diff --git a/plugins/chat/app/services/chat/update_channel.rb b/plugins/chat/app/services/chat/update_channel.rb
index 6960fe44236..7beb3b78784 100644
--- a/plugins/chat/app/services/chat/update_channel.rb
+++ b/plugins/chat/app/services/chat/update_channel.rb
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ module Chat
     contract default_values_from: :channel
     step :update_channel
     step :mark_all_threads_as_read_if_needed
+    step :update_site_settings_if_needed
     step :publish_channel_update
     step :auto_join_users_if_needed
 
@@ -77,6 +78,10 @@ module Chat
       Jobs.enqueue(Jobs::Chat::MarkAllChannelThreadsRead, channel_id: channel.id)
     end
 
+    def update_site_settings_if_needed
+      SiteSetting.chat_threads_enabled = Chat::Channel.exists?(threading_enabled: true)
+    end
+
     def publish_channel_update(channel:, guardian:, **)
       Chat::Publisher.publish_chat_channel_edit(channel, guardian.user)
     end
diff --git a/plugins/chat/assets/javascripts/discourse/components/chat-footer.gjs b/plugins/chat/assets/javascripts/discourse/components/chat-footer.gjs
index 519e3509740..05483883af3 100644
--- a/plugins/chat/assets/javascripts/discourse/components/chat-footer.gjs
+++ b/plugins/chat/assets/javascripts/discourse/components/chat-footer.gjs
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 import Component from "@glimmer/component";
-import { tracked } from "@glimmer/tracking";
 import { inject as service } from "@ember/service";
-import { modifier } from "ember-modifier";
 import DButton from "discourse/components/d-button";
 import concatClass from "discourse/helpers/concat-class";
 import i18n from "discourse-common/helpers/i18n";
@@ -10,33 +8,16 @@ import eq from "truth-helpers/helpers/eq";
 export default class ChatFooter extends Component {
   @service router;
   @service chat;
-  @service chatApi;
+  @service siteSettings;
 
-  @tracked threadsEnabled = false;
-
-  updateThreadCount = modifier(() => {
-    const ajax = this.chatApi.userThreadCount();
-
-    ajax
-      .then((result) => {
-        this.threadsEnabled = result.thread_count > 0;
-      })
-      .catch((error) => {
-        // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
-        console.error(error);
-      });
-
-    return () => {
-      ajax?.abort();
-    };
-  });
+  threadsEnabled = this.siteSettings.chat_threads_enabled;
 
   get directMessagesEnabled() {
     return this.chat.userCanAccessDirectMessages;
   }
 
   get shouldRenderFooter() {
-    return this.directMessagesEnabled || this.threadsEnabled;
+    return this.threadsEnabled || this.directMessagesEnabled;
   }
 
   <template>
diff --git a/plugins/chat/config/settings.yml b/plugins/chat/config/settings.yml
index 15ff53917f8..07a3b5a2241 100644
--- a/plugins/chat/config/settings.yml
+++ b/plugins/chat/config/settings.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ chat:
     default: "3|11" # 3: @staff, 11: @trust_level_1
     allow_any: false
     refresh: true
+  chat_threads_enabled:
+    client: true
+    default: false
+    hidden: true
   needs_chat_seeded:
     default: true
     hidden: true
diff --git a/plugins/chat/db/migrate/20240118120825_add_threads_enabled_site_setting.rb b/plugins/chat/db/migrate/20240118120825_add_threads_enabled_site_setting.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e0d502dd9d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/chat/db/migrate/20240118120825_add_threads_enabled_site_setting.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+class AddThreadsEnabledSiteSetting < ActiveRecord::Migration[7.0]
+  def up
+    SiteSetting.chat_threads_enabled = false
+
+    threading_enabled_channels =
+      DB.query_single("SELECT name FROM chat_channels WHERE threading_enabled = 't'")
+
+    return unless threading_enabled_channels.present?
+
+    DB.exec("UPDATE site_settings SET value = 't' WHERE name = 'chat_threads_enabled'")
+  end
+
+  def down
+    raise ActiveRecord::IrreversibleMigration
+  end
+end
diff --git a/plugins/chat/spec/services/chat/update_channel_spec.rb b/plugins/chat/spec/services/chat/update_channel_spec.rb
index 84e4fb89e0f..92729aa778f 100644
--- a/plugins/chat/spec/services/chat/update_channel_spec.rb
+++ b/plugins/chat/spec/services/chat/update_channel_spec.rb
@@ -142,6 +142,17 @@ RSpec.describe Chat::UpdateChannel do
           end
         end
       end
+
+      describe "#update_site_settings" do
+        before do
+          SiteSetting.chat_threads_enabled = false
+          params[:threading_enabled] = true
+        end
+
+        it "sets chat_threads_enabled to true" do
+          expect { result }.to change { SiteSetting.chat_threads_enabled }.from(false).to(true)
+        end
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/plugins/chat/spec/system/chat_footer_spec.rb b/plugins/chat/spec/system/chat_footer_spec.rb
index 5b028c5f0ab..b693071f03c 100644
--- a/plugins/chat/spec/system/chat_footer_spec.rb
+++ b/plugins/chat/spec/system/chat_footer_spec.rb
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ RSpec.describe "Chat footer on mobile", type: :system, mobile: true do
 
   context "with multiple tabs" do
     it "shows footer" do
+      SiteSetting.chat_threads_enabled = false
+
       visit("/")
       chat_page.open_from_header
 
@@ -37,9 +39,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Chat footer on mobile", type: :system, mobile: true do
     end
 
     it "shows threads tab when user has threads" do
-      thread = Fabricate(:chat_thread, channel: channel, original_message: message)
-      Fabricate(:chat_message, chat_channel: channel, thread: thread)
-      thread.update!(replies_count: 1)
+      SiteSetting.chat_threads_enabled = true
 
       visit("/")
       chat_page.open_from_header
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Chat footer on mobile", type: :system, mobile: true do
 
   context "with only 1 tab" do
     before do
+      SiteSetting.chat_threads_enabled = false
       SiteSetting.direct_message_enabled_groups = "3" # staff only
     end