diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/chat.contribution.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/chat.contribution.ts
index 3ab48a0142d..e99e252a1c0 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/chat.contribution.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/chat.contribution.ts
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ configurationRegistry.registerConfiguration({
 		[mcpAutoStartConfig]: {
 			type: 'string',
 			description: nls.localize('chat.mcp.autostart', "Controls whether MCP servers should be automatically started when the chat messages are submitted."),
-			default: McpAutoStartValue.NewAndOutdated,
+			default: McpAutoStartValue.Never,
 			enum: [
 				McpAutoStartValue.Never,
 				McpAutoStartValue.OnlyNew,