diff --git a/docs/content/using-npm/config.md b/docs/content/using-npm/config.md
index cd13237f34dd3..e6a7231861ba0 100644
--- a/docs/content/using-npm/config.md
+++ b/docs/content/using-npm/config.md
@@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ number, if not already set in package.json.
 
 #### `install-links`
 
-* Default: false
+* Default: true
 * Type: Boolean
 
 When set file: protocol dependencies that exist outside of the project root
diff --git a/lib/utils/config/definitions.js b/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
index a132c8456b0fa..a76484b5228f5 100644
--- a/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
+++ b/lib/utils/config/definitions.js
@@ -1083,7 +1083,7 @@ define('init.version', {
 })
 
 define('install-links', {
-  default: false,
+  default: true,
   type: Boolean,
   description: `
     When set file: protocol dependencies that exist outside of the project root
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/commands/config.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/commands/config.js.test.cjs
index 5c3f86415dfff..6ed14ae5b2546 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/commands/config.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/commands/config.js.test.cjs
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ exports[`test/lib/commands/config.js TAP config list --json > output matches sna
   "init.license": "ISC",
   "init.module": "{HOME}/.npm-init.js",
   "init.version": "1.0.0",
-  "install-links": false,
+  "install-links": true,
   "key": null,
   "legacy-bundling": false,
   "legacy-peer-deps": false,
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ init.author.url = ""
 init.license = "ISC" 
 init.module = "{HOME}/.npm-init.js" 
 init.version = "1.0.0" 
-install-links = false 
+install-links = true 
 json = false 
 key = null 
 legacy-bundling = false 
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/load-all-commands.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/load-all-commands.js.test.cjs
index eac037f4b2708..1f157e2493531 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/load-all-commands.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/load-all-commands.js.test.cjs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ Options:
 [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]]
 [--foreground-scripts] [--ignore-scripts]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 Run "npm help audit" for more info
 `
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ Options:
 [--strict-peer-deps] [--no-package-lock] [--foreground-scripts]
 [--ignore-scripts] [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 aliases: clean-install, ic, install-clean, isntall-clean
 
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ Options:
 [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
 [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 alias: ddp
 
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ Options:
 [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
 [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 Run "npm help find-dupes" for more info
 `
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ Options:
 [--strict-peer-deps] [--no-package-lock] [--foreground-scripts]
 [--ignore-scripts] [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 aliases: add, i, in, ins, inst, insta, instal, isnt, isnta, isntal, isntall
 
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ Options:
 [--strict-peer-deps] [--no-package-lock] [--foreground-scripts]
 [--ignore-scripts] [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 alias: cit
 
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ Options:
 [--strict-peer-deps] [--no-package-lock] [--foreground-scripts]
 [--ignore-scripts] [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 alias: it
 
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ Options:
 [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
 [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 alias: ln
 
@@ -494,7 +494,7 @@ Options:
 [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--link]
 [--package-lock-only] [--unicode]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 alias: la
 
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ Options:
 [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--link]
 [--package-lock-only] [--unicode]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 alias: list
 
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ Options:
 [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--dry-run]
 [--json] [--foreground-scripts] [--ignore-scripts]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 Run "npm help prune" for more info
 `
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ npm rebuild [<package-spec>] ...]
 Options:
 [-g|--global] [--no-bin-links] [--foreground-scripts] [--ignore-scripts]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 alias: rb
 
@@ -926,7 +926,7 @@ npm uninstall [<@scope>/]<pkg>...
 Options:
 [-S|--save|--no-save|--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer|--save-bundle]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 aliases: unlink, remove, rm, r, un
 
@@ -972,7 +972,7 @@ Options:
 [--strict-peer-deps] [--no-package-lock] [--foreground-scripts]
 [--ignore-scripts] [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
 [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+[-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
 
 aliases: up, upgrade, udpate
 
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/npm.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/npm.js.test.cjs
index 094792afd5620..a966afe09d9d9 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/npm.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/npm.js.test.cjs
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ All commands:
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]]
                     [--foreground-scripts] [--ignore-scripts]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     Run "npm help audit" for more info
 
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ All commands:
                     [--strict-peer-deps] [--no-package-lock] [--foreground-scripts]
                     [--ignore-scripts] [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     aliases: clean-install, ic, install-clean, isntall-clean
                     
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ All commands:
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
                     [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     alias: ddp
                     
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ All commands:
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
                     [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     Run "npm help find-dupes" for more info
 
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ All commands:
                     [--strict-peer-deps] [--no-package-lock] [--foreground-scripts]
                     [--ignore-scripts] [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     aliases: add, i, in, ins, inst, insta, instal, isnt, isnta, isntal, isntall
                     
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ All commands:
                     [--strict-peer-deps] [--no-package-lock] [--foreground-scripts]
                     [--ignore-scripts] [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     alias: cit
                     
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ All commands:
                     [--strict-peer-deps] [--no-package-lock] [--foreground-scripts]
                     [--ignore-scripts] [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     alias: it
                     
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ All commands:
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--ignore-scripts]
                     [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     alias: ln
                     
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ All commands:
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--link]
                     [--package-lock-only] [--unicode]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     alias: la
                     
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ All commands:
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--link]
                     [--package-lock-only] [--unicode]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     alias: list
                     
@@ -730,7 +730,7 @@ All commands:
                     [--omit <dev|optional|peer> [--omit <dev|optional|peer> ...]] [--dry-run]
                     [--json] [--foreground-scripts] [--ignore-scripts]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     Run "npm help prune" for more info
 
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ All commands:
                     Options:
                     [-g|--global] [--no-bin-links] [--foreground-scripts] [--ignore-scripts]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     alias: rb
                     
@@ -944,7 +944,7 @@ All commands:
                     Options:
                     [-S|--save|--no-save|--save-prod|--save-dev|--save-optional|--save-peer|--save-bundle]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     aliases: unlink, remove, rm, r, un
                     
@@ -984,7 +984,7 @@ All commands:
                     [--strict-peer-deps] [--no-package-lock] [--foreground-scripts]
                     [--ignore-scripts] [--no-audit] [--no-bin-links] [--no-fund] [--dry-run]
                     [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> [-w|--workspace <workspace-name> ...]]
-                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--install-links]
+                    [-ws|--workspaces] [--include-workspace-root] [--no-install-links]
                     
                     aliases: up, upgrade, udpate
                     
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js.test.cjs
index 024ad345a5d32..6eac545b2ce2d 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js.test.cjs
@@ -983,7 +983,7 @@ Alias for \`--init-version\`
 exports[`test/lib/utils/config/definitions.js TAP > config description for install-links 1`] = `
 #### \`install-links\`
 
-* Default: false
+* Default: true
 * Type: Boolean
 
 When set file: protocol dependencies that exist outside of the project root
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/describe-all.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/describe-all.js.test.cjs
index a03d22e5e6305..46910d1282e03 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/describe-all.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/utils/config/describe-all.js.test.cjs
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ number, if not already set in package.json.
 
 #### \`install-links\`
 
-* Default: false
+* Default: true
 * Type: Boolean
 
 When set file: protocol dependencies that exist outside of the project root