diff --git a/apps/files_external/js/settings.js b/apps/files_external/js/settings.js
index f4829aba6465e..8117084de1e4f 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/js/settings.js
+++ b/apps/files_external/js/settings.js
@@ -659,6 +659,7 @@ MountConfigListView.prototype = _.extend({
 		}
 
 		this._encryptionEnabled = options.encryptionEnabled;
+		this._canCreateLocal = options.canCreateLocal;
 
 		// read the backend config that was carefully crammed
 		// into the data-configurations attribute of the select
@@ -825,10 +826,13 @@ MountConfigListView.prototype = _.extend({
 		$tr.addClass(backend.identifier);
 		$tr.find('.backend').data('identifier', backend.identifier);
 
-		if (backend.invalid) {
+		if (backend.invalid || (backend.identifier === 'local' && !this._canCreateLocal)) {
 			$tr.find('[name=mountPoint]').prop('disabled', true);
 			$tr.find('.applicable,.mountOptionsToggle').empty();
-			this.updateStatus($tr, false, 'Unknown backend: ' + backend.name);
+			$tr.find('.save').empty();
+			if (backend.invalid) {
+				this.updateStatus($tr, false, 'Unknown backend: ' + backend.name);
+			}
 			return $tr;
 		}
 
@@ -970,6 +974,7 @@ MountConfigListView.prototype = _.extend({
 					var storageConfig = new self._storageConfigClass();
 					_.extend(storageConfig, storageParams);
 					var $tr = self.newStorage(storageConfig, onCompletion);
+
 					self.recheckStorageConfig($tr);
 				});
 				onCompletion.resolve();
@@ -1313,9 +1318,11 @@ MountConfigListView.prototype = _.extend({
 
 window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
 	var enabled = $('#files_external').attr('data-encryption-enabled');
+	var canCreateLocal = $('#files_external').attr('data-can-create-local');
 	var encryptionEnabled = (enabled ==='true')? true: false;
 	var mountConfigListView = new MountConfigListView($('#externalStorage'), {
-		encryptionEnabled: encryptionEnabled
+		encryptionEnabled: encryptionEnabled,
+		canCreateLocal: (canCreateLocal === 'true') ? true: false,
 	});
 	mountConfigListView.loadStorages();
 
diff --git a/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/GlobalStoragesController.php b/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/GlobalStoragesController.php
index 53173f88ee579..89939640acc8a 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/GlobalStoragesController.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/GlobalStoragesController.php
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 use OCA\Files_External\Service\GlobalStoragesService;
 use OCP\AppFramework\Http;
 use OCP\AppFramework\Http\DataResponse;
+use OCP\IConfig;
 use OCP\IGroupManager;
 use OCP\IL10N;
 use OCP\ILogger;
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ class GlobalStoragesController extends StoragesController {
 	 * @param ILogger $logger
 	 * @param IUserSession $userSession
 	 * @param IGroupManager $groupManager
+	 * @param IConfig $config
 	 */
 	public function __construct(
 		$AppName,
@@ -59,7 +61,8 @@ public function __construct(
 		GlobalStoragesService $globalStoragesService,
 		ILogger $logger,
 		IUserSession $userSession,
-		IGroupManager $groupManager
+		IGroupManager $groupManager,
+		IConfig $config
 	) {
 		parent::__construct(
 			$AppName,
@@ -68,7 +71,8 @@ public function __construct(
 			$globalStoragesService,
 			$logger,
 			$userSession,
-			$groupManager
+			$groupManager,
+			$config
 		);
 	}
 
@@ -96,6 +100,16 @@ public function create(
 		$applicableGroups,
 		$priority
 	) {
+		$canCreateNewLocalStorage = $this->config->getSystemValue('files_external_allow_create_new_local', true);
+		if (!$canCreateNewLocalStorage && $backend === 'local') {
+			return new DataResponse(
+				[
+					'message' => $this->l10n->t('Forbidden to manage local mounts')
+				],
+				Http::STATUS_FORBIDDEN
+			);
+		}
+
 		$newStorage = $this->createStorage(
 			$mountPoint,
 			$backend,
diff --git a/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/StoragesController.php b/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/StoragesController.php
index 47021bd7d1193..b82d2a4a4c71f 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/StoragesController.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/StoragesController.php
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 use OCP\AppFramework\Http;
 use OCP\AppFramework\Http\DataResponse;
 use OCP\Files\StorageNotAvailableException;
+use OCP\IConfig;
 use OCP\IGroupManager;
 use OCP\IL10N;
 use OCP\ILogger;
@@ -79,6 +80,11 @@ abstract class StoragesController extends Controller {
 	 */
 	protected $groupManager;
 
+	/**
+	 * @var IConfig
+	 */
+	protected $config;
+
 	/**
 	 * Creates a new storages controller.
 	 *
@@ -95,7 +101,8 @@ public function __construct(
 		StoragesService $storagesService,
 		ILogger $logger,
 		IUserSession $userSession,
-		IGroupManager $groupManager
+		IGroupManager $groupManager,
+		IConfig $config
 	) {
 		parent::__construct($AppName, $request);
 		$this->l10n = $l10n;
@@ -103,6 +110,7 @@ public function __construct(
 		$this->logger = $logger;
 		$this->userSession = $userSession;
 		$this->groupManager = $groupManager;
+		$this->config = $config;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -129,6 +137,16 @@ protected function createStorage(
 		$applicableGroups = null,
 		$priority = null
 	) {
+		$canCreateNewLocalStorage = $this->config->getSystemValue('files_external_allow_create_new_local', true);
+		if (!$canCreateNewLocalStorage && $backend === 'local') {
+			return new DataResponse(
+				[
+					'message' => $this->l10n->t('Forbidden to manage local mounts')
+				],
+				Http::STATUS_FORBIDDEN
+			);
+		}
+
 		try {
 			return $this->service->createStorage(
 				$mountPoint,
diff --git a/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/UserGlobalStoragesController.php b/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/UserGlobalStoragesController.php
index 02fd563df0fd8..74424bce006ca 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/UserGlobalStoragesController.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/UserGlobalStoragesController.php
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 use OCA\Files_External\Service\UserGlobalStoragesService;
 use OCP\AppFramework\Http;
 use OCP\AppFramework\Http\DataResponse;
+use OCP\IConfig;
 use OCP\IGroupManager;
 use OCP\IL10N;
 use OCP\ILogger;
@@ -64,7 +65,8 @@ public function __construct(
 		UserGlobalStoragesService $userGlobalStoragesService,
 		ILogger $logger,
 		IUserSession $userSession,
-		IGroupManager $groupManager
+		IGroupManager $groupManager,
+		IConfig $config
 	) {
 		parent::__construct(
 			$AppName,
@@ -73,7 +75,8 @@ public function __construct(
 			$userGlobalStoragesService,
 			$logger,
 			$userSession,
-			$groupManager
+			$groupManager,
+			$config
 		);
 	}
 
diff --git a/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/UserStoragesController.php b/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/UserStoragesController.php
index 4032ba1d96c89..c0a460fd8e316 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/UserStoragesController.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/lib/Controller/UserStoragesController.php
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 use OCA\Files_External\Service\UserStoragesService;
 use OCP\AppFramework\Http;
 use OCP\AppFramework\Http\DataResponse;
+use OCP\IConfig;
 use OCP\IGroupManager;
 use OCP\IL10N;
 use OCP\ILogger;
@@ -63,7 +64,8 @@ public function __construct(
 		UserStoragesService $userStoragesService,
 		ILogger $logger,
 		IUserSession $userSession,
-		IGroupManager $groupManager
+		IGroupManager $groupManager,
+		IConfig $config
 	) {
 		parent::__construct(
 			$AppName,
@@ -72,7 +74,8 @@ public function __construct(
 			$userStoragesService,
 			$logger,
 			$userSession,
-			$groupManager
+			$groupManager,
+			$config
 		);
 	}
 
@@ -127,6 +130,15 @@ public function create(
 		$backendOptions,
 		$mountOptions
 	) {
+		$canCreateNewLocalStorage = $this->config->getSystemValue('files_external_allow_create_new_local', true);
+		if (!$canCreateNewLocalStorage && $backend === 'local') {
+			return new DataResponse(
+				[
+					'message' => $this->l10n->t('Forbidden to manage local mounts')
+				],
+				Http::STATUS_FORBIDDEN
+			);
+		}
 		$newStorage = $this->createStorage(
 			$mountPoint,
 			$backend,
diff --git a/apps/files_external/templates/settings.php b/apps/files_external/templates/settings.php
index f63cab07560fb..316467c5563ca 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/templates/settings.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/templates/settings.php
@@ -100,7 +100,10 @@ function writeParameterInput($parameter, $options, $classes = []) {
 	<h2><?php p($l->t('No external storage configured or you don\'t have the permission to configure them')); ?></h2>
 </div>
 
-<form data-can-create="<?php echo $canCreateMounts?'true':'false' ?>" id="files_external" class="section" data-encryption-enabled="<?php echo $_['encryptionEnabled']?'true': 'false'; ?>">
+<?php
+	$canCreateNewLocalStorage = \OC::$server->getConfig()->getSystemValue('files_external_allow_create_new_local', true);
+?>
+<form data-can-create="<?php echo $canCreateMounts?'true':'false' ?>" data-can-create-local="<?php echo $canCreateNewLocalStorage?'true':'false' ?>" id="files_external" class="section" data-encryption-enabled="<?php echo $_['encryptionEnabled']?'true': 'false'; ?>">
 	<h2 class="inlineblock" data-anchor-name="external-storage"><?php p($l->t('External storage')); ?></h2>
 	<a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="icon-info" title="<?php p($l->t('Open documentation'));?>" href="<?php p(link_to_docs('admin-external-storage')); ?>"></a>
 	<p class="settings-hint"><?php p($l->t('External storage enables you to mount external storage services and devices as secondary Nextcloud storage devices. You may also allow users to mount their own external storage services.')); ?></p>
@@ -150,7 +153,7 @@ function writeParameterInput($parameter, $options, $classes = []) {
 							});
 						?>
 						<?php foreach ($sortedBackends as $backend): ?>
-							<?php if ($backend->getDeprecateTo()) {
+							<?php if ($backend->getDeprecateTo() || (!$canCreateNewLocalStorage && $backend->getIdentifier() == "local")) {
 							continue;
 						} // ignore deprecated backends?>
 							<option value="<?php p($backend->getIdentifier()); ?>"><?php p($backend->getText()); ?></option>
diff --git a/apps/files_external/tests/Controller/GlobalStoragesControllerTest.php b/apps/files_external/tests/Controller/GlobalStoragesControllerTest.php
index f385b1f379e25..0963cd06f0015 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/tests/Controller/GlobalStoragesControllerTest.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/tests/Controller/GlobalStoragesControllerTest.php
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 use OC\User\User;
 use OCA\Files_External\Controller\GlobalStoragesController;
 use OCA\Files_External\Service\BackendService;
+use OCP\IConfig;
 use OCP\IGroupManager;
 use OCP\IL10N;
 use OCP\ILogger;
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@
 class GlobalStoragesControllerTest extends StoragesControllerTest {
 	protected function setUp(): void {
 		parent::setUp();
+
 		$this->service = $this->getMockBuilder('\OCA\Files_External\Service\GlobalStoragesService')
 			->disableOriginalConstructor()
 			->getMock();
@@ -45,11 +47,20 @@ protected function setUp(): void {
 		$this->service->method('getVisibilityType')
 			->willReturn(BackendService::VISIBILITY_ADMIN);
 
+		$this->controller = $this->createController(true);
+	}
+
+	private function createController($allowCreateLocal = true) {
 		$session = $this->createMock(IUserSession::class);
 		$session->method('getUser')
 			->willReturn(new User('test', null, $this->createMock(EventDispatcherInterface::class)));
 
-		$this->controller = new GlobalStoragesController(
+		$config = $this->createMock(IConfig::class);
+		$config->method('getSystemValue')
+			->with('files_external_allow_create_new_local', true)
+			->willReturn($allowCreateLocal);
+
+		return new GlobalStoragesController(
 			'files_external',
 			$this->createMock(IRequest::class),
 			$this->createMock(IL10N::class),
@@ -57,6 +68,12 @@ protected function setUp(): void {
 			$this->createMock(ILogger::class),
 			$session,
 			$this->createMock(IGroupManager::class),
+			$config
 		);
 	}
+
+	public function testAddLocalStorageWhenDisabled() {
+		$this->controller = $this->createController(false);
+		parent::testAddLocalStorageWhenDisabled();
+	}
 }
diff --git a/apps/files_external/tests/Controller/StoragesControllerTest.php b/apps/files_external/tests/Controller/StoragesControllerTest.php
index 7dc2d287b439a..bb9be2f2d4a80 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/tests/Controller/StoragesControllerTest.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/tests/Controller/StoragesControllerTest.php
@@ -130,6 +130,36 @@ public function testAddStorage() {
 		$this->assertEquals($storageConfig, $data);
 	}
 
+	public function testAddLocalStorageWhenDisabled() {
+		$authMech = $this->getAuthMechMock();
+		$backend = $this->getBackendMock();
+
+		$storageConfig = new StorageConfig(1);
+		$storageConfig->setMountPoint('mount');
+		$storageConfig->setBackend($backend);
+		$storageConfig->setAuthMechanism($authMech);
+		$storageConfig->setBackendOptions([]);
+
+		$this->service->expects($this->never())
+			->method('createStorage');
+		$this->service->expects($this->never())
+			->method('addStorage');
+
+		$response = $this->controller->create(
+			'mount',
+			'local',
+			'\OCA\Files_External\Lib\Auth\NullMechanism',
+			[],
+			[],
+			[],
+			[],
+			null
+		);
+
+		$data = $response->getData();
+		$this->assertEquals(Http::STATUS_FORBIDDEN, $response->getStatus());
+	}
+
 	public function testUpdateStorage() {
 		$authMech = $this->getAuthMechMock();
 		$authMech->method('validateStorage')
diff --git a/apps/files_external/tests/Controller/UserStoragesControllerTest.php b/apps/files_external/tests/Controller/UserStoragesControllerTest.php
index c9e4ec5f985c8..f4de39fcd2b5e 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/tests/Controller/UserStoragesControllerTest.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/tests/Controller/UserStoragesControllerTest.php
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 use OCA\Files_External\Lib\StorageConfig;
 use OCA\Files_External\Service\BackendService;
 use OCP\AppFramework\Http;
+use OCP\IConfig;
 use OCP\IGroupManager;
 use OCP\IL10N;
 use OCP\ILogger;
@@ -54,21 +55,36 @@ protected function setUp(): void {
 		$this->service->method('getVisibilityType')
 			->willReturn(BackendService::VISIBILITY_PERSONAL);
 
+		$this->controller = $this->createController(true);
+	}
+
+	private function createController($allowCreateLocal = true) {
 		$session = $this->createMock(IUserSession::class);
 		$session->method('getUser')
 			->willReturn(new User('test', null, $this->createMock(EventDispatcherInterface::class)));
 
-		$this->controller = new UserStoragesController(
+		$config = $this->createMock(IConfig::class);
+		$config->method('getSystemValue')
+			->with('files_external_allow_create_new_local', true)
+			->willReturn($allowCreateLocal);
+
+		return new UserStoragesController(
 			'files_external',
 			$this->createMock(IRequest::class),
 			$this->createMock(IL10N::class),
 			$this->service,
 			$this->createMock(ILogger::class),
 			$session,
-			$this->createMock(IGroupManager::class)
+			$this->createMock(IGroupManager::class),
+			$config
 		);
 	}
 
+	public function testAddLocalStorageWhenDisabled() {
+		$this->controller = $this->createController(false);
+		parent::testAddLocalStorageWhenDisabled();
+	}
+
 	public function testAddOrUpdateStorageDisallowedBackend() {
 		$backend = $this->getBackendMock();
 		$backend->method('isVisibleFor')
diff --git a/config/config.sample.php b/config/config.sample.php
index 783d9daea39f4..c26d3c2af1d16 100644
--- a/config/config.sample.php
+++ b/config/config.sample.php
@@ -1768,6 +1768,19 @@
  */
 'external_storage.auth_availability_delay' => 1800,
 
+/**
+ * Allows to create external storages of type "Local" in the web interface and APIs.
+ *
+ * When disable, it is still possible to create local storages with occ using
+ * the following command:
+ *
+ * % php occ files_external:create /mountpoint local null::null -c datadir=/path/to/data
+ *
+ * Defaults to ``true``
+ *
+ */
+'files_external_allow_create_new_local' => true,
+
 /**
  * Specifies how often the local filesystem (the Nextcloud data/ directory, and
  * NFS mounts in data/) is checked for changes made outside Nextcloud. This