diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/store/defaults.js b/packages/block-editor/src/store/defaults.js
index a51091dd8e6485..3f5d83bc609309 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/store/defaults.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/store/defaults.js
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ export const SETTINGS_DEFAULTS = {
 	__experimentalBlockPatterns: [],
 	__experimentalBlockPatternCategories: [],
 	__experimentalSpotlightEntityBlocks: [],
+	__experimentalGenerateAnchors: false,
 	__unstableGalleryWithImageBlocks: false,
 
 	// gradients setting is not used anymore now defaults are passed from theme.json on the server and core has its own defaults.
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js b/packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js
index d52c069a94f8a7..1629f10cc5a775 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/heading/edit.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import classnames from 'classnames';
  */
 import { __ } from '@wordpress/i18n';
 import { useEffect, Platform } from '@wordpress/element';
-import { useDispatch } from '@wordpress/data';
+import { useDispatch, useSelect } from '@wordpress/data';
 import { createBlock, getDefaultBlockName } from '@wordpress/blocks';
 import {
 	AlignmentControl,
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ function HeadingEdit( {
 		style,
 	} );
 
+	const { canGenerateAnchors } = useSelect( ( select ) => {
+		const settings = select( blockEditorStore ).getSettings();
+
+		return {
+			canGenerateAnchors: !! settings.__experimentalGenerateAnchors,
+		};
+	}, [] );
+
 	const { __unstableMarkNextChangeAsNotPersistent } = useDispatch(
 		blockEditorStore
 	);
@@ -48,6 +56,10 @@ function HeadingEdit( {
 	// Initially set anchor for headings that have content but no anchor set.
 	// This is used when transforming a block to heading, or for legacy anchors.
 	useEffect( () => {
+		if ( ! canGenerateAnchors ) {
+			return;
+		}
+
 		if ( ! anchor && content ) {
 			// This side-effect should not create an undo level.
 			__unstableMarkNextChangeAsNotPersistent();
@@ -64,9 +76,10 @@ function HeadingEdit( {
 	const onContentChange = ( value ) => {
 		const newAttrs = { content: value };
 		if (
-			! anchor ||
-			! value ||
-			generateAnchor( clientId, content ) === anchor
+			canGenerateAnchors &&
+			( ! anchor ||
+				! value ||
+				generateAnchor( clientId, content ) === anchor )
 		) {
 			newAttrs.anchor = generateAnchor( clientId, value );
 		}
diff --git a/packages/editor/src/components/provider/use-block-editor-settings.js b/packages/editor/src/components/provider/use-block-editor-settings.js
index 888d72c8e3d31b..2bc9e836c51ead 100644
--- a/packages/editor/src/components/provider/use-block-editor-settings.js
+++ b/packages/editor/src/components/provider/use-block-editor-settings.js
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ function useBlockEditorSettings( settings, hasTemplate ) {
 				'__experimentalFeatures',
 				'__experimentalPreferredStyleVariations',
 				'__experimentalSetIsInserterOpened',
+				'__experimentalGenerateAnchors',
 				'__unstableGalleryWithImageBlocks',
 				'alignWide',
 				'allowedBlockTypes',