diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f2511228fd..ab02d7f1d6 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -356,6 +356,16 @@
 					"default": "ask",
 					"description": "%githubPullRequests.terminalLinksHandler.description%"
 				},
+				"githubPullRequests.openPullLinks": {
+					"type": "boolean",
+					"default": true,
+					"scope": "application",
+					"markdownDescription": "%githubPullRequests.openPullLinks.description%",
+					"tags": [
+						"experimental",
+						"onExP"
+					]
+				},
 				"githubPullRequests.createOnPublishBranch": {
 					"type": "string",
 					"enum": [
diff --git a/package.nls.json b/package.nls.json
index 1aaa2cf34c..b1942119d2 100644
--- a/package.nls.json
+++ b/package.nls.json
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 	"githubPullRequests.terminalLinksHandler.github": "Create the pull request on GitHub.",
 	"githubPullRequests.terminalLinksHandler.vscode": "Create the pull request in VS Code.",
 	"githubPullRequests.terminalLinksHandler.ask": "Ask which method to use.",
+	"githubPullRequests.openPullLinks.description": "Controls whether GitHub issue and pull request links open in VS Code.",
 	"githubPullRequests.createOnPublishBranch.description": "Create a pull request when a branch is published.",
 	"githubPullRequests.createOnPublishBranch.never": "Never create a pull request when a branch is published.",
 	"githubPullRequests.createOnPublishBranch.ask": "Ask if you want to create a pull request when a branch is published.",
diff --git a/src/common/externalUri.ts b/src/common/externalUri.ts
index daa51d425e..6376918512 100644
--- a/src/common/externalUri.ts
+++ b/src/common/externalUri.ts
@@ -48,8 +48,9 @@ export function parseGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUri(uri: vscode.Uri): GitHubIssueOr
 
 export function getGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUriOpenerPriority(
 	uri: vscode.Uri,
+	enabled: boolean,
 ): vscode.ExternalUriOpenerPriority {
-	return parseGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUri(uri)
+	return enabled && parseGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUri(uri)
 		? vscode.ExternalUriOpenerPriority.Preferred
 		: vscode.ExternalUriOpenerPriority.None;
 }
diff --git a/src/common/settingKeys.ts b/src/common/settingKeys.ts
index 895378c9c3..98da176222 100644
--- a/src/common/settingKeys.ts
+++ b/src/common/settingKeys.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 export const PR_SETTINGS_NAMESPACE = 'githubPullRequests';
 export const TERMINAL_LINK_HANDLER = 'terminalLinksHandler';
+export const OPEN_PULL_LINKS = 'openPullLinks';
 export const BRANCH_PUBLISH = 'createOnPublishBranch';
 export const BRANCH_LIST_TIMEOUT = 'branchListTimeout';
 export const USE_REVIEW_MODE = 'useReviewMode';
diff --git a/src/github/externalUriOpener.ts b/src/github/externalUriOpener.ts
index a04fb38c69..14d5d56d73 100644
--- a/src/github/externalUriOpener.ts
+++ b/src/github/externalUriOpener.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ import { IssueOverviewPanel } from './issueOverview';
 import { PullRequestOverviewPanel } from './pullRequestOverview';
 import { RepositoriesManager } from './repositoriesManager';
 import { GitApiImpl } from '../api/api1';
-import { getGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUriOpenerPriority, parseGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUri } from '../common/externalUri';
+import { getGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUriOpenerPriority, openWithDefaultExternalOpener, parseGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUri } from '../common/externalUri';
+import { OPEN_PULL_LINKS, PR_SETTINGS_NAMESPACE } from '../common/settingKeys';
 import { ITelemetry } from '../common/telemetry';
 import { EXTENSION_ID } from '../constants';
 import { CreatePullRequestHelper } from '../view/createPullRequestHelper';
@@ -36,10 +37,15 @@ class GitHubIssueOrPullRequestExternalUriOpener extends Disposable implements vs
 	}
 
 	canOpenExternalUri(uri: vscode.Uri): vscode.ExternalUriOpenerPriority {
-		return getGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUriOpenerPriority(uri);
+		return getGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUriOpenerPriority(uri, this.isOpenPullLinksEnabled());
 	}
 
 	async openExternalUri(_resolvedUri: vscode.Uri, openContext: vscode.OpenExternalUriContext, token: vscode.CancellationToken): Promise<void> {
+		if (!this.isOpenPullLinksEnabled()) {
+			await openWithDefaultExternalOpener(openContext.sourceUri);
+			return;
+		}
+
 		const identity = parseGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUri(openContext.sourceUri);
 		if (!identity || token.isCancellationRequested) {
 			return;
@@ -81,6 +87,10 @@ class GitHubIssueOrPullRequestExternalUriOpener extends Disposable implements vs
 		}
 	}
 
+	private isOpenPullLinksEnabled(): boolean {
+		return vscode.workspace.getConfiguration(PR_SETTINGS_NAMESPACE).get<boolean>(OPEN_PULL_LINKS, true);
+	}
+
 	private getFolderRepositoryManager(owner: string, repo: string): FolderRepositoryManager {
 		const existingManager = this._repositoriesManager.getManagerForRepository(owner, repo)
 			?? this._repositoriesManager.folderManagers[0];
diff --git a/src/test/common/externalUri.test.ts b/src/test/common/externalUri.test.ts
index fe7c01d742..165a25accc 100644
--- a/src/test/common/externalUri.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/common/externalUri.test.ts
@@ -75,14 +75,21 @@ describe('externalUri', () => {
 
 		it('is preferred for supported URLs', () => {
 			assert.strictEqual(
-				getGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUriOpenerPriority(pullRequestUri),
+				getGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUriOpenerPriority(pullRequestUri, true),
 				vscode.ExternalUriOpenerPriority.Preferred,
 			);
 		});
 
+		it('is disabled when the external URI handler is disabled', () => {
+			assert.strictEqual(
+				getGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUriOpenerPriority(pullRequestUri, false),
+				vscode.ExternalUriOpenerPriority.None,
+			);
+		});
+
 		it('is disabled for unsupported URLs', () => {
 			assert.strictEqual(
-				getGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUriOpenerPriority(vscode.Uri.parse('https://github.com/microsoft/vscode')),
+				getGitHubIssueOrPullRequestUriOpenerPriority(vscode.Uri.parse('https://github.com/microsoft/vscode'), true),
 				vscode.ExternalUriOpenerPriority.None,
 			);
 		});