diff --git a/changelog.d/17724.misc b/changelog.d/17724.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..630443f179
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/17724.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Shortcut for checking if certain background updates have completed (utilized in Sliding Sync).
diff --git a/changelog.d/17728.misc b/changelog.d/17728.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5ab241e9df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/17728.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix `_bulk_get_max_event_pos` being inefficient.
diff --git a/changelog.d/17729.bugfix b/changelog.d/17729.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4ba4e551c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/17729.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Ignore invites from ignored users in Sliding Sync.
diff --git a/changelog.d/17731.misc b/changelog.d/17731.misc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d5df74b4c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/17731.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Small performance improvement in speeding up Sliding Sync.
diff --git a/synapse/handlers/sliding_sync/room_lists.py b/synapse/handlers/sliding_sync/room_lists.py
index 475bfbbbcb..a423de74bf 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/sliding_sync/room_lists.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/sliding_sync/room_lists.py
@@ -224,15 +224,31 @@ class SlidingSyncRoomLists:
             user_id
         )
 
+        # Remove invites from ignored users
+        ignored_users = await self.store.ignored_users(user_id)
+        if ignored_users:
+            # TODO: It would be nice to avoid these copies
+            room_membership_for_user_map = dict(room_membership_for_user_map)
+            # Make a copy so we don't run into an error: `dictionary changed size during
+            # iteration`, when we remove items
+            for room_id in list(room_membership_for_user_map.keys()):
+                room_for_user_sliding_sync = room_membership_for_user_map[room_id]
+                if (
+                    room_for_user_sliding_sync.membership == Membership.INVITE
+                    and room_for_user_sliding_sync.sender in ignored_users
+                ):
+                    room_membership_for_user_map.pop(room_id, None)
+
         changes = await self._get_rewind_changes_to_current_membership_to_token(
             sync_config.user, room_membership_for_user_map, to_token=to_token
         )
         if changes:
+            # TODO: It would be nice to avoid these copies
             room_membership_for_user_map = dict(room_membership_for_user_map)
             for room_id, change in changes.items():
                 if change is None:
                     # Remove rooms that the user joined after the `to_token`
-                    room_membership_for_user_map.pop(room_id)
+                    room_membership_for_user_map.pop(room_id, None)
                     continue
 
                 existing_room = room_membership_for_user_map.get(room_id)
@@ -357,8 +373,18 @@ class SlidingSyncRoomLists:
                     ops: List[SlidingSyncResult.SlidingWindowList.Operation] = []
 
                     if list_config.ranges:
-                        if list_config.ranges == [(0, len(filtered_sync_room_map) - 1)]:
-                            # If we are asking for the full range, we don't need to sort the list.
+                        # Optimization: If we are asking for the full range, we don't
+                        # need to sort the list.
+                        if (
+                            # We're looking for a single range that covers the entire list
+                            len(list_config.ranges) == 1
+                            # Range starts at 0
+                            and list_config.ranges[0][0] == 0
+                            # And the range extends to the end of the list or more. Each
+                            # side is inclusive.
+                            and list_config.ranges[0][1]
+                            >= len(filtered_sync_room_map) - 1
+                        ):
                             sorted_room_info: List[RoomsForUserType] = list(
                                 filtered_sync_room_map.values()
                             )
@@ -926,6 +952,18 @@ class SlidingSyncRoomLists:
             excluded_rooms=self.rooms_to_exclude_globally,
         )
 
+        # Remove invites from ignored users
+        ignored_users = await self.store.ignored_users(user_id)
+        if ignored_users:
+            room_for_user_list = [
+                room_for_user
+                for room_for_user in room_for_user_list
+                if not (
+                    room_for_user.membership == Membership.INVITE
+                    and room_for_user.sender in ignored_users
+                )
+            ]
+
         # If the user has never joined any rooms before, we can just return an empty list
         if not room_for_user_list:
             return {}, set(), set()
diff --git a/synapse/storage/background_updates.py b/synapse/storage/background_updates.py
index 1194b58ffb..34139f580d 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/background_updates.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/background_updates.py
@@ -490,6 +490,12 @@ class BackgroundUpdater:
         if self._all_done:
             return True
 
+        # We now check if we have completed all pending background updates. We
+        # do this as once this returns True then it will set `self._all_done`
+        # and we can skip checking the database in future.
+        if await self.has_completed_background_updates():
+            return True
+
         rows = await self.db_pool.simple_select_many_batch(
             table="background_updates",
             column="update_name",
diff --git a/synapse/storage/databases/main/stream.py b/synapse/storage/databases/main/stream.py
index 03b4aa3381..0ab7cb8dbd 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/databases/main/stream.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/databases/main/stream.py
@@ -1584,7 +1584,7 @@ class StreamWorkerStore(EventsWorkerStore, SQLBaseStore):
                 )
             for room_id, stream_ordering in batch_results.items():
                 if stream_ordering <= now_token.stream:
-                    results.update(batch_results)
+                    results[room_id] = stream_ordering
                 else:
                     recheck_rooms.add(room_id)
 
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_lists_filters.py b/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_lists_filters.py
index 16e4e8edbc..c59f6aedc4 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_lists_filters.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_lists_filters.py
@@ -230,32 +230,21 @@ class SlidingSyncFiltersTestCase(SlidingSyncBase):
         response_body, from_token = self.do_sync(sync_body, tok=user1_tok)
 
         # Make sure the response has the lists we requested
-        self.assertListEqual(
-            list(response_body["lists"].keys()),
-            ["all-list", "foo-list"],
+        self.assertIncludes(
             response_body["lists"].keys(),
+            {"all-list", "foo-list"},
         )
 
         # Make sure the lists have the correct rooms
-        self.assertListEqual(
-            list(response_body["lists"]["all-list"]["ops"]),
-            [
-                {
-                    "op": "SYNC",
-                    "range": [0, 99],
-                    "room_ids": [space_room_id, room_id],
-                }
-            ],
+        self.assertIncludes(
+            set(response_body["lists"]["all-list"]["ops"][0]["room_ids"]),
+            {space_room_id, room_id},
+            exact=True,
         )
-        self.assertListEqual(
-            list(response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"]),
-            [
-                {
-                    "op": "SYNC",
-                    "range": [0, 99],
-                    "room_ids": [space_room_id],
-                }
-            ],
+        self.assertIncludes(
+            set(response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"][0]["room_ids"]),
+            {space_room_id},
+            exact=True,
         )
 
         # Everyone leaves the encrypted space room
@@ -284,26 +273,23 @@ class SlidingSyncFiltersTestCase(SlidingSyncBase):
         }
         response_body, _ = self.do_sync(sync_body, since=from_token, tok=user1_tok)
 
-        # Make sure the lists have the correct rooms even though we `newly_left`
-        self.assertListEqual(
-            list(response_body["lists"]["all-list"]["ops"]),
-            [
-                {
-                    "op": "SYNC",
-                    "range": [0, 99],
-                    "room_ids": [space_room_id, room_id],
-                }
-            ],
+        # Make sure the response has the lists we requested
+        self.assertIncludes(
+            response_body["lists"].keys(),
+            {"all-list", "foo-list"},
+            exact=True,
         )
-        self.assertListEqual(
-            list(response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"]),
-            [
-                {
-                    "op": "SYNC",
-                    "range": [0, 99],
-                    "room_ids": [space_room_id],
-                }
-            ],
+
+        # Make sure the lists have the correct rooms even though we `newly_left`
+        self.assertIncludes(
+            set(response_body["lists"]["all-list"]["ops"][0]["room_ids"]),
+            {space_room_id, room_id},
+            exact=True,
+        )
+        self.assertIncludes(
+            set(response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"][0]["room_ids"]),
+            {space_room_id},
+            exact=True,
         )
 
     def test_filters_is_dm(self) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_rooms_meta.py b/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_rooms_meta.py
index 40743d17eb..8d6039715f 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_rooms_meta.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_rooms_meta.py
@@ -935,7 +935,8 @@ class SlidingSyncRoomsMetaTestCase(SlidingSyncBase):
         op = response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"][0]
         self.assertEqual(op["op"], "SYNC")
         self.assertEqual(op["range"], [0, 1])
-        # Note that we don't order the ops anymore, so we need to compare sets.
+        # Note that we don't sort the rooms when the range includes all of the rooms, so
+        # we just assert that the rooms are included
         self.assertIncludes(set(op["room_ids"]), {room_id1, room_id2}, exact=True)
 
         # The `bump_stamp` for room1 should point at the latest message (not the
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_sliding_sync.py b/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_sliding_sync.py
index fe35cbb532..c2cfb29866 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_sliding_sync.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_sliding_sync.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from synapse.api.constants import (
 from synapse.api.room_versions import RoomVersions
 from synapse.events import EventBase, StrippedStateEvent, make_event_from_dict
 from synapse.events.snapshot import EventContext
-from synapse.rest.client import devices, login, receipts, room, sync
+from synapse.rest.client import account_data, devices, login, receipts, room, sync
 from synapse.server import HomeServer
 from synapse.types import (
     JsonDict,
@@ -413,6 +413,7 @@ class SlidingSyncTestCase(SlidingSyncBase):
         sync.register_servlets,
         devices.register_servlets,
         receipts.register_servlets,
+        account_data.register_servlets,
     ]
 
     def prepare(self, reactor: MemoryReactor, clock: Clock, hs: HomeServer) -> None:
@@ -670,6 +671,116 @@ class SlidingSyncTestCase(SlidingSyncBase):
             exact=True,
         )
 
+    def test_ignored_user_invites_initial_sync(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Make sure we ignore invites if they are from one of the `m.ignored_user_list` on
+        initial sync.
+        """
+        user1_id = self.register_user("user1", "pass")
+        user1_tok = self.login(user1_id, "pass")
+        user2_id = self.register_user("user2", "pass")
+        user2_tok = self.login(user2_id, "pass")
+
+        # Create a room that user1 is already in
+        room_id1 = self.helper.create_room_as(user1_id, tok=user1_tok)
+
+        # Create a room that user2 is already in
+        room_id2 = self.helper.create_room_as(user2_id, tok=user2_tok)
+
+        # User1 is invited to room_id2
+        self.helper.invite(room_id2, src=user2_id, targ=user1_id, tok=user2_tok)
+
+        # Sync once before we ignore to make sure the rooms can show up
+        sync_body = {
+            "lists": {
+                "foo-list": {
+                    "ranges": [[0, 99]],
+                    "required_state": [],
+                    "timeline_limit": 0,
+                },
+            }
+        }
+        response_body, _ = self.do_sync(sync_body, tok=user1_tok)
+        # room_id2 shows up because we haven't ignored the user yet
+        self.assertIncludes(
+            set(response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"][0]["room_ids"]),
+            {room_id1, room_id2},
+            exact=True,
+        )
+
+        # User1 ignores user2
+        channel = self.make_request(
+            "PUT",
+            f"/_matrix/client/v3/user/{user1_id}/account_data/{AccountDataTypes.IGNORED_USER_LIST}",
+            content={"ignored_users": {user2_id: {}}},
+            access_token=user1_tok,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(channel.code, 200, channel.result)
+
+        # Sync again (initial sync)
+        response_body, _ = self.do_sync(sync_body, tok=user1_tok)
+        # The invite for room_id2 should no longer show up because user2 is ignored
+        self.assertIncludes(
+            set(response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"][0]["room_ids"]),
+            {room_id1},
+            exact=True,
+        )
+
+    def test_ignored_user_invites_incremental_sync(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Make sure we ignore invites if they are from one of the `m.ignored_user_list` on
+        incremental sync.
+        """
+        user1_id = self.register_user("user1", "pass")
+        user1_tok = self.login(user1_id, "pass")
+        user2_id = self.register_user("user2", "pass")
+        user2_tok = self.login(user2_id, "pass")
+
+        # Create a room that user1 is already in
+        room_id1 = self.helper.create_room_as(user1_id, tok=user1_tok)
+
+        # Create a room that user2 is already in
+        room_id2 = self.helper.create_room_as(user2_id, tok=user2_tok)
+
+        # User1 ignores user2
+        channel = self.make_request(
+            "PUT",
+            f"/_matrix/client/v3/user/{user1_id}/account_data/{AccountDataTypes.IGNORED_USER_LIST}",
+            content={"ignored_users": {user2_id: {}}},
+            access_token=user1_tok,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(channel.code, 200, channel.result)
+
+        # Initial sync
+        sync_body = {
+            "lists": {
+                "foo-list": {
+                    "ranges": [[0, 99]],
+                    "required_state": [],
+                    "timeline_limit": 0,
+                },
+            }
+        }
+        response_body, from_token = self.do_sync(sync_body, tok=user1_tok)
+        # User1 only has membership in room_id1 at this point
+        self.assertIncludes(
+            set(response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"][0]["room_ids"]),
+            {room_id1},
+            exact=True,
+        )
+
+        # User1 is invited to room_id2 after the initial sync
+        self.helper.invite(room_id2, src=user2_id, targ=user1_id, tok=user2_tok)
+
+        # Sync again (incremental sync)
+        response_body, _ = self.do_sync(sync_body, since=from_token, tok=user1_tok)
+        # The invite for room_id2 doesn't show up because user2 is ignored
+        self.assertIncludes(
+            set(response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"][0]["room_ids"]),
+            {room_id1},
+            exact=True,
+        )
+
     def test_sort_list(self) -> None:
         """
         Test that the `lists` are sorted by `stream_ordering`
@@ -686,7 +797,38 @@ class SlidingSyncTestCase(SlidingSyncBase):
         self.helper.send(room_id1, "activity in room1", tok=user1_tok)
         self.helper.send(room_id2, "activity in room2", tok=user1_tok)
 
-        # Make the Sliding Sync request
+        # Make the Sliding Sync request where the range includes *some* of the rooms
+        sync_body = {
+            "lists": {
+                "foo-list": {
+                    "ranges": [[0, 1]],
+                    "required_state": [],
+                    "timeline_limit": 1,
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        response_body, _ = self.do_sync(sync_body, tok=user1_tok)
+
+        # Make sure it has the foo-list we requested
+        self.assertIncludes(
+            response_body["lists"].keys(),
+            {"foo-list"},
+        )
+        # Make sure the list is sorted in the way we expect (we only sort when the range
+        # doesn't include all of the room)
+        self.assertListEqual(
+            list(response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"]),
+            [
+                {
+                    "op": "SYNC",
+                    "range": [0, 1],
+                    "room_ids": [room_id2, room_id1],
+                }
+            ],
+            response_body["lists"]["foo-list"],
+        )
+
+        # Make the Sliding Sync request where the range includes *all* of the rooms
         sync_body = {
             "lists": {
                 "foo-list": {
@@ -699,24 +841,24 @@ class SlidingSyncTestCase(SlidingSyncBase):
         response_body, _ = self.do_sync(sync_body, tok=user1_tok)
 
         # Make sure it has the foo-list we requested
-        self.assertListEqual(
-            list(response_body["lists"].keys()),
-            ["foo-list"],
+        self.assertIncludes(
             response_body["lists"].keys(),
+            {"foo-list"},
         )
-
-        # Make sure the list is sorted in the way we expect
-        self.assertListEqual(
-            list(response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"]),
-            [
-                {
-                    "op": "SYNC",
-                    "range": [0, 99],
-                    "room_ids": [room_id2, room_id1, room_id3],
-                }
-            ],
+        # Since the range includes all of the rooms, we don't sort the list
+        self.assertEqual(
+            len(response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"]),
+            1,
             response_body["lists"]["foo-list"],
         )
+        op = response_body["lists"]["foo-list"]["ops"][0]
+        self.assertEqual(op["op"], "SYNC")
+        self.assertEqual(op["range"], [0, 99])
+        # Note that we don't sort the rooms when the range includes all of the rooms, so
+        # we just assert that the rooms are included
+        self.assertIncludes(
+            set(op["room_ids"]), {room_id1, room_id2, room_id3}, exact=True
+        )
 
     def test_sliced_windows(self) -> None:
         """