diff --git a/custom/conf/app.ini.sample b/custom/conf/app.ini.sample
index b89c5b5e965..6b46456f4ef 100644
--- a/custom/conf/app.ini.sample
+++ b/custom/conf/app.ini.sample
@@ -368,6 +368,10 @@ DEFAULT_ALLOW_ONLY_CONTRIBUTORS_TO_TRACK_TIME = true
 NO_REPLY_ADDRESS = noreply.example.org
 ; Show Registration button
 SHOW_REGISTRATION_BUTTON = true
+; Default value for AutoWatchNewRepos
+; When adding a repo to a team or creating a new repo all team members will watch the 
+; repo automatically if enabled 
+AUTO_WATCH_NEW_REPOS = true
 
 [webhook]
 ; Hook task queue length, increase if webhook shooting starts hanging
diff --git a/docs/content/doc/advanced/config-cheat-sheet.en-us.md b/docs/content/doc/advanced/config-cheat-sheet.en-us.md
index 15f90769bc3..7d7f4d9e0a7 100644
--- a/docs/content/doc/advanced/config-cheat-sheet.en-us.md
+++ b/docs/content/doc/advanced/config-cheat-sheet.en-us.md
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ Values containing `#` or `;` must be quoted using `` ` `` or `"""`.
 - `EMAIL_DOMAIN_WHITELIST`: **\<empty\>**: If non-empty, list of domain names that can only be used to register
   on this instance.
 - `SHOW_REGISTRATION_BUTTON`: **! DISABLE\_REGISTRATION**: Show Registration Button
+- `AUTO_WATCH_NEW_REPOS`: **true** Enable this to let all organisation users watch new repos when they are created
 
 ## Webhook (`webhook`)
 
diff --git a/models/org_team.go b/models/org_team.go
index 2ab807b49b3..22fb6eae24f 100644
--- a/models/org_team.go
+++ b/models/org_team.go
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/log"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting"
+
 	"github.com/go-xorm/xorm"
 )
 
@@ -123,14 +125,18 @@ func (t *Team) addRepository(e Engine, repo *Repository) (err error) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("recalculateAccesses: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	if err = t.getMembers(e); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("getMembers: %v", err)
-	}
-	for _, u := range t.Members {
-		if err = watchRepo(e, u.ID, repo.ID, true); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("watchRepo: %v", err)
+	// Make all team members watch this repo if enabled in global settings
+	if setting.Service.AutoWatchNewRepos {
+		if err = t.getMembers(e); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("getMembers: %v", err)
+		}
+		for _, u := range t.Members {
+			if err = watchRepo(e, u.ID, repo.ID, true); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("watchRepo: %v", err)
+			}
 		}
 	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -618,9 +624,10 @@ func AddTeamMember(team *Team, userID int64) error {
 		if err := repo.recalculateTeamAccesses(sess, 0); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-
-		if err = watchRepo(sess, userID, repo.ID, true); err != nil {
-			return err
+		if setting.Service.AutoWatchNewRepos {
+			if err = watchRepo(sess, userID, repo.ID, true); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/models/repo.go b/models/repo.go
index fc566ab2d3a..51ea1c94bc6 100644
--- a/models/repo.go
+++ b/models/repo.go
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/Unknwon/com"
 	"github.com/go-xorm/builder"
 	"github.com/go-xorm/xorm"
-	"github.com/mcuadros/go-version"
-	"gopkg.in/ini.v1"
+	version "github.com/mcuadros/go-version"
+	ini "gopkg.in/ini.v1"
 )
 
 var repoWorkingPool = sync.NewExclusivePool()
@@ -1353,9 +1353,12 @@ func createRepository(e *xorm.Session, doer, u *User, repo *Repository) (err err
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err = watchRepo(e, doer.ID, repo.ID, true); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("watchRepo: %v", err)
-	} else if err = newRepoAction(e, u, repo); err != nil {
+	if setting.Service.AutoWatchNewRepos {
+		if err = watchRepo(e, doer.ID, repo.ID, true); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("watchRepo: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+	if err = newRepoAction(e, u, repo); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("newRepoAction: %v", err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/modules/setting/setting.go b/modules/setting/setting.go
index ec9fa02c25f..4aca5796175 100644
--- a/modules/setting/setting.go
+++ b/modules/setting/setting.go
@@ -1247,6 +1247,7 @@ var Service struct {
 	DefaultAllowOnlyContributorsToTrackTime bool
 	NoReplyAddress                          string
 	EnableUserHeatmap                       bool
+	AutoWatchNewRepos                       bool
 
 	// OpenID settings
 	EnableOpenIDSignIn bool
@@ -1281,6 +1282,7 @@ func newService() {
 	Service.DefaultAllowOnlyContributorsToTrackTime = sec.Key("DEFAULT_ALLOW_ONLY_CONTRIBUTORS_TO_TRACK_TIME").MustBool(true)
 	Service.NoReplyAddress = sec.Key("NO_REPLY_ADDRESS").MustString("noreply.example.org")
 	Service.EnableUserHeatmap = sec.Key("ENABLE_USER_HEATMAP").MustBool(true)
+	Service.AutoWatchNewRepos = sec.Key("AUTO_WATCH_NEW_REPOS").MustBool(true)
 
 	sec = Cfg.Section("openid")
 	Service.EnableOpenIDSignIn = sec.Key("ENABLE_OPENID_SIGNIN").MustBool(!InstallLock)