diff --git a/inject.js b/inject.js
index 010010b..c6eb7b2 100644
--- a/inject.js
+++ b/inject.js
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ var tc = {
     defaultLogLevel: 3,
     logLevel: 3,
     enableSubtitleNudge: false,
+    subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault: true,
     subtitleNudgeInterval: 50, // Default 50ms balances subtitle tracking with CPU cost
     subtitleNudgeAmount: 0.001,
     customButtonIcons: {}
@@ -384,6 +385,7 @@ function captureSiteRuleBase() {
     controllerMarginTop: tc.settings.controllerMarginTop,
     controllerMarginBottom: tc.settings.controllerMarginBottom,
     enableSubtitleNudge: tc.settings.enableSubtitleNudge,
+    subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault: tc.settings.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault,
     subtitleNudgeInterval: tc.settings.subtitleNudgeInterval,
     controllerButtons: Array.isArray(tc.settings.controllerButtons)
       ? tc.settings.controllerButtons.slice()
@@ -410,6 +412,7 @@ function resetSettingsFromSiteRuleBase() {
   tc.settings.controllerMarginTop = base.controllerMarginTop;
   tc.settings.controllerMarginBottom = base.controllerMarginBottom;
   tc.settings.enableSubtitleNudge = base.enableSubtitleNudge;
+  tc.settings.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault = base.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault;
   tc.settings.subtitleNudgeInterval = base.subtitleNudgeInterval;
   tc.settings.controllerButtons = Array.isArray(base.controllerButtons)
     ? base.controllerButtons.slice()
@@ -659,13 +662,15 @@ function isSubtitleNudgeAvailableForVideo(video) {
 function isSubtitleNudgeEnabledForVideo(video) {
   if (!isSubtitleNudgeAvailableForVideo(video)) return false;
 
-  if (!video || !video.vsc) return true;
+  if (!video || !video.vsc) {
+    return Boolean(tc.settings.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault);
+  }
 
   if (typeof video.vsc.subtitleNudgeEnabledOverride === "boolean") {
     return video.vsc.subtitleNudgeEnabledOverride;
   }
 
-  return true;
+  return Boolean(tc.settings.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault);
 }
 
 function setSubtitleNudgeEnabledForVideo(video, enabled) {
@@ -1195,6 +1200,10 @@ chrome.storage.sync.get(tc.settings, function(storage) {
     typeof storage.enableSubtitleNudge !== "undefined"
       ? Boolean(storage.enableSubtitleNudge)
       : tc.settings.enableSubtitleNudge;
+  tc.settings.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault =
+    typeof storage.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault !== "undefined"
+      ? Boolean(storage.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault)
+      : tc.settings.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault;
   tc.settings.subtitleNudgeInterval = Math.min(
     1000,
     Math.max(10, Number(storage.subtitleNudgeInterval) || 50)
@@ -2051,6 +2060,7 @@ function applySiteRuleOverrides() {
     "controllerMarginTop",
     "controllerMarginBottom",
     "enableSubtitleNudge",
+    "subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault",
     "subtitleNudgeInterval"
   ];
 
diff --git a/manifest.json b/manifest.json
index 6ddc5d7..8b885fa 100644
--- a/manifest.json
+++ b/manifest.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "Speeder",
   "short_name": "Speeder",
-  "version": "5.2.8",
+  "version": "5.3.0",
   "manifest_version": 2,
   "description": "Speed up, slow down, advance and rewind HTML5 audio/video with shortcuts (New and improved version of \"Video Speed Controller\")",
   "homepage_url": "https://github.com/SoPat712/speeder",
diff --git a/options.html b/options.html
index d78b791..36367a2 100644
--- a/options.html
+++ b/options.html
@@ -394,11 +394,21 @@
           <div class="row row-checkbox">
             <label for="enableSubtitleNudge"
               >Enable subtitle nudge<br /><em
-                >Makes tiny playback changes to help keep subtitles aligned.</em
+                >Makes tiny playback changes to help keep subtitles aligned and
+                allows nudge toggle controls.</em
               >
             </label>
             <input id="enableSubtitleNudge" type="checkbox" />
           </div>
+          <div class="row row-checkbox">
+            <label for="subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault"
+              >Start subtitle nudge enabled<br /><em
+                >When off, each video starts with nudging disabled until you
+                toggle it.</em
+              >
+            </label>
+            <input id="subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault" type="checkbox" />
+          </div>
           <div class="row">
             <label for="subtitleNudgeInterval"
               >Nudge interval (milliseconds)<br /><em
@@ -827,6 +837,15 @@
                       >
                       <input type="checkbox" class="site-enableSubtitleNudge" />
                     </div>
+                    <div class="site-rule-option site-rule-option-checkbox">
+                      <label
+                        >Start subtitle nudge enabled:<br /><em
+                          >When off, matching videos start with nudging disabled
+                          until you toggle it.</em
+                        ></label
+                      >
+                      <input type="checkbox" class="site-subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault" />
+                    </div>
                     <div class="site-rule-option site-rule-option-field">
                       <label
                         >Nudge interval (10&ndash;1000ms):<br /><em
diff --git a/options.js b/options.js
index 7d2295d..b995b11 100644
--- a/options.js
+++ b/options.js
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ var tcDefaults = {
   popupMatchHoverControls: true,
   popupControllerButtons: ["rewind", "slower", "faster", "advance", "display"],
   enableSubtitleNudge: false,
+  subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault: true,
   subtitleNudgeInterval: 50,
   subtitleNudgeAmount: 0.001
 };
@@ -823,6 +824,8 @@ function save_options() {
   settings.keyBindings = keyBindings;
   settings.enableSubtitleNudge =
     document.getElementById("enableSubtitleNudge").checked;
+  settings.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault =
+    document.getElementById("subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault").checked;
   settings.subtitleNudgeInterval =
     parseInt(document.getElementById("subtitleNudgeInterval").value, 10) ||
     tcDefaults.subtitleNudgeInterval;
@@ -906,6 +909,8 @@ function save_options() {
     if (ruleEl.querySelector(".override-subtitleNudge").checked) {
       rule.enableSubtitleNudge =
         ruleEl.querySelector(".site-enableSubtitleNudge").checked;
+      rule.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault =
+        ruleEl.querySelector(".site-subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault").checked;
       var nudgeIv = parseInt(
         ruleEl.querySelector(".site-subtitleNudgeInterval").value,
         10
@@ -1162,10 +1167,12 @@ function createSiteRule(rule) {
   var hasSubtitleNudgeOverride = Boolean(
     rule &&
     (rule.enableSubtitleNudge !== undefined ||
+      rule.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault !== undefined ||
       rule.subtitleNudgeInterval !== undefined)
   );
   ruleEl.querySelector(".override-subtitleNudge").checked = hasSubtitleNudgeOverride;
   syncSiteRuleField(ruleEl, rule, "enableSubtitleNudge", true);
+  syncSiteRuleField(ruleEl, rule, "subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault", true);
   syncSiteRuleField(ruleEl, rule, "subtitleNudgeInterval", false);
   applySiteRuleOverrideState(
     ruleEl,
@@ -1650,6 +1657,8 @@ function restore_options() {
       storage.showPopupControlBar !== false;
     document.getElementById("enableSubtitleNudge").checked =
       storage.enableSubtitleNudge;
+    document.getElementById("subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault").checked =
+      storage.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault;
     document.getElementById("subtitleNudgeInterval").value =
       storage.subtitleNudgeInterval;
 
diff --git a/settings-core.js b/settings-core.js
index 62a8195..b9baf3b 100644
--- a/settings-core.js
+++ b/settings-core.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
     "audioBoolean",
     "controllerOpacity",
     "enableSubtitleNudge",
+    "subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault",
     "subtitleNudgeInterval",
     "controllerButtons",
     "showPopupControlBar",
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@
     "popupMatchHoverControls",
     "popupControllerButtons",
     "enableSubtitleNudge",
+    "subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault",
     "subtitleNudgeInterval",
     "subtitleNudgeAmount"
   ];
@@ -180,6 +182,7 @@
     popupMatchHoverControls: true,
     popupControllerButtons: DEFAULT_BUTTONS.slice(),
     enableSubtitleNudge: false,
+    subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault: true,
     subtitleNudgeInterval: 50,
     subtitleNudgeAmount: 0.001
   };
diff --git a/shared/import-export.js b/shared/import-export.js
index d98d4df..550374a 100644
--- a/shared/import-export.js
+++ b/shared/import-export.js
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
     "speed",
     "startHidden",
     "subtitleNudgeAmount",
+    "subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault",
     "subtitleNudgeInterval"
   ]);
 
diff --git a/tests/inject.test.js b/tests/inject.test.js
index 357bc9f..a3852b2 100644
--- a/tests/inject.test.js
+++ b/tests/inject.test.js
@@ -112,4 +112,52 @@ describe("inject runtime", () => {
 
     await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0));
   });
+
+  it("uses the configured subtitle nudge default until a video is toggled", async () => {
+    await bootInject({
+      sync: {
+        enableSubtitleNudge: true,
+        subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault: false
+      }
+    });
+
+    const startSubtitleNudge = vi.fn();
+    const video = {
+      paused: false,
+      playbackRate: 1.5,
+      vsc: {
+        startSubtitleNudge,
+        stopSubtitleNudge: vi.fn(),
+        subtitleNudgeEnabledOverride: null,
+        subtitleNudgeIndicator: null,
+        nudgeFlashIndicator: document.createElement("span")
+      }
+    };
+
+    expect(window.isSubtitleNudgeEnabledForVideo(video)).toBe(false);
+    expect(window.setSubtitleNudgeEnabledForVideo(video, true)).toBe(true);
+    expect(video.vsc.subtitleNudgeEnabledOverride).toBe(true);
+    expect(window.isSubtitleNudgeEnabledForVideo(video)).toBe(true);
+    expect(startSubtitleNudge).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("applies subtitle nudge default state from matching site rules", async () => {
+    await bootInject();
+
+    window.tc.settings.enableSubtitleNudge = true;
+    window.tc.settings.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault = true;
+    window.tc.settings.siteRules = [
+      {
+        pattern: "example.org",
+        subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault: false
+      }
+    ];
+    window.captureSiteRuleBase();
+
+    expect(window.applySiteRuleOverrides()).toBe(false);
+    expect(window.tc.settings.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault).toBe(false);
+
+    window.resetSettingsFromSiteRuleBase();
+    expect(window.tc.settings.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault).toBe(true);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/tests/options.integration.test.js b/tests/options.integration.test.js
index dc10a39..b0662e4 100644
--- a/tests/options.integration.test.js
+++ b/tests/options.integration.test.js
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ describe("options page", () => {
       sync: {
         rememberSpeed: true,
         enabled: false,
+        subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault: false,
         popupMatchHoverControls: false,
         popupControllerButtons: ["rewind", "settings", "advance", "advance"],
         keyBindings: [
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ describe("options page", () => {
           {
             pattern: "youtube.com",
             enabled: true,
+            subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault: false,
             showPopupControlBar: false,
             popupControllerButtons: ["advance", "settings", "advance"]
           }
@@ -49,12 +51,22 @@ describe("options page", () => {
     expect(document.getElementById("app-version").textContent).toBe("5.1.7.0");
     expect(document.getElementById("rememberSpeed").checked).toBe(true);
     expect(document.getElementById("enabled").checked).toBe(false);
+    expect(document.getElementById("subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault").checked).toBe(
+      false
+    );
     expect(document.querySelector('.shortcut-row[data-action="pause"]')).not.toBe(
       null
     );
     expect(document.getElementById("siteRulesContainer").children.length).toBe(
       1
     );
+    expect(document.querySelector(".site-rule .override-subtitleNudge").checked).toBe(
+      true
+    );
+    expect(
+      document.querySelector(".site-rule .site-subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault")
+        .checked
+    ).toBe(false);
     expect(globalThis.getPopupControlBarOrder()).toEqual(["rewind", "advance"]);
   });
 
@@ -159,6 +171,7 @@ describe("options page", () => {
     document.getElementById("controllerMarginTop").value = "250";
     document.getElementById("controllerMarginBottom").value = "-4";
     document.getElementById("enableSubtitleNudge").checked = true;
+    document.getElementById("subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault").checked = false;
     document.getElementById("subtitleNudgeInterval").value = "5";
     document.getElementById("popupMatchHoverControls").checked = false;
     document.getElementById("showPopupControlBar").checked = false;
@@ -177,6 +190,10 @@ describe("options page", () => {
     rule.querySelector(".site-rememberSpeed").checked = true;
     rule.querySelector(".override-opacity").checked = true;
     rule.querySelector(".site-controllerOpacity").value = "0";
+    rule.querySelector(".override-subtitleNudge").checked = true;
+    rule.querySelector(".site-enableSubtitleNudge").checked = true;
+    rule.querySelector(".site-subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault").checked = false;
+    rule.querySelector(".site-subtitleNudgeInterval").value = "75";
     rule.querySelector(".override-popup-controlbar").checked = true;
     rule.querySelector(".site-showPopupControlBar").checked = false;
     globalThis.populateControlBarZones(
@@ -201,6 +218,7 @@ describe("options page", () => {
     expect(savedSettings.controllerOpacity).toBe(0);
     expect(savedSettings.controllerMarginTop).toBe(200);
     expect(savedSettings.controllerMarginBottom).toBe(0);
+    expect(savedSettings.subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault).toBe(false);
     expect(savedSettings.subtitleNudgeInterval).toBe(10);
     expect(savedSettings.showPopupControlBar).toBe(false);
     expect(savedSettings.popupMatchHoverControls).toBe(false);
@@ -211,6 +229,9 @@ describe("options page", () => {
         pattern: "youtube.com",
         rememberSpeed: true,
         controllerOpacity: 0,
+        enableSubtitleNudge: true,
+        subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault: false,
+        subtitleNudgeInterval: 75,
         showPopupControlBar: false,
         popupControllerButtons: ["advance"]
       })
diff --git a/tests/shared.test.js b/tests/shared.test.js
index 0c58acd..c1f145f 100644
--- a/tests/shared.test.js
+++ b/tests/shared.test.js
@@ -152,6 +152,16 @@ describe("shared helpers", () => {
       localSettings: null
     });
 
+    expect(
+      importExportUtils.extractImportSettings({
+        subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault: false
+      })
+    ).toEqual({
+      isWrappedBackup: false,
+      settings: { subtitleNudgeEnabledByDefault: false },
+      localSettings: null
+    });
+
     expect(
       importExportUtils.extractImportSettings({ enabled: true })
     ).toEqual({