diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/projects/projectUserSettings.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/projects/projectUserSettings.js
index 31acbc1e4..7ca13a3cf 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/projects/projectUserSettings.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/projects/projectUserSettings.js
@@ -43,9 +43,11 @@ RED.projects.userSettings = (function() {
 
     function createWorkflowSection(pane) {
 
+        var defaultWorkflowMode = RED.settings.theme("projects.workflow.mode","manual");
+
         var currentGitSettings = RED.settings.get('git') || {};
         currentGitSettings.workflow = currentGitSettings.workflow || {};
-        currentGitSettings.workflow.mode = currentGitSettings.workflow.mode || "manual";
+        currentGitSettings.workflow.mode = currentGitSettings.workflow.mode || defaultWorkflowMode;
 
         var title = $('<h3></h3>').text(RED._("editor:sidebar.project.userSettings.workflow")).appendTo(pane);
 
diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/projects/tab-versionControl.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/projects/tab-versionControl.js
index 8aede9c2b..5512926be 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/projects/tab-versionControl.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/editor-client/src/js/ui/projects/tab-versionControl.js
@@ -294,7 +294,10 @@ RED.sidebar.versionControl = (function() {
                 // TODO: this is a full refresh of the files - should be able to
                 //       just do an incremental refresh
 
-                var workflowMode = ((RED.settings.get('git') || {}).workflow || {}).mode || "manual";
+                // Get the default workflow mode from theme settings
+                var defaultWorkflowMode = RED.settings.theme("projects.workflow.mode","manual");
+                // Check for the user-defined choice of mode
+                var workflowMode = ((RED.settings.get('git') || {}).workflow || {}).mode || defaultWorkflowMode;
                 if (workflowMode === 'auto') {
                     refresh(true);
                 } else {
diff --git a/packages/node_modules/node-red/settings.js b/packages/node_modules/node-red/settings.js
index fd07630f2..d13c2b195 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/node-red/settings.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/node-red/settings.js
@@ -290,7 +290,15 @@ module.exports = {
     editorTheme: {
         projects: {
             // To enable the Projects feature, set this value to true
-            enabled: false
+            enabled: false,
+            workflow: {
+                // Set the default projects workflow mode.
+                //  - manual - you must manually commit changes
+                //  - auto - changes are automatically committed
+                // This can be overridden per-user from the 'Git config'
+                // section of 'User Settings' within the editor
+                mode: "manual"
+            }
         }
     }
 }