diff --git a/src/neochatconfig.kcfg b/src/neochatconfig.kcfg
index b0f45eb45..e706d0f7e 100644
--- a/src/neochatconfig.kcfg
+++ b/src/neochatconfig.kcfg
@@ -223,6 +223,10 @@
       <label>Reject unknown invites</label>
       <default>false</default>
     </entry>
+    <entry name="PreferUsingEncryption" type="bool">
+      <label>Prefer encrypting chats</label>
+      <default>true</default>
+    </entry>
   </group>
 </kcfg>
 
diff --git a/src/neochatconnection.cpp b/src/neochatconnection.cpp
index 0d5977c56..21a9a6650 100644
--- a/src/neochatconnection.cpp
+++ b/src/neochatconnection.cpp
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ void NeoChatConnection::connectSignals()
             });
         },
         Qt::SingleShotConnection);
+    setDirectChatEncryptionDefault(NeoChatConfig::preferUsingEncryption());
+    connect(NeoChatConfig::self(), &NeoChatConfig::PreferUsingEncryptionChanged, this, [] {
+        setDirectChatEncryptionDefault(NeoChatConfig::preferUsingEncryption());
+    });
 }
 
 int NeoChatConnection::badgeNotificationCount() const
diff --git a/src/settings/NeoChatSecurityPage.qml b/src/settings/NeoChatSecurityPage.qml
index ae21a4fd8..1861193ac 100644
--- a/src/settings/NeoChatSecurityPage.qml
+++ b/src/settings/NeoChatSecurityPage.qml
@@ -65,6 +65,21 @@ FormCard.FormCardPage {
                 NeoChatConfig.save();
             }
         }
+        FormCard.FormDelegateSeparator {
+            above: rejectInvitationsDelegate
+            below: preferEncryptionDelegate
+        }
+        FormCard.FormCheckDelegate {
+            id: preferEncryptionDelegate
+            text: i18nc("@option:check", "Turn on encryption in new chats")
+            description: i18nc("@info", "If enabled, NeoChat will use encryption when starting new direct messages.")
+            checked: NeoChatConfig.preferUsingEncryption
+            enabled: !NeoChatConfig.preferUsingEncryptionImmutable
+            onToggled: {
+                NeoChatConfig.preferUsingEncryption = checked;
+                NeoChatConfig.save();
+            }
+        }
     }
     FormCard.FormHeader {
         title: i18nc("@title:group", "Encryption")