diff --git a/services/mana-notify/src/db/schema/preferences.schema.ts b/services/mana-notify/src/db/schema/preferences.schema.ts
index a9d95aad6..b3964b1c3 100644
--- a/services/mana-notify/src/db/schema/preferences.schema.ts
+++ b/services/mana-notify/src/db/schema/preferences.schema.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export const preferences = notifySchema.table(
 		userId: text('user_id').notNull(),
 
 		// Global settings
-		emailEnabled: boolean('email_enabled').notNull().default(true),
+		emailEnabled: boolean('email_enabled').notNull().default(false),
 		pushEnabled: boolean('push_enabled').notNull().default(true),
 
 		// Quiet hours
diff --git a/services/mana-notify/src/preferences/preferences.service.ts b/services/mana-notify/src/preferences/preferences.service.ts
index 95c5cba3a..7d95a3661 100644
--- a/services/mana-notify/src/preferences/preferences.service.ts
+++ b/services/mana-notify/src/preferences/preferences.service.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export class PreferencesService {
 			.insert(preferences)
 			.values({
 				userId,
-				emailEnabled: true,
+				emailEnabled: false,
 				pushEnabled: true,
 				quietHoursEnabled: false,
 				timezone: 'Europe/Berlin',