diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/store/defaults.js b/packages/block-editor/src/store/defaults.js
index a51091dd8e6485..3f5d83bc609309 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/store/defaults.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/store/defaults.js
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ export const SETTINGS_DEFAULTS = {
 	__experimentalBlockPatterns: [],
 	__experimentalBlockPatternCategories: [],
 	__experimentalSpotlightEntityBlocks: [],
+	__experimentalGenerateAnchors: false,
 	__unstableGalleryWithImageBlocks: false,
 
 	// gradients setting is not used anymore now defaults are passed from theme.json on the server and core has its own defaults.
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js b/packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js
index d52c069a94f8a7..10000dbb141cd0 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import classnames from 'classnames';
  */
 import { __ } from '@wordpress/i18n';
 import { useEffect, Platform } from '@wordpress/element';
-import { useDispatch } from '@wordpress/data';
+import { useDispatch, useSelect } from '@wordpress/data';
 import { createBlock, getDefaultBlockName } from '@wordpress/blocks';
 import {
 	AlignmentControl,
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ function HeadingEdit( {
 		style,
 	} );
 
+	const { canGenerateAnchors } = useSelect( ( select ) => {
+		const settings = select( blockEditorStore ).getSettings();
+
+		return {
+			canGenerateAnchors: !! settings.__experimentalGenerateAnchors,
+		};
+	}, [] );
+
 	const { __unstableMarkNextChangeAsNotPersistent } = useDispatch(
 		blockEditorStore
 	);
@@ -48,6 +56,10 @@ function HeadingEdit( {
 	// Initially set anchor for headings that have content but no anchor set.
 	// This is used when transforming a block to heading, or for legacy anchors.
 	useEffect( () => {
+		if ( ! canGenerateAnchors ) {
+			return;
+		}
+
 		if ( ! anchor && content ) {
 			// This side-effect should not create an undo level.
 			__unstableMarkNextChangeAsNotPersistent();
@@ -59,14 +71,15 @@ function HeadingEdit( {
 
 		// Remove anchor map when block unmounts.
 		return () => setAnchor( clientId, null );
-	}, [ content, anchor ] );
+	}, [ anchor, content, clientId, canGenerateAnchors ] );
 
 	const onContentChange = ( value ) => {
 		const newAttrs = { content: value };
 		if (
-			! anchor ||
-			! value ||
-			generateAnchor( clientId, content ) === anchor
+			canGenerateAnchors &&
+			( ! anchor ||
+				! value ||
+				generateAnchor( clientId, content ) === anchor )
 		) {
 			newAttrs.anchor = generateAnchor( clientId, value );
 		}
diff --git a/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/blocks/__snapshots__/heading.test.js.snap b/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/blocks/__snapshots__/heading.test.js.snap
index 59d1df473bad76..86257779ea8b98 100644
--- a/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/blocks/__snapshots__/heading.test.js.snap
+++ b/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/blocks/__snapshots__/heading.test.js.snap
@@ -2,25 +2,25 @@
 
 exports[`Heading can be created by prefixing existing content with number signs and a space 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading {\\"level\\":4} -->
-<h4 id=\\"4\\">4</h4>
+<h4>4</h4>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->"
 `;
 
 exports[`Heading can be created by prefixing number sign and a space 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading {\\"level\\":3} -->
-<h3 id=\\"3\\">3</h3>
+<h3>3</h3>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->"
 `;
 
 exports[`Heading should correctly apply custom colors 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading {\\"level\\":3,\\"style\\":{\\"color\\":{\\"text\\":\\"#0782f6\\"}}} -->
-<h3 class=\\"has-text-color\\" id=\\"heading\\" style=\\"color:#0782f6\\">Heading</h3>
+<h3 class=\\"has-text-color\\" style=\\"color:#0782f6\\">Heading</h3>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->"
 `;
 
 exports[`Heading should correctly apply named colors 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading {\\"textColor\\":\\"luminous-vivid-orange\\"} -->
-<h2 class=\\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color\\" id=\\"heading\\">Heading</h2>
+<h2 class=\\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color\\">Heading</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->"
 `;
 
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ exports[`Heading should create a paragraph block above when pressing enter at th
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"a\\">a</h2>
+<h2>a</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->"
 `;
 
 exports[`Heading should create a paragraph block below when pressing enter at the end 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"a\\">a</h2>
+<h2>a</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
@@ -46,12 +46,12 @@ exports[`Heading should create a paragraph block below when pressing enter at th
 
 exports[`Heading should not work with the list input rule 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"1-h\\">1. H</h2>
+<h2>1. H</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->"
 `;
 
 exports[`Heading should work with the format input rules 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"code\\"><code>code</code></h2>
+<h2><code>code</code></h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->"
 `;
diff --git a/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/blocks/__snapshots__/quote.test.js.snap b/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/blocks/__snapshots__/quote.test.js.snap
index 6345efae5ed728..57fcc6c61dbdd0 100644
--- a/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/blocks/__snapshots__/quote.test.js.snap
+++ b/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/blocks/__snapshots__/quote.test.js.snap
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ exports[`Quote can be converted to paragraphs and renders only one paragraph for
 
 exports[`Quote can be created by converting a heading 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:quote -->
-<blockquote class=\\"wp-block-quote\\" id=\\"test\\"><p>test</p></blockquote>
+<blockquote class=\\"wp-block-quote\\"><p>test</p></blockquote>
 <!-- /wp:quote -->"
 `;
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ exports[`Quote can be split in the middle and merged back 4`] = `
 
 exports[`Quote is transformed to a heading and a quote if the quote contains a citation 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"one\\">one</h2>
+<h2>one</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:quote -->
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ exports[`Quote is transformed to a heading and a quote if the quote contains a c
 
 exports[`Quote is transformed to a heading and a quote if the quote contains multiple paragraphs 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"one\\">one</h2>
+<h2>one</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:quote -->
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ exports[`Quote is transformed to a heading and a quote if the quote contains mul
 
 exports[`Quote is transformed to a heading if the quote just contains one paragraph 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"one\\">one</h2>
+<h2>one</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->"
 `;
 
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ exports[`Quote is transformed to an empty heading if the quote is empty 1`] = `
 
 exports[`Quote the resuling quote after transforming to a heading can be transformed again 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"one\\">one</h2>
+<h2>one</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:quote -->
@@ -186,11 +186,11 @@ exports[`Quote the resuling quote after transforming to a heading can be transfo
 
 exports[`Quote the resuling quote after transforming to a heading can be transformed again 2`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"one\\">one</h2>
+<h2>one</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"two\\">two</h2>
+<h2>two</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:quote -->
@@ -200,14 +200,14 @@ exports[`Quote the resuling quote after transforming to a heading can be transfo
 
 exports[`Quote the resuling quote after transforming to a heading can be transformed again 3`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"one\\">one</h2>
+<h2>one</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"two\\">two</h2>
+<h2>two</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"cite\\">cite</h2>
+<h2>cite</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->"
 `;
diff --git a/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/block-grouping.test.js.snap b/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/block-grouping.test.js.snap
index aeaafed4ea8a7a..f3c24c200b971a 100644
--- a/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/block-grouping.test.js.snap
+++ b/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/block-grouping.test.js.snap
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 exports[`Block Grouping Group creation creates a group from multiple blocks of different types via block transforms 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:group -->
 <div class=\\"wp-block-group\\"><!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"group-heading\\">Group Heading</h2>
+<h2>Group Heading</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:image -->
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ exports[`Block Grouping Group creation creates a group from multiple blocks of t
 exports[`Block Grouping Group creation groups and ungroups multiple blocks of different types via options toolbar 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:group -->
 <div class=\\"wp-block-group\\"><!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"group-heading\\">Group Heading</h2>
+<h2>Group Heading</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:image -->
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ exports[`Block Grouping Group creation groups and ungroups multiple blocks of di
 
 exports[`Block Grouping Group creation groups and ungroups multiple blocks of different types via options toolbar 2`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"group-heading\\">Group Heading</h2>
+<h2>Group Heading</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:image -->
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ exports[`Block Grouping Group creation groups and ungroups multiple blocks of di
 exports[`Block Grouping Preserving selected blocks attributes preserves width alignment settings of selected blocks 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:group {\\"align\\":\\"full\\"} -->
 <div class=\\"wp-block-group alignfull\\"><!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"group-heading\\">Group Heading</h2>
+<h2>Group Heading</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:image {\\"align\\":\\"full\\"} -->
diff --git a/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/inserting-blocks.test.js.snap b/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/inserting-blocks.test.js.snap
index 4d9af1162c0e54..d07caf7b017714 100644
--- a/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/inserting-blocks.test.js.snap
+++ b/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/inserting-blocks.test.js.snap
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ exports[`Inserting blocks inserts a block in proper place after having clicked \
 <!-- /wp:paragraph -->
 
 <!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"heading\\">Heading</h2>
+<h2>Heading</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ exports[`Inserting blocks inserts a block in proper place after having clicked \
 <!-- /wp:cover -->
 
 <!-- wp:heading -->
-<h2 id=\\"heading\\">Heading</h2>
+<h2>Heading</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:paragraph -->
diff --git a/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.test.js.snap b/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.test.js.snap
index 5e2a187dec0ea9..14a9797eca4c34 100644
--- a/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.test.js.snap
+++ b/packages/e2e-tests/specs/editor/various/__snapshots__/keep-styles-on-block-transforms.test.js.snap
@@ -14,15 +14,15 @@ exports[`Keep styles on block transforms Should keep the font size during a tran
 
 exports[`Keep styles on block transforms Should keep the font size during a transform from multiple blocks into multiple blocks 1`] = `
 "<!-- wp:heading {\\"fontSize\\":\\"large\\"} -->
-<h2 class=\\"has-large-font-size\\" id=\\"line-1-to-be-made-large\\">Line 1 to be made large</h2>
+<h2 class=\\"has-large-font-size\\">Line 1 to be made large</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:heading {\\"fontSize\\":\\"large\\"} -->
-<h2 class=\\"has-large-font-size\\" id=\\"line-2-to-be-made-large\\">Line 2 to be made large</h2>
+<h2 class=\\"has-large-font-size\\">Line 2 to be made large</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->
 
 <!-- wp:heading {\\"fontSize\\":\\"large\\"} -->
-<h2 class=\\"has-large-font-size\\" id=\\"line-3-to-be-made-large\\">Line 3 to be made large</h2>
+<h2 class=\\"has-large-font-size\\">Line 3 to be made large</h2>
 <!-- /wp:heading -->"
 `;
 
diff --git a/packages/editor/src/components/provider/use-block-editor-settings.js b/packages/editor/src/components/provider/use-block-editor-settings.js
index 888d72c8e3d31b..2bc9e836c51ead 100644
--- a/packages/editor/src/components/provider/use-block-editor-settings.js
+++ b/packages/editor/src/components/provider/use-block-editor-settings.js
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ function useBlockEditorSettings( settings, hasTemplate ) {
 				'__experimentalFeatures',
 				'__experimentalPreferredStyleVariations',
 				'__experimentalSetIsInserterOpened',
+				'__experimentalGenerateAnchors',
 				'__unstableGalleryWithImageBlocks',
 				'alignWide',
 				'allowedBlockTypes',