diff --git a/app/models/site_config.rb b/app/models/site_config.rb
index a82dcdd59..5a0bcbe63 100644
--- a/app/models/site_config.rb
+++ b/app/models/site_config.rb
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class SiteConfig < RailsSettings::Base
   field :video_encoder_key, type: :string
 
   # Authentication
-  field :allow_email_password_registration, type: :boolean, default: true
+  field :allow_email_password_registration, type: :boolean, default: false
   field :allow_email_password_login, type: :boolean, default: true
   field :allow_both_email_signup_and_login, type: :boolean, default: true
   field :require_captcha_for_email_password_registration, type: :boolean, default: false