diff --git a/python/pyplugin_installer/installer_data.py b/python/pyplugin_installer/installer_data.py
index 9aa4632a071..1ca11b4b70c 100644
--- a/python/pyplugin_installer/installer_data.py
+++ b/python/pyplugin_installer/installer_data.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import re
 import configparser
 import qgis.utils
 from qgis.core import QgsNetworkAccessManager, QgsApplication
+from qgis.gui import QgsGui
 from qgis.utils import iface, plugin_paths
 from .version_compare import pyQgisVersion, compareVersions, normalizeVersion, isCompatible
 
@@ -229,13 +230,11 @@ class Repositories(QObject):
 
     def checkingOnStart(self) -> bool:
         """ return true if checking for news and updates is enabled """
-        settings = QgsSettings()
-        return settings.value(settingsGroup + "/checkOnStart", True, type=bool)
+        return QgsGui.settingsRegistryGui().settingsEntry('plugins/automatically-check-for-updates').value()
 
     def setCheckingOnStart(self, state: bool):
         """ set state of checking for news and updates """
-        settings = QgsSettings()
-        settings.setValue(settingsGroup + "/checkOnStart", state)
+        QgsGui.settingsRegistryGui().settingsEntry('plugins/automatically-check-for-updates').setValue(state)
 
     def saveCheckingOnStartLastDate(self):
         """ set today's date as the day of last checking  """
diff --git a/src/app/pluginmanager/qgspluginmanager.cpp b/src/app/pluginmanager/qgspluginmanager.cpp
index 9838c681fb7..beccce40418 100644
--- a/src/app/pluginmanager/qgspluginmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/app/pluginmanager/qgspluginmanager.cpp
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@
 #include "qgslogger.h"
 #include "qgspluginitemdelegate.h"
 #include "qgssettings.h"
+#include "qgsgui.h"
+#include "qgssettingsregistrygui.h"
 #ifdef WITH_BINDINGS
 #include "qgspythonutils.h"
 #endif
@@ -239,7 +241,7 @@ void QgsPluginManager::setPythonUtils( QgsPythonUtils *pythonUtils )
   connect( buttonInstallFromZip, &QPushButton::clicked, this, &QgsPluginManager::buttonInstallFromZip_clicked );
 
   // Initialize the "Settings" tab widgets
-  if ( settings.value( settingsGroup + "/checkOnStart", true ).toBool() )
+  if ( QgsSettingsRegistryGui::settingsAutomaticallyCheckForPluginUpdates.value() )
   {
     ckbCheckUpdates->setChecked( true );
   }
@@ -1286,8 +1288,7 @@ void QgsPluginManager::reject()
     // get the QgsSettings group from the installer
     QString settingsGroup;
     QgsPythonRunner::eval( QStringLiteral( "pyplugin_installer.instance().exportSettingsGroup()" ), settingsGroup );
-    QgsSettings settings;
-    settings.setValue( settingsGroup + "/checkOnStart", QVariant( ckbCheckUpdates->isChecked() ) );
+    QgsSettingsRegistryGui::settingsAutomaticallyCheckForPluginUpdates.setValue( ckbCheckUpdates->isChecked() );
     QgsPythonRunner::run( QStringLiteral( "pyplugin_installer.instance().onManagerClose()" ) );
   }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/gui/settings/qgssettingsregistrygui.cpp b/src/gui/settings/qgssettingsregistrygui.cpp
index 66891910e10..d84b55a6c01 100644
--- a/src/gui/settings/qgssettingsregistrygui.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/settings/qgssettingsregistrygui.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ QgsSettingsRegistryGui::QgsSettingsRegistryGui()
   : QgsSettingsRegistry()
 {
   addSettingsEntry( &settingsRespectScreenDPI );
+  addSettingsEntry( &settingsAutomaticallyCheckForPluginUpdates );
   addSettingsEntry( &QgsStyleManagerDialog::settingLastStyleDatabaseFolder );
 
   QgsApplication::settingsRegistryCore()->addSubRegistry( this );
diff --git a/src/gui/settings/qgssettingsregistrygui.h b/src/gui/settings/qgssettingsregistrygui.h
index 5dc9389a75f..fd57de2737f 100644
--- a/src/gui/settings/qgssettingsregistrygui.h
+++ b/src/gui/settings/qgssettingsregistrygui.h
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgsSettingsRegistryGui : public QgsSettingsRegistry
 #ifndef SIP_RUN
     //! Settings entry respect screen dpi
     static const inline QgsSettingsEntryBool settingsRespectScreenDPI = QgsSettingsEntryBool( QStringLiteral( "respect_screen_dpi" ), QgsSettings::Prefix::GUI_QGIS, false );
+
+    //! Check for plugin updates automatically on startup
+    static const inline QgsSettingsEntryBool settingsAutomaticallyCheckForPluginUpdates = QgsSettingsEntryBool( QStringLiteral( "automatically-check-for-updates" ), QgsSettings::Prefix::PLUGINS, true, QStringLiteral( "Automatically check for plugin updates on startup" ) );
+
 #endif
 
 };