diff --git a/conf/configuration.go b/conf/configuration.go
index c46879d42..da549ce26 100644
--- a/conf/configuration.go
+++ b/conf/configuration.go
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ type configOptions struct {
 	DevExternalArtistFetchMultiplier  float64
 	DevOptimizeDB                     bool
 	DevPreserveUnicodeInExternalCalls bool
+	DevEnableMediaFileProbe           bool
 }
 
 type scannerOptions struct {
@@ -763,6 +764,7 @@ func setViperDefaults() {
 	viper.SetDefault("devexternalartistfetchmultiplier", 1.5)
 	viper.SetDefault("devoptimizedb", true)
 	viper.SetDefault("devpreserveunicodeinexternalcalls", false)
+	viper.SetDefault("devenablemediafileprobe", true)
 }
 
 func init() {
diff --git a/core/transcode/transcode.go b/core/transcode/transcode.go
index 300af84b3..dadb16096 100644
--- a/core/transcode/transcode.go
+++ b/core/transcode/transcode.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 	"encoding/json"
 
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/conf"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/auth"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/core/ffmpeg"
 	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/log"
@@ -330,6 +331,9 @@ func (s *deciderService) ensureProbed(ctx context.Context, mf *model.MediaFile)
 	if mf.ProbeData != "" {
 		return nil
 	}
+	if !conf.Server.DevEnableMediaFileProbe {
+		return nil
+	}
 
 	result, err := s.ff.ProbeAudioStream(ctx, mf.AbsolutePath())
 	if err != nil {