diff --git a/crates/config/src/sections/account.rs b/crates/config/src/sections/account.rs
index d621dbf4d..987ff5741 100644
--- a/crates/config/src/sections/account.rs
+++ b/crates/config/src/sections/account.rs
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ pub struct AccountConfig {
     pub password_recovery_enabled: bool,
 
     /// Whether users are allowed to delete their own account. Defaults to
-    /// `false`.
-    #[serde(default = "default_false", skip_serializing_if = "is_default_false")]
+    /// `true`.
+    #[serde(default = "default_true", skip_serializing_if = "is_default_true")]
     pub account_deactivation_allowed: bool,
 }
 
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ impl Default for AccountConfig {
             password_registration_enabled: default_false(),
             password_change_allowed: default_true(),
             password_recovery_enabled: default_false(),
-            account_deactivation_allowed: default_false(),
+            account_deactivation_allowed: default_true(),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ impl AccountConfig {
             && is_default_true(&self.displayname_change_allowed)
             && is_default_true(&self.password_change_allowed)
             && is_default_false(&self.password_recovery_enabled)
-            && is_default_false(&self.account_deactivation_allowed)
+            && is_default_true(&self.account_deactivation_allowed)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/docs/config.schema.json b/docs/config.schema.json
index 93bb96b91..0d8325529 100644
--- a/docs/config.schema.json
+++ b/docs/config.schema.json
@@ -2465,7 +2465,7 @@
           "type": "boolean"
         },
         "account_deactivation_allowed": {
-          "description": "Whether users are allowed to delete their own account. Defaults to `false`.",
+          "description": "Whether users are allowed to delete their own account. Defaults to `true`.",
           "type": "boolean"
         }
       }
diff --git a/docs/reference/configuration.md b/docs/reference/configuration.md
index de524c1ed..8eb0d44b2 100644
--- a/docs/reference/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/reference/configuration.md
@@ -312,8 +312,8 @@ account:
 
   # Whether users are allowed to delete their own account
   #
-  # Defaults to `false`.
-  account_deactivation_allowed: false
+  # Defaults to `true`.
+  account_deactivation_allowed: true
 ```
 
 ## `captcha`