diff --git a/src/app/item-page/simple/field-components/file-section/total-downloads.component.html b/src/app/item-page/simple/field-components/file-section/total-downloads.component.html
index 72db7109aa0..5b2d9bbb117 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/simple/field-components/file-section/total-downloads.component.html
+++ b/src/app/item-page/simple/field-components/file-section/total-downloads.component.html
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-<ds-metadata-field-wrapper [label]="downloadsLabel | translate">
+<ds-metadata-field-wrapper
+  *ngIf="totalDownloadsEnabled | async"
+  [label]="downloadsLabel | translate">
   <div class="total-downloads-section">
     <div class="total-downloads-count">
       <span>{{ totalDownloads }}</span>
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/simple/field-components/file-section/total-downloads.component.ts b/src/app/item-page/simple/field-components/file-section/total-downloads.component.ts
index d5cc17cbd08..25f3d2119c0 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/simple/field-components/file-section/total-downloads.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/item-page/simple/field-components/file-section/total-downloads.component.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 import { Component, OnInit, Input } from '@angular/core';
 import { UsageReportDataService } from 'src/app/core/statistics/usage-report-data.service';
+import { ConfigurationDataService } from 'src/app/core/data/configuration-data.service';
 import { catchError } from 'rxjs/operators';
-import { of } from 'rxjs';
+import { BehaviorSubject, of } from 'rxjs';
 
 /**
  * Component that displays the total number of downloads for all bitstreams within a DSpace item.
  *
- * This component fetches download statistics for a given item using its UUID and aggregates
- * the download counts from all bitstreams associated with that item. The result is displayed
- * as a single total download count.
+ * This component checks the 'item.view.total.downloads.enabled' configuration property
+ * to determine if download statistics should be displayed. If enabled, it fetches download
+ * statistics for a given item using its UUID and aggregates the download counts from all
+ * bitstreams associated with that item. The result is displayed as a single total download count.
+ *
+ * If the configuration is disabled or set to 'false', the component will not be displayed.
  */
 @Component({
   selector: 'ds-total-downloads',
@@ -26,7 +30,14 @@ export class TotalDownloadsComponent implements OnInit {
    * The total number of downloads across all bitstreams for the item.
    * Defaults to 0 and will show 0 if no data is available or an error occurs.
    */
-  totalDownloads: number = 0;
+  totalDownloads: number | null = 0;
+
+  /**
+   * Flag indicating whether the total downloads feature is enabled in the configuration.
+   * Uses BehaviorSubject to allow reactive updates. Defaults to false and will only be
+   * set to true if the configuration explicitly contains 'true' value.
+   */
+  totalDownloadsEnabled = new BehaviorSubject<boolean>(false);
 
   /**
    * The translation key for the downloadsLabel displayed alongside the download count.
@@ -34,15 +45,21 @@ export class TotalDownloadsComponent implements OnInit {
   readonly downloadsLabel = 'item.page.files.downloads';
 
 
-  constructor(private usageReportDataService: UsageReportDataService) { }
+  constructor(
+    private usageReportDataService: UsageReportDataService,
+    private configService: ConfigurationDataService
+  ) { }
 
   /**
-   * Fetches the total download statistics for the item specified by itemUuid.
+   * Fetches the configuration to check if total downloads should be shown,
+   * and if enabled, fetches the total download statistics for the item specified by itemUuid.
    * The component will:
-   * 1. Call the UsageReportDataService with the item UUID and 'TotalDownloads' report type
-   * 2. Aggregate all download counts (views) from all bitstreams in the response
-   * 3. Set the totalDownloads property with the sum
-   * 4. Handle errors gracefully by setting totalDownloads to 0 and logging the error
+   * 1. Check the 'item.view.total.downloads.enabled' configuration property
+   * 2. If enabled (configuration value is explicitly 'true'), call the UsageReportDataService
+   *    If configuration is not found or fails to load, defaults to false (disabled)
+   * 3. Aggregate all download counts (views) from all bitstreams in the response
+   * 4. Set the totalDownloads property with the sum
+   * 5. Handle errors gracefully by returning null and logging the error
    *
    * @throws Will log an error to console if the API call fails, but won't throw an exception
    */
@@ -51,6 +68,34 @@ export class TotalDownloadsComponent implements OnInit {
       return;
     }
 
+    // First, check if total downloads feature is enabled in configuration
+    this.configService.findByPropertyName('item.view.total.downloads.enabled')
+      .pipe(
+        catchError(error => {
+          console.error('Failed to fetch total downloads configuration:', error);
+          // Default to false if configuration cannot be retrieved
+          return of(null);
+        })
+      )
+      .subscribe(configData => {
+        // Extract configuration value, default to 'false' if not found
+        const itemViewTotalDownloadsEnabled = configData?.payload?.values?.[0];
+        this.totalDownloadsEnabled.next(itemViewTotalDownloadsEnabled === 'true');
+
+        // Only fetch download statistics if the feature is enabled
+        if (this.totalDownloadsEnabled.value) {
+          this.fetchDownloadStatistics();
+        } else {
+          this.totalDownloads = null; // Ensure it's null when disabled
+        }
+      });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Private method to fetch download statistics from the usage report service.
+   * This method is called only when the total downloads feature is enabled.
+   */
+  private fetchDownloadStatistics(): void {
     const reportType = 'TotalDownloads';
     this.usageReportDataService.getStatistic(this.itemUuid, reportType)
       .pipe(