diff --git a/src/createinstancedialog.cpp b/src/createinstancedialog.cpp
index c5f51e0ec..d50a2063c 100644
--- a/src/createinstancedialog.cpp
+++ b/src/createinstancedialog.cpp
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ CreateInstanceDialog::CreateInstanceDialog(const PluginContainer& pc, Settings*
   m_pages.push_back(std::make_unique<GamePage>(*this));
   m_pages.push_back(std::make_unique<VariantsPage>(*this));
   m_pages.push_back(std::make_unique<NamePage>(*this));
+  m_pages.push_back(std::make_unique<ProfilePage>(*this));
   m_pages.push_back(std::make_unique<PathsPage>(*this));
   m_pages.push_back(std::make_unique<NexusPage>(*this));
   m_pages.push_back(std::make_unique<ConfirmationPage>(*this));
@@ -355,6 +356,10 @@ void CreateInstanceDialog::finish()
       s.paths().setOverwrite(ci.paths.overwrite);
     }
 
+    s.setProfileLocalInis(ci.profileSettings.localInis);
+    s.setProfileLocalSaves(ci.profileSettings.localSaves);
+    s.setProfileArchiveInvalidation(ci.profileSettings.archiveInvalidation);
+
     logCreation(tr("Writing %1...").arg(ci.iniPath));
 
     // writing ini
@@ -475,12 +480,13 @@ CreateInstanceDialog::CreationInfo CreateInstanceDialog::rawCreationInfo() const
 
   CreationInfo ci;
 
-  ci.type         = getSelected(&cid::Page::selectedInstanceType);
-  ci.game         = getSelected(&cid::Page::selectedGame);
-  ci.gameLocation = getSelected(&cid::Page::selectedGameLocation);
-  ci.gameVariant  = getSelected(&cid::Page::selectedGameVariant, ci.game);
-  ci.instanceName = getSelected(&cid::Page::selectedInstanceName);
-  ci.paths        = getSelected(&cid::Page::selectedPaths);
+  ci.type            = getSelected(&cid::Page::selectedInstanceType);
+  ci.game            = getSelected(&cid::Page::selectedGame);
+  ci.gameLocation    = getSelected(&cid::Page::selectedGameLocation);
+  ci.gameVariant     = getSelected(&cid::Page::selectedGameVariant, ci.game);
+  ci.instanceName    = getSelected(&cid::Page::selectedInstanceName);
+  ci.profileSettings = getSelected(&cid::Page::profileSettings);
+  ci.paths           = getSelected(&cid::Page::selectedPaths);
 
   if (ci.type == Portable) {
     ci.dataPath = QDir(InstanceManager::singleton().portablePath()).absolutePath();
diff --git a/src/createinstancedialog.h b/src/createinstancedialog.h
index fe3c5646f..4495cc78e 100644
--- a/src/createinstancedialog.h
+++ b/src/createinstancedialog.h
@@ -66,6 +66,15 @@ class CreateInstanceDialog : public QDialog
     auto operator<=>(const Paths&) const = default;
   };
 
+  struct ProfileSettings
+  {
+    bool localInis;
+    bool localSaves;
+    bool archiveInvalidation;
+
+    auto operator<=>(const ProfileSettings&) const = default;
+  };
+
   // all the info filled in the various pages
   //
   struct CreationInfo
@@ -78,6 +87,7 @@ class CreateInstanceDialog : public QDialog
     QString dataPath;
     QString iniPath;
     Paths paths;
+    ProfileSettings profileSettings;
   };
 
   CreateInstanceDialog(const PluginContainer& pc, Settings* s,
diff --git a/src/createinstancedialog.ui b/src/createinstancedialog.ui
index 5c791affb..b47507559 100644
--- a/src/createinstancedialog.ui
+++ b/src/createinstancedialog.ui
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
         <property name="font">
          <font>
           <pointsize>14</pointsize>
-          <weight>75</weight>
           <bold>true</bold>
          </font>
         </property>
@@ -294,7 +293,7 @@
                   <x>0</x>
                   <y>0</y>
                   <width>455</width>
-                  <height>286</height>
+                  <height>275</height>
                  </rect>
                 </property>
                 <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_26">
@@ -430,7 +429,7 @@
                <x>0</x>
                <y>0</y>
                <width>455</width>
-               <height>278</height>
+               <height>265</height>
               </rect>
              </property>
              <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_17">
@@ -546,6 +545,90 @@
        </item>
       </layout>
      </widget>
+     <widget class="QWidget" name="page">
+      <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_31">
+       <item>
+        <widget class="QWidget" name="widget_24" native="true">
+         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_8">
+          <property name="leftMargin">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+          <property name="topMargin">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+          <property name="rightMargin">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+          <property name="bottomMargin">
+           <number>0</number>
+          </property>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QLabel" name="profileSettingsLabel">
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>&lt;h3&gt;Configure your profile settings.&lt;/h3&gt;</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="wordWrap">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <widget class="QWidget" name="widget_25" native="true">
+         <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_28">
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QCheckBox" name="profileInisCheckbox">
+            <property name="toolTip">
+             <string extracomment="Enabling this will copy your game's INI files into each profile, which will override the default INI settings"/>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Use profile-specific game INI files</string>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QCheckBox" name="profileSavesCheckbox">
+            <property name="toolTip">
+             <string extracomment="Enabling this will redirect the game's save files into your active profile, allowing you to separate your saves between profiles"/>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Use profile-specific save games</string>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <widget class="QCheckBox" name="archiveInvalidationCheckbox">
+            <property name="toolTip">
+             <string extracomment="Enabling this will allow MO2 to automatically run necessary INI edits or other steps to allow file overrides in the game."/>
+            </property>
+            <property name="text">
+             <string>Automatic archive invalidation</string>
+            </property>
+            <property name="checked">
+             <bool>true</bool>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
+          <item>
+           <spacer name="verticalSpacer_7">
+            <property name="orientation">
+             <enum>Qt::Vertical</enum>
+            </property>
+            <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+             <size>
+              <width>20</width>
+              <height>40</height>
+             </size>
+            </property>
+           </spacer>
+          </item>
+         </layout>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+      </layout>
+     </widget>
      <widget class="QWidget" name="page_6">
       <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_14">
        <item>
@@ -1242,7 +1325,6 @@
   <tabstop>showAllGames</tabstop>
   <tabstop>gamesFilter</tabstop>
   <tabstop>scrollArea_2</tabstop>
-  <tabstop>instanceName</tabstop>
   <tabstop>location</tabstop>
   <tabstop>browseLocation</tabstop>
   <tabstop>advancedPathOptions</tabstop>
diff --git a/src/createinstancedialogpages.cpp b/src/createinstancedialogpages.cpp
index c8cec45f2..1a5b24705 100644
--- a/src/createinstancedialogpages.cpp
+++ b/src/createinstancedialogpages.cpp
@@ -143,6 +143,12 @@ CreateInstanceDialog::Paths Page::selectedPaths() const
   return {};
 }
 
+CreateInstanceDialog::ProfileSettings Page::profileSettings() const
+{
+  // no-op
+  return {};
+}
+
 IntroPage::IntroPage(CreateInstanceDialog& dlg)
     : Page(dlg), m_skip(GlobalSettings::hideCreateInstanceIntro())
 {
@@ -931,6 +937,24 @@ bool NamePage::checkName(QString parentDir, QString name)
   return okay;
 }
 
+ProfilePage::ProfilePage(CreateInstanceDialog& dlg)
+  : Page(dlg)
+{}
+
+bool ProfilePage::ready() const
+{
+  return true;
+}
+
+CreateInstanceDialog::ProfileSettings ProfilePage::profileSettings() const
+{
+  CreateInstanceDialog::ProfileSettings profileSettings;
+  profileSettings.localInis           = ui->profileInisCheckbox->isChecked();
+  profileSettings.localSaves          = ui->profileSavesCheckbox->isChecked();
+  profileSettings.archiveInvalidation = ui->archiveInvalidationCheckbox->isChecked();
+  return profileSettings;
+}
+
 PathsPage::PathsPage(CreateInstanceDialog& dlg)
     : Page(dlg), m_lastType(CreateInstanceDialog::NoType), m_label(ui->pathsLabel),
       m_simpleExists(ui->locationExists), m_simpleInvalid(ui->locationInvalid),
@@ -1215,6 +1239,17 @@ QString ConfirmationPage::makeReview() const
     lines.push_back(QObject::tr("Instance name: %1").arg(ci.instanceName));
   }
 
+  lines.push_back(QObject::tr("Profile settings:"));
+  lines.push_back(
+      QObject::tr("  Local INIs: %1")
+          .arg(ci.profileSettings.localInis ? QObject::tr("yes") : QObject::tr("no")));
+  lines.push_back(
+      QObject::tr("  Local Saves: %1")
+          .arg(ci.profileSettings.localSaves ? QObject::tr("yes") : QObject::tr("no")));
+  lines.push_back(QObject::tr("  Automatic Archive Invalidation: %1")
+                      .arg(ci.profileSettings.archiveInvalidation ? QObject::tr("yes")
+                                                                  : QObject::tr("no")));
+
   if (ci.paths.downloads.isEmpty()) {
     // simple settings
     if (ci.paths.base != ci.dataPath) {
diff --git a/src/createinstancedialogpages.h b/src/createinstancedialogpages.h
index d9751a526..25945a2a3 100644
--- a/src/createinstancedialogpages.h
+++ b/src/createinstancedialogpages.h
@@ -110,6 +110,10 @@ class Page
   //
   virtual CreateInstanceDialog::Paths selectedPaths() const;
 
+  // returns the profile settings
+  //
+  virtual CreateInstanceDialog::ProfileSettings profileSettings() const;
+
 protected:
   Ui::CreateInstanceDialog* ui;
   CreateInstanceDialog& m_dlg;
@@ -557,6 +561,26 @@ class PathsPage : public Page
   void setIfEmpty(QLineEdit* e, const QString& path, bool force);
 };
 
+
+// default settings for profiles page; allow the user to set their preferred
+// defaults for the profile options
+//
+class ProfilePage : public Page
+{
+public:
+  ProfilePage(CreateInstanceDialog& dlg);
+
+  // always returns true, options are boolean
+  //
+  bool ready() const override;
+
+  CreateInstanceDialog::ProfileSettings profileSettings() const override;
+
+protected:
+
+};
+
+
 // nexus connection page; this reuses the ui found in the settings dialog and
 // is skipped if there's already an api key in the credentials manager
 //
diff --git a/src/profile.cpp b/src/profile.cpp
index c5ea5eec8..13ce41c7e 100644
--- a/src/profile.cpp
+++ b/src/profile.cpp
@@ -157,22 +157,37 @@ void Profile::findProfileSettings()
 {
   if (setting("", "LocalSaves") == QVariant()) {
     if (m_Directory.exists("saves")) {
-      storeSetting("", "LocalSaves", true);
+      if (!Settings::instance().profileLocalSaves()) {
+        m_Directory.rename("saves", "_saves");
+        storeSetting("", "LocalSaves", false);
+      } else {
+        storeSetting("", "LocalSaves", true);
+      }
     } else {
       if (m_Directory.exists("_saves")) {
-        m_Directory.rename("_saves", "saves");
+        if (Settings::instance().profileLocalSaves()) {
+          m_Directory.rename("_saves", "saves");
+          storeSetting("", "LocalSaves", true);
+        } else {
+          storeSetting("", "LocalSaves", false);
+        }
+      } else {
+        storeSetting("", "LocalSaves", Settings::instance().profileLocalSaves());
       }
-      storeSetting("", "LocalSaves", false);
     }
   }
 
-  if (setting("", "LocalSettings") == QVariant()) {
+  if (setting("", "LocalSettings") ==
+      QVariant()) {
     QString backupFile = getIniFileName() + "_";
     if (m_Directory.exists(backupFile)) {
-      storeSetting("", "LocalSettings", false);
+      storeSetting("", "LocalSettings", true);
       m_Directory.rename(backupFile, getIniFileName());
-    } else {
+    } else if (Settings::instance().profileLocalInis()) {
       storeSetting("", "LocalSettings", true);
+      enableLocalSettings(true);
+    } else {
+      storeSetting("", "LocalSettings", false);
     }
   }
 
@@ -183,14 +198,23 @@ void Profile::findProfileSettings()
     if ((invalidation != nullptr) && (dataArchives != nullptr)) {
       for (const QString& archive : dataArchives->archives(this)) {
         if (invalidation->isInvalidationBSA(archive)) {
-          storeSetting("", "AutomaticArchiveInvalidation", true);
           found = true;
           break;
         }
       }
     }
-    if (!found) {
-      storeSetting("", "AutomaticArchiveInvalidation", false);
+    if (found) {
+      if (!Settings::instance().profileArchiveInvalidation()) {
+        deactivateInvalidation();
+      } else {
+        storeSetting("", "AutomaticArchiveInvalidation", true);
+      }
+    } else {
+      if (Settings::instance().profileArchiveInvalidation()) {
+        activateInvalidation();
+      } else {
+        storeSetting("", "AutomaticArchiveInvalidation", false);
+      }
     }
   }
 }
@@ -795,7 +819,9 @@ bool Profile::invalidationActive(bool* supported) const
     *supported = ((invalidation != nullptr) && (dataArchives != nullptr));
   }
 
-  return setting("", "AutomaticArchiveInvalidation", false).toBool();
+  return setting("", "AutomaticArchiveInvalidation",
+                 Settings::instance().profileArchiveInvalidation())
+      .toBool();
 }
 
 void Profile::deactivateInvalidation()
@@ -822,7 +848,7 @@ void Profile::activateInvalidation()
 
 bool Profile::localSavesEnabled() const
 {
-  return setting("", "LocalSaves", false).toBool();
+  return setting("", "LocalSaves", Settings::instance().profileLocalSaves()).toBool();
 }
 
 bool Profile::enableLocalSaves(bool enable)
@@ -856,7 +882,8 @@ bool Profile::enableLocalSaves(bool enable)
 
 bool Profile::localSettingsEnabled() const
 {
-  bool enabled = setting("", "LocalSettings", false).toBool();
+  bool enabled =
+      setting("", "LocalSettings", Settings::instance().profileLocalInis()).toBool();
   if (enabled) {
     QStringList missingFiles;
     for (QString file : m_GamePlugin->iniFiles()) {
diff --git a/src/settings.cpp b/src/settings.cpp
index fc9985f47..b568d8028 100644
--- a/src/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings.cpp
@@ -214,6 +214,36 @@ void Settings::setUsePrereleases(bool b)
   set(m_Settings, "Settings", "use_prereleases", b);
 }
 
+bool Settings::profileLocalInis() const
+{
+  return get<bool>(m_Settings, "Settings", "profile_local_inis", true);
+}
+
+void Settings::setProfileLocalInis(bool b)
+{
+  set(m_Settings, "Settings", "profile_local_inis", b);
+}
+
+bool Settings::profileLocalSaves() const
+{
+  return get<bool>(m_Settings, "Settings", "profile_local_saves", false);
+}
+
+void Settings::setProfileLocalSaves(bool b)
+{
+  set(m_Settings, "Settings", "profile_local_saves", b);
+}
+
+bool Settings::profileArchiveInvalidation() const
+{
+  return get<bool>(m_Settings, "Settings", "profile_archive_invalidation", false);
+}
+
+void Settings::setProfileArchiveInvalidation(bool b)
+{
+  set(m_Settings, "Settings", "profile_archive_invalidation", b);
+}
+
 bool Settings::useSplash() const
 {
   return get<bool>(m_Settings, "Settings", "use_splash", true);
diff --git a/src/settings.h b/src/settings.h
index 6a11d6620..34a8669af 100644
--- a/src/settings.h
+++ b/src/settings.h
@@ -810,6 +810,21 @@ class Settings : public QObject
   bool usePrereleases() const;
   void setUsePrereleases(bool b);
 
+  // whether profiles should default to local INIs
+  //
+  bool profileLocalInis() const;
+  void setProfileLocalInis(bool b);
+
+  // whether profiles should default to local saves
+  //
+  bool profileLocalSaves() const;
+  void setProfileLocalSaves(bool b);
+
+  // whether profiles should default to automatic archive invalidation
+  //
+  bool profileArchiveInvalidation() const;
+  void setProfileArchiveInvalidation(bool b);
+
   // whether to use spascreen or not
   //
   bool useSplash() const;
diff --git a/src/settingsdialog.ui b/src/settingsdialog.ui
index a4c9cc7ef..27949c3aa 100644
--- a/src/settingsdialog.ui
+++ b/src/settingsdialog.ui
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
       <attribute name="title">
        <string>General</string>
       </attribute>
-      <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout" rowstretch="0,0,0">
+      <layout class="QGridLayout" name="gridLayout" rowstretch="0">
        <item row="0" column="0">
         <widget class="QScrollArea" name="generalScrollArea">
          <property name="styleSheet">
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@
            <rect>
             <x>0</x>
             <y>0</y>
-            <width>780</width>
-            <height>502</height>
+            <width>761</width>
+            <height>550</height>
            </rect>
           </property>
           <property name="autoFillBackground">
@@ -204,6 +204,36 @@
              </layout>
             </widget>
            </item>
+           <item>
+            <widget class="QGroupBox" name="groupBox_8">
+             <property name="title">
+              <string>Profile Defaults</string>
+             </property>
+             <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_11">
+              <item>
+               <widget class="QCheckBox" name="localINIs">
+                <property name="text">
+                 <string>Local INIs</string>
+                </property>
+               </widget>
+              </item>
+              <item>
+               <widget class="QCheckBox" name="localSaves">
+                <property name="text">
+                 <string>Local Saves</string>
+                </property>
+               </widget>
+              </item>
+              <item>
+               <widget class="QCheckBox" name="automaticArchiveInvalidation">
+                <property name="text">
+                 <string>Automatic Archive Invalidation</string>
+                </property>
+               </widget>
+              </item>
+             </layout>
+            </widget>
+           </item>
            <item>
             <widget class="QGroupBox" name="groupBox_9">
              <property name="title">
@@ -1022,8 +1052,8 @@ If you disable this feature, MO will only display official DLCs this way. Please
            <rect>
             <x>0</x>
             <y>0</y>
-            <width>780</width>
-            <height>502</height>
+            <width>778</width>
+            <height>497</height>
            </rect>
           </property>
           <property name="autoFillBackground">
@@ -1702,8 +1732,8 @@ If you disable this feature, MO will only display official DLCs this way. Please
            <rect>
             <x>0</x>
             <y>0</y>
-            <width>780</width>
-            <height>483</height>
+            <width>778</width>
+            <height>475</height>
            </rect>
           </property>
           <property name="autoFillBackground">
diff --git a/src/settingsdialoggeneral.cpp b/src/settingsdialoggeneral.cpp
index 95655ac86..91fe6687e 100644
--- a/src/settingsdialoggeneral.cpp
+++ b/src/settingsdialoggeneral.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ GeneralSettingsTab::GeneralSettingsTab(Settings& s, SettingsDialog& d)
   ui->checkForUpdates->setChecked(settings().checkForUpdates());
   ui->usePrereleaseBox->setChecked(settings().usePrereleases());
 
+  // profile defaults
+  ui->localINIs->setChecked(settings().profileLocalInis());
+  ui->localSaves->setChecked(settings().profileLocalSaves());
+  ui->automaticArchiveInvalidation->setChecked(settings().profileArchiveInvalidation());
+
   // miscellaneous
   ui->centerDialogs->setChecked(settings().geometry().centerDialogs());
   ui->changeGameConfirmation->setChecked(
@@ -64,6 +69,11 @@ void GeneralSettingsTab::update()
   settings().setCheckForUpdates(ui->checkForUpdates->isChecked());
   settings().setUsePrereleases(ui->usePrereleaseBox->isChecked());
 
+  // profile defaults
+  settings().setProfileLocalInis(ui->localINIs->isChecked());
+  settings().setProfileLocalSaves(ui->localSaves->isChecked());
+  settings().setProfileArchiveInvalidation(ui->automaticArchiveInvalidation->isChecked());
+
   // miscellaneous
   settings().geometry().setCenterDialogs(ui->centerDialogs->isChecked());
   settings().interface().setShowChangeGameConfirmation(