diff --git a/classes/dml/outagedb.php b/classes/dml/outagedb.php
index 9126159..6d78b86 100644
--- a/classes/dml/outagedb.php
+++ b/classes/dml/outagedb.php
@@ -100,6 +100,11 @@ class outagedb {
         $outage->modifiedby = $USER->id;
         $outage->lastmodified = time();
 
+        // Setting autostart to false if the default autostart is configured to "Force off".
+        if (get_config('default_autostart', 'auth_outage') === '2') {
+            $outage->autostart = 0;
+        }
+
         if ($outage->id === null) {
             // If new outage, set its creator.
             $outage->createdby = $USER->id;
diff --git a/classes/form/outage/edit.php b/classes/form/outage/edit.php
index 60e3276..3393396 100644
--- a/classes/form/outage/edit.php
+++ b/classes/form/outage/edit.php
@@ -48,8 +48,10 @@ class edit extends moodleform {
         $mform->addElement('hidden', 'id');
         $mform->setType('id', PARAM_INT);
 
-        $mform->addElement('checkbox', 'autostart', get_string('autostart', 'auth_outage'));
-        $mform->addHelpButton('autostart', 'autostart', 'auth_outage');
+        if (get_config('auth_outage', 'default_autostart') !== '2') {
+            $mform->addElement('checkbox', 'autostart', get_string('autostart', 'auth_outage'));
+            $mform->addHelpButton('autostart', 'autostart', 'auth_outage');
+        }
 
         $mform->addElement('duration', 'warningduration', get_string('warningduration', 'auth_outage'));
         $mform->addHelpButton('warningduration', 'warningduration', 'auth_outage');
diff --git a/classes/local/outagelib.php b/classes/local/outagelib.php
index c6943ae..0316ef5 100644
--- a/classes/local/outagelib.php
+++ b/classes/local/outagelib.php
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ class outagelib {
      * @param outage|null $outage Outage or null if no scheduled outage.
      */
     private static function update_maintenance_later($outage) {
-        if (is_null($outage) || !$outage->autostart) {
+        if (is_null($outage) || !$outage->autostart || get_config('default_autostart', 'auth_outage') === '2') {
             unset_config('maintenance_later');
         } else {
             $message = get_config('moodle', 'maintenance_message');
diff --git a/lang/en/auth_outage.php b/lang/en/auth_outage.php
index 470c44e..b0f3d89 100644
--- a/lang/en/auth_outage.php
+++ b/lang/en/auth_outage.php
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ $string['allowedipsnoconfig'] = 'Your config.php does not have the extra setup t
 $string['auth_outagedescription'] = 'Auxiliary plugin that warns users about a future outage and prevents them from logging in once the outage starts.';
 $string['autostart'] = 'Auto start maintenance mode.';
 $string['autostart_help'] = 'If selected, when the outage starts it will automatically turn on Moodle maintenance mode.';
+$string['autostartoff'] = 'Default off';
+$string['autostarton'] = 'Default on';
+$string['autostartforcedoff'] = 'Force off';
 $string['builtinallowediplist'] = 'Builtin Allowed IP List';
 $string['builtinallowediplist_desc'] = 'A second allowed IP list which makes it easier to have some IPs forced in config.php and others editable in the UI';
 $string['clicreateexamples'] = "Create an outage starting in 10 seconds\n\n> php create.php -s=10";
diff --git a/settings.php b/settings.php
index 870dba6..eeb10f0 100644
--- a/settings.php
+++ b/settings.php
@@ -43,11 +43,16 @@ if ($hassiteconfig) {
         get_string('settingssectiondefaultsdescription', 'auth_outage') . $description
     ));
 
-    $settings->add(new admin_setting_configcheckbox(
+    $settings->add(new admin_setting_configselect(
         'auth_outage/default_autostart',
         get_string('defaultoutageautostart', 'auth_outage'),
         get_string('defaultoutageautostartdescription', 'auth_outage'),
-        $defaults['default_autostart']
+        '0',
+        [
+            '0' => get_string('autostartoff', 'auth_outage'),
+            '1' => get_string('autostarton', 'auth_outage'),
+            '2' => get_string('autostartforcedoff', 'auth_outage'),
+        ]
     ));
 
     $settings->add(new admin_setting_configduration(