diff --git a/src/tagstudio/qt/global_settings.py b/src/tagstudio/qt/global_settings.py
index 052d815e7..fb96b64ac 100644
--- a/src/tagstudio/qt/global_settings.py
+++ b/src/tagstudio/qt/global_settings.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class GlobalSettings(BaseModel):
     cached_thumb_quality: int = Field(default=DEFAULT_CACHED_IMAGE_QUALITY)
     cached_thumb_resolution: int = Field(default=DEFAULT_CACHED_IMAGE_RES)
     autoplay: bool = Field(default=True)
+    autoload_new_files: bool = Field(default=False)
     loop: bool = Field(default=True)
     show_filenames_in_grid: bool = Field(default=True)
     page_size: int = Field(default=100)
diff --git a/src/tagstudio/qt/mixed/settings_panel.py b/src/tagstudio/qt/mixed/settings_panel.py
index 609ed5b05..4f71380f0 100644
--- a/src/tagstudio/qt/mixed/settings_panel.py
+++ b/src/tagstudio/qt/mixed/settings_panel.py
@@ -176,6 +176,13 @@ def __build_global_settings(self):
         self.autoplay_checkbox.setChecked(self.driver.settings.autoplay)
         form_layout.addRow(Translations["media_player.autoplay"], self.autoplay_checkbox)
 
+        # Autoload new files
+        self.autoload_new_files_checkbox = QCheckBox()
+        self.autoload_new_files_checkbox.setChecked(self.driver.settings.autoload_new_files)
+        form_layout.addRow(
+            Translations["media_player.autoload_new_files"], self.autoload_new_files_checkbox
+        )
+
         # Show Filenames in Grid
         self.show_filenames_checkbox = QCheckBox()
         self.show_filenames_checkbox.setChecked(self.driver.settings.show_filenames_in_grid)
@@ -295,6 +302,7 @@ def get_settings(self) -> dict[str, Any]:  # pyright: ignore[reportExplicitAny]
                 MIN_THUMB_CACHE_SIZE,
             ),
             "autoplay": self.autoplay_checkbox.isChecked(),
+            "auto_load_new_files": self.autoload_new_files_checkbox.isChecked(),
             "show_filenames_in_grid": self.show_filenames_checkbox.isChecked(),
             "page_size": int(self.page_size_line_edit.text()),
             "infinite_scroll": self.infinite_scroll.isChecked(),
@@ -313,6 +321,7 @@ def update_settings(self, driver: "QtDriver"):
         driver.settings.language = settings["language"]
         driver.settings.open_last_loaded_on_startup = settings["open_last_loaded_on_startup"]
         driver.settings.autoplay = settings["autoplay"]
+        driver.settings.autoload_new_files = settings["auto_load_new_files"]
         driver.settings.generate_thumbs = settings["generate_thumbs"]
         driver.settings.thumb_cache_size = settings["thumb_cache_size"]
         driver.settings.show_filenames_in_grid = settings["show_filenames_in_grid"]
diff --git a/src/tagstudio/qt/ts_qt.py b/src/tagstudio/qt/ts_qt.py
index 5a7b2fd63..a11e93fda 100644
--- a/src/tagstudio/qt/ts_qt.py
+++ b/src/tagstudio/qt/ts_qt.py
@@ -1649,8 +1649,8 @@ def _init_library(self, path: Path, open_status: LibraryStatus):
         Ignore.get_patterns(self.lib.library_dir, include_global=True)
         self.__reset_navigation()
 
-        # TODO - make this call optional
-        if self.lib.entries_count < 10000:
+        # Autoloading will happen in both cases, so most users won't need to turn the setting on
+        if self.lib.entries_count < 10_000 or self.settings.autoload_new_files:
             self.add_new_files_callback()
 
         if self.settings.show_filepath == ShowFilepathOption.SHOW_FULL_PATHS:
diff --git a/src/tagstudio/resources/translations/en.json b/src/tagstudio/resources/translations/en.json
index cdd46dc11..afa903a79 100644
--- a/src/tagstudio/resources/translations/en.json
+++ b/src/tagstudio/resources/translations/en.json
@@ -206,6 +206,7 @@
     "macros.running.dialog.new_entries": "Running Configured Macros on {count}/{total} New File Entries...",
     "macros.running.dialog.title": "Running Macros on New Entries",
     "media_player.autoplay": "Autoplay",
+    "media_player.autoload_new_files": "Automatically Load New Files",
     "media_player.loop": "Loop",
     "menu.delete_selected_files_ambiguous": "Move File(s) to {trash_term}",
     "menu.delete_selected_files_plural": "Move Files to {trash_term}",