diff --git a/config_example.json b/config_example.json
index 1baed0c..e205e48 100644
--- a/config_example.json
+++ b/config_example.json
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
     "custom_brand_image": [],
     "custom_navbar_brand_text": "",
     "show_koepfe": false,
+    "hide_sidebar_default": true,
     "koepfe": [],
     "enable_global_chat": true,
     "enable_danmaku": true,
diff --git a/public/s/js/f0ckm.js b/public/s/js/f0ckm.js
index 1c35384..8b56fbd 100644
--- a/public/s/js/f0ckm.js
+++ b/public/s/js/f0ckm.js
@@ -2301,7 +2301,7 @@ window.cancelAnimFrame = (function () {
     let hiddenValue = localStorage.getItem('sidebarRightHidden');
     let hidden;
     if (hiddenValue === null) {
-      hidden = false; // Default to visible on all devices
+      hidden = (window.f0ckSession && window.f0ckSession.hide_sidebar_default) ? true : false; // Default based on config
       localStorage.setItem('sidebarRightHidden', hidden);
     } else {
       hidden = hiddenValue === 'true';
diff --git a/src/index.mjs b/src/index.mjs
index 90130f1..4777840 100644
--- a/src/index.mjs
+++ b/src/index.mjs
@@ -1267,6 +1267,7 @@ process.on('uncaughtException', err => {
     ts: Date.now(),
     get default_layout() { return getDefaultLayout(); },
     show_koepfe: !!cfg.websrv.show_koepfe,
+    hide_sidebar_default: !!cfg.websrv.hide_sidebar_default,
     allow_language_change: cfg.websrv.allow_language_change !== false,
     enable_xd_score: !!cfg.websrv.enable_xd_score,
     enable_dynamic_thumbs: !!cfg.websrv.enable_dynamic_thumbs,
diff --git a/views/snippets/footer.html b/views/snippets/footer.html
index 8382b25..bbf192b 100644
--- a/views/snippets/footer.html
+++ b/views/snippets/footer.html
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@
 @endif
 @if(private_society && !session)
 <script>
-  window.f0ckSession = { logged_in: false, enable_xd_score: @if(enable_xd_score) true @else false @endif, default_theme: "{{ default_theme }}", show_content_warning: @if(show_content_warning) true @else false @endif, use_new_layout: @if(default_layout === 'legacy')false @else true @endif, comment_display_mode: {{ comment_display_mode }}, comment_max_length: {{ comment_max_length !== null && comment_max_length !== undefined ? comment_max_length : 'null' }}, development: @if(development) true @else false @endif, allow_comment_deletion: @if(allow_comment_deletion) true @else false @endif };
+  window.f0ckSession = { logged_in: false, enable_xd_score: @if(enable_xd_score) true @else false @endif, default_theme: "{{ default_theme }}", show_content_warning: @if(show_content_warning) true @else false @endif, use_new_layout: @if(default_layout === 'legacy')false @else true @endif, comment_display_mode: {{ comment_display_mode }}, comment_max_length: {{ comment_max_length !== null && comment_max_length !== undefined ? comment_max_length : 'null' }}, development: @if(development) true @else false @endif, allow_comment_deletion: @if(allow_comment_deletion) true @else false @endif, hide_sidebar_default: @if(hide_sidebar_default) true @else false @endif };
   window.f0ckDebug = window.f0ckSession.development ? console.log.bind(console) : () => {};
   (() => {
     const loginModal = document.getElementById('login-modal');
@@ -406,6 +406,7 @@
     dm_unencrypted: @if(dm_unencrypted) true @else false @endif,
     allow_comment_deletion: @if(allow_comment_deletion) true @else false @endif,
     enable_comment_polls: @if(enable_comment_polls) true @else false @endif,
+    hide_sidebar_default: @if(hide_sidebar_default) true @else false @endif,
     mode: {{ mode !== undefined ? mode : 0 }}
   };
   window.f0ckDebug = window.f0ckSession.development ? console.log.bind(console) : () => {};