diff --git a/library/ui-strings/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/library/ui-strings/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 714b48e8b4..99ff55a93d 100644
--- a/library/ui-strings/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/library/ui-strings/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -442,6 +442,9 @@
     <string name="labs_enable_new_app_layout_title">Enable new layout</string>
     <string name="labs_enable_new_app_layout_summary">A simplified Element with optional tabs</string>
 
+    <string name="labs_enable_deferred_dm_title">Enable deferred DMs</string>
+    <string name="labs_enable_deferred_dm_summary">Direct rooms will be created after sending a first message.</string>
+
     <!-- Home fragment -->
     <string name="invitations_header">Invites</string>
     <string name="low_priority_header">Low priority</string>
diff --git a/vector-app/src/debug/java/im/vector/app/features/debug/features/DebugFeaturesStateFactory.kt b/vector-app/src/debug/java/im/vector/app/features/debug/features/DebugFeaturesStateFactory.kt
index 9b2711a8c3..9118dea1e3 100644
--- a/vector-app/src/debug/java/im/vector/app/features/debug/features/DebugFeaturesStateFactory.kt
+++ b/vector-app/src/debug/java/im/vector/app/features/debug/features/DebugFeaturesStateFactory.kt
@@ -80,11 +80,6 @@ class DebugFeaturesStateFactory @Inject constructor(
                                 key = DebugFeatureKeys.forceUsageOfOpusEncoder,
                                 factory = VectorFeatures::forceUsageOfOpusEncoder
                         ),
-                        createBooleanFeature(
-                                label = "Start DM on first message",
-                                key = DebugFeatureKeys.startDmOnFirstMsg,
-                                factory = VectorFeatures::shouldStartDmOnFirstMessage
-                        ),
                         createBooleanFeature(
                                 label = "Enable New App Layout",
                                 key = DebugFeatureKeys.newAppLayoutEnabled,
diff --git a/vector-app/src/debug/java/im/vector/app/features/debug/features/DebugVectorFeatures.kt b/vector-app/src/debug/java/im/vector/app/features/debug/features/DebugVectorFeatures.kt
index bb4cae3201..c01c058fc6 100644
--- a/vector-app/src/debug/java/im/vector/app/features/debug/features/DebugVectorFeatures.kt
+++ b/vector-app/src/debug/java/im/vector/app/features/debug/features/DebugVectorFeatures.kt
@@ -73,9 +73,6 @@ class DebugVectorFeatures(
     override fun forceUsageOfOpusEncoder(): Boolean = read(DebugFeatureKeys.forceUsageOfOpusEncoder)
             ?: vectorFeatures.forceUsageOfOpusEncoder()
 
-    override fun shouldStartDmOnFirstMessage(): Boolean = read(DebugFeatureKeys.startDmOnFirstMsg)
-            ?: vectorFeatures.shouldStartDmOnFirstMessage()
-
     override fun isNewAppLayoutFeatureEnabled(): Boolean = read(DebugFeatureKeys.newAppLayoutEnabled)
             ?: vectorFeatures.isNewAppLayoutFeatureEnabled()
 
diff --git a/vector-config/src/main/res/values/config-settings.xml b/vector-config/src/main/res/values/config-settings.xml
index 8953138e5e..3342b1da14 100755
--- a/vector-config/src/main/res/values/config-settings.xml
+++ b/vector-config/src/main/res/values/config-settings.xml
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
     <bool name="settings_ignored_users_visible">true</bool>
 
     <!-- Level 1: Labs -->
+    <bool name="settings_labs_deferred_dm_default">true</bool>
     <bool name="settings_labs_thread_messages_default">false</bool>
     <bool name="settings_labs_new_app_layout_default">true</bool>
     <bool name="settings_timeline_show_live_sender_info_visible">true</bool>
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/VectorFeatures.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/VectorFeatures.kt
index dbdb0ba1c7..e1c083db29 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/VectorFeatures.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/VectorFeatures.kt
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ interface VectorFeatures {
     fun isScreenSharingEnabled(): Boolean
     fun isLocationSharingEnabled(): Boolean
     fun forceUsageOfOpusEncoder(): Boolean
-    fun shouldStartDmOnFirstMessage(): Boolean
 
     /**
      * This is only to enable if the labs flag should be visible and effective.
@@ -56,7 +55,6 @@ class DefaultVectorFeatures : VectorFeatures {
     override fun isScreenSharingEnabled(): Boolean = true
     override fun isLocationSharingEnabled() = Config.ENABLE_LOCATION_SHARING
     override fun forceUsageOfOpusEncoder(): Boolean = false
-    override fun shouldStartDmOnFirstMessage(): Boolean = false
     override fun isNewAppLayoutFeatureEnabled(): Boolean = true
     override fun isNewDeviceManagementEnabled(): Boolean = false
 }
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/createdirect/CreateDirectRoomViewModel.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/createdirect/CreateDirectRoomViewModel.kt
index 61ebc82767..3f67708a28 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/createdirect/CreateDirectRoomViewModel.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/createdirect/CreateDirectRoomViewModel.kt
@@ -26,11 +26,11 @@ import im.vector.app.core.di.MavericksAssistedViewModelFactory
 import im.vector.app.core.di.hiltMavericksViewModelFactory
 import im.vector.app.core.mvrx.runCatchingToAsync
 import im.vector.app.core.platform.VectorViewModel
-import im.vector.app.features.VectorFeatures
 import im.vector.app.features.analytics.AnalyticsTracker
 import im.vector.app.features.analytics.plan.CreatedRoom
 import im.vector.app.features.raw.wellknown.getElementWellknown
 import im.vector.app.features.raw.wellknown.isE2EByDefault
+import im.vector.app.features.settings.VectorPreferences
 import im.vector.app.features.userdirectory.PendingSelection
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.session.room.model.create.CreateRoomParams
 class CreateDirectRoomViewModel @AssistedInject constructor(
         @Assisted initialState: CreateDirectRoomViewState,
         private val rawService: RawService,
+        private val vectorPreferences: VectorPreferences,
         val session: Session,
         val analyticsTracker: AnalyticsTracker,
-        val vectorFeatures: VectorFeatures
 ) :
         VectorViewModel<CreateDirectRoomViewState, CreateDirectRoomAction, CreateDirectRoomViewEvents>(initialState) {
 
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class CreateDirectRoomViewModel @AssistedInject constructor(
                     }
 
             val result = runCatchingToAsync {
-                if (vectorFeatures.shouldStartDmOnFirstMessage()) {
+                if (vectorPreferences.isDeferredDmEnabled()) {
                     session.roomService().createLocalRoom(roomParams)
                 } else {
                     analyticsTracker.capture(CreatedRoom(isDM = roomParams.isDirect.orFalse()))
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/createdirect/DirectRoomHelper.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/createdirect/DirectRoomHelper.kt
index c2cc13920f..466aca1176 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/createdirect/DirectRoomHelper.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/createdirect/DirectRoomHelper.kt
@@ -16,11 +16,11 @@
 
 package im.vector.app.features.createdirect
 
-import im.vector.app.features.VectorFeatures
 import im.vector.app.features.analytics.AnalyticsTracker
 import im.vector.app.features.analytics.plan.CreatedRoom
 import im.vector.app.features.raw.wellknown.getElementWellknown
 import im.vector.app.features.raw.wellknown.isE2EByDefault
+import im.vector.app.features.settings.VectorPreferences
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.extensions.orFalse
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.extensions.tryOrNull
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.raw.RawService
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class DirectRoomHelper @Inject constructor(
         private val rawService: RawService,
         private val session: Session,
         private val analyticsTracker: AnalyticsTracker,
-        private val vectorFeatures: VectorFeatures,
+        private val vectorPreferences: VectorPreferences,
 ) {
 
     suspend fun ensureDMExists(userId: String): String {
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class DirectRoomHelper @Inject constructor(
                 setDirectMessage()
                 enableEncryptionIfInvitedUsersSupportIt = adminE2EByDefault
             }
-            roomId = if (vectorFeatures.shouldStartDmOnFirstMessage()) {
+            roomId = if (vectorPreferences.isDeferredDmEnabled()) {
                 session.roomService().createLocalRoom(roomParams)
             } else {
                 analyticsTracker.capture(CreatedRoom(isDM = roomParams.isDirect.orFalse()))
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/settings/VectorPreferences.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/settings/VectorPreferences.kt
index fca931eaef..4da6455f74 100755
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/settings/VectorPreferences.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/settings/VectorPreferences.kt
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ class VectorPreferences @Inject constructor(
         const val SETTINGS_BACKGROUND_SYNC_DIVIDER_PREFERENCE_KEY = "SETTINGS_BACKGROUND_SYNC_DIVIDER_PREFERENCE_KEY"
         const val SETTINGS_LABS_PREFERENCE_KEY = "SETTINGS_LABS_PREFERENCE_KEY"
         const val SETTINGS_LABS_NEW_APP_LAYOUT_KEY = "SETTINGS_LABS_NEW_APP_LAYOUT_KEY"
+        const val SETTINGS_LABS_DEFERRED_DM_KEY = "SETTINGS_LABS_DEFERRED_DM_KEY"
         const val SETTINGS_CRYPTOGRAPHY_PREFERENCE_KEY = "SETTINGS_CRYPTOGRAPHY_PREFERENCE_KEY"
         const val SETTINGS_CRYPTOGRAPHY_DIVIDER_PREFERENCE_KEY = "SETTINGS_CRYPTOGRAPHY_DIVIDER_PREFERENCE_KEY"
         const val SETTINGS_CRYPTOGRAPHY_MANAGE_PREFERENCE_KEY = "SETTINGS_CRYPTOGRAPHY_MANAGE_PREFERENCE_KEY"
@@ -1162,6 +1163,13 @@ class VectorPreferences @Inject constructor(
                 defaultPrefs.getBoolean(SETTINGS_LABS_NEW_APP_LAYOUT_KEY, getDefault(R.bool.settings_labs_new_app_layout_default))
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Indicates whether or not deferred DMs are enabled.
+     */
+    fun isDeferredDmEnabled(): Boolean {
+        return defaultPrefs.getBoolean(SETTINGS_LABS_DEFERRED_DM_KEY, getDefault(R.bool.settings_labs_deferred_dm_default))
+    }
+
     fun showLiveSenderInfo(): Boolean {
         return defaultPrefs.getBoolean(SETTINGS_TIMELINE_SHOW_LIVE_SENDER_INFO, getDefault(R.bool.settings_timeline_show_live_sender_info_default))
     }
diff --git a/vector/src/main/res/xml/vector_settings_labs.xml b/vector/src/main/res/xml/vector_settings_labs.xml
index f61d5fe7bc..8baeaad3c6 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/res/xml/vector_settings_labs.xml
+++ b/vector/src/main/res/xml/vector_settings_labs.xml
@@ -89,4 +89,10 @@
         android:summary="@string/labs_enable_new_app_layout_summary"
         android:title="@string/labs_enable_new_app_layout_title" />
 
+    <im.vector.app.core.preference.VectorSwitchPreference
+        android:defaultValue="@bool/settings_labs_deferred_dm_default"
+        android:key="SETTINGS_LABS_DEFERRED_DM_KEY"
+        android:summary="@string/labs_enable_deferred_dm_summary"
+        android:title="@string/labs_enable_deferred_dm_title" />
+
 </androidx.preference.PreferenceScreen>