diff --git a/src/idvc/ui/dialogs.py b/src/idvc/ui/dialogs.py
index 1fdb1563..2cf9eda6 100644
--- a/src/idvc/ui/dialogs.py
+++ b/src/idvc/ui/dialogs.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ def __init__(self, parent, title="Settings"):
         self.addWidget(self.dark_checkbox, '', 'darkmode')
 
         self.copy_files_checkbox = QCheckBox("Allow a copy of the image files to be stored. ")
+        self.copy_files_checkbox.setChecked(False)
         self.addWidget(self.copy_files_checkbox, '', 'copy_file_checkbox')
         self.vis_size_label = QLabel("Maximum downsampled image size (GB): ")
         self.vis_size_entry = QDoubleSpinBox()
@@ -150,4 +151,4 @@ def onCancel(self):
         if self.parent.settings.value("first_app_load") != "False":
             self.parent.CreateSessionSelector("new window")
             self.parent.settings.setValue("first_app_load", "False")
-        self.close()
\ No newline at end of file
+        self.close()