentry.io/proj"
 
     private fun generateScopes(optionsConfiguration: Sentry.OptionsConfiguration<SentryOptions>? = null): IScopes {
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/SentryOptionsTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/SentryOptionsTest.kt
index f6634b6657..74ce882fe1 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/SentryOptionsTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/SentryOptionsTest.kt
@@ -193,42 +193,47 @@ class SentryOptionsTest {
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun `when options is initialized, isProfilingEnabled is false`() {
+    fun `when options is initialized, isProfilingEnabled is false and isContinuousProfilingEnabled is true`() {
         assertFalse(SentryOptions().isProfilingEnabled)
+        assertTrue(SentryOptions().isContinuousProfilingEnabled)
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun `when profilesSampleRate is null and profilesSampler is null, isProfilingEnabled is false`() {
+    fun `when profilesSampleRate is null and profilesSampler is null, isProfilingEnabled is false and isContinuousProfilingEnabled is true`() {
         val options = SentryOptions().apply {
             this.profilesSampleRate = null
             this.profilesSampler = null
         }
         assertFalse(options.isProfilingEnabled)
+        assertTrue(options.isContinuousProfilingEnabled)
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun `when profilesSampleRate is 0 and profilesSampler is null, isProfilingEnabled is false`() {
+    fun `when profilesSampleRate is 0 and profilesSampler is null, isProfilingEnabled is false and isContinuousProfilingEnabled is false`() {
         val options = SentryOptions().apply {
             this.profilesSampleRate = 0.0
             this.profilesSampler = null
         }
         assertFalse(options.isProfilingEnabled)
+        assertFalse(options.isContinuousProfilingEnabled)
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun `when profilesSampleRate is set to a value higher than 0, isProfilingEnabled is true`() {
+    fun `when profilesSampleRate is set to a value higher than 0, isProfilingEnabled is true and isContinuousProfilingEnabled is false`() {
         val options = SentryOptions().apply {
             this.profilesSampleRate = 0.1
         }
         assertTrue(options.isProfilingEnabled)
+        assertFalse(options.isContinuousProfilingEnabled)
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun `when profilesSampler is set to a value, isProfilingEnabled is true`() {
+    fun `when profilesSampler is set to a value, isProfilingEnabled is true and isContinuousProfilingEnabled is false`() {
         val options = SentryOptions().apply {
             this.profilesSampler = SentryOptions.ProfilesSamplerCallback { 1.0 }
         }
         assertTrue(options.isProfilingEnabled)
+        assertFalse(options.isContinuousProfilingEnabled)
     }
 
     @Test
diff --git a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/SentryTest.kt b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/SentryTest.kt
index 3f39b29c01..6f7cd427da 100644
--- a/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/SentryTest.kt
+++ b/sentry/src/test/java/io/sentry/SentryTest.kt
@@ -1277,6 +1277,52 @@ class SentryTest {
         assertNotSame(s1, s2)
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `startProfiler starts the continuous profiler`() {
+        val profiler = mock<IContinuousProfiler>()
+        Sentry.init {
+            it.dsn = dsn
+            it.setContinuousProfiler(profiler)
+        }
+        Sentry.startProfiler()
+        verify(profiler).start()
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `startProfiler is ignored when continuous profiling is disabled`() {
+        val profiler = mock<IContinuousProfiler>()
+        Sentry.init {
+            it.dsn = dsn
+            it.setContinuousProfiler(profiler)
+            it.profilesSampleRate = 1.0
+        }
+        Sentry.startProfiler()
+        verify(profiler, never()).start()
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `stopProfiler stops the continuous profiler`() {
+        val profiler = mock<IContinuousProfiler>()
+        Sentry.init {
+            it.dsn = dsn
+            it.setContinuousProfiler(profiler)
+        }
+        Sentry.stopProfiler()
+        verify(profiler).stop()
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `stopProfiler is ignored when continuous profiling is disabled`() {
+        val profiler = mock<IContinuousProfiler>()
+        Sentry.init {
+            it.dsn = dsn
+            it.setContinuousProfiler(profiler)
+            it.profilesSampleRate = 1.0
+        }
+        Sentry.stopProfiler()
+        verify(profiler, never()).stop()
+    }
+
     private class InMemoryOptionsObserver : IOptionsObserver {
         var release: String? = null
             private set