# default\_max\_consumers

Available since NATS Server `2.15`

Hot Reloadable

Read live at the moment a consumer is created, so the new value applies to the next consumer created on any stream, including a stream that already exists. It does not remove consumers that already exceed it.

The default maximum number of consumers allowed on a stream that does not set its own `max_consumers`, and whose account has no consumer limit either. Set to `-1` to disable this default and allow an unlimited number of consumers, matching pre-2.15 behavior.

## Types

| Type      | Description | Choices |
| --------- | ----------- | ------- |
| `integer` | -           | -       |