diff --git a/src/config/configSchema.json b/src/config/configSchema.json
index 507ab69e..98144c58 100644
--- a/src/config/configSchema.json
+++ b/src/config/configSchema.json
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
     "preload": {
       "type": "string",
       "enum": ["auto", "metadata", "none"],
-      "default": "auto"
+      "default": "metadata"
     },
     "sourceTransformation": {
       "type": "object",
diff --git a/src/config/defaults.js b/src/config/defaults.js
index 5b44b833..5b9f8d20 100644
--- a/src/config/defaults.js
+++ b/src/config/defaults.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ export default {
   aiHighlightsGraph: false,
   visualSearch: false,
   download: false,
-  preload: PRELOAD.AUTO,
+  preload: PRELOAD.METADATA,
   textTrackSettings: false,
   loop: false,
   muted: false,