diff --git a/defaults.toml b/defaults.toml
index 86004da..3155b09 100644
--- a/defaults.toml
+++ b/defaults.toml
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ max_height = 3840
 max_area = 8294400
 max_file_size = 40
 max_frame_count = 900
-video_codec = "vp9"
 
 [media.video.quality]
 crf_max = 32
diff --git a/dev.toml b/dev.toml
index 762fe74..209af82 100644
--- a/dev.toml
+++ b/dev.toml
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ webp = 60
 [media.video]
 enable = true
 allow_audio = true
-video_codec = "vp9"
 max_area = 884000000
 
 [media.video.quality]
diff --git a/pict-rs.toml b/pict-rs.toml
index 12b0682..932f0c3 100644
--- a/pict-rs.toml
+++ b/pict-rs.toml
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ max_frame_count = 900
 
 ## Optional: set the default video codec
 # environment variable: PICTRS__MEDIA__VIDEO__VIDEO_CODEC
-# default: vp9
+# default: empty
 #
 # available options: av1, h264, h265, vp8, vp9
 # this setting does nothing if video is not enabled