diff --git a/docs/configure-the-plugin.md b/docs/configure-the-plugin.md
index a62990d68274c9e2b239421d417db94a1b965c9c..62421a77cc02ab0f2f2f9d4584b96c055289a66c 100644
--- a/docs/configure-the-plugin.md
+++ b/docs/configure-the-plugin.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # Configure the plugin
 
+**Note that by default the plugin now runs in background mode via a cron task to avoid blocking page responses. This can be changed on the configuration page.**
+
 1. Set your “endpoint” to your LRS endpoint (e.g. “<http://your.lrs/xAPI>”).
 1. Set your “username” to your LRS basic auth key/username (e.g. “d416e6220812740d3922eb09813ebb4163e8eb3e”).
 1. Set your “password” to your LRS basic auth secret/password (e.g. “bc7e0a2edd5d1969b6d774e679d4eb4e7a35be13”).
diff --git a/lang/en/logstore_xapi.php b/lang/en/logstore_xapi.php
index aa256683055d655ea47c0d11b49cdfa6be7b4936..430d3e69a80a37663bbf4650f6ea4ca764cb7ac3 100644
--- a/lang/en/logstore_xapi.php
+++ b/lang/en/logstore_xapi.php
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ $string['username'] = 'Username';
 $string['xapisettingstitle'] = 'Logstore xAPI Settings';
 $string['backgroundmode'] = 'Send statements by scheduled task?';
 $string['backgroundmode_desc'] = 'This will force Moodle to send the statements to the LRS in the background,
-        via a cron task. This will make the process less close to real time, but will help to prevent unpredictable
+        via a cron task to avoid blocking page responses. This will make the process less close to real time, but will help to prevent unpredictable
         Moodle performance linked to the performance of the LRS.';
 $string['maxbatchsize'] = 'Maximum batch size';
 $string['maxbatchsize_desc'] = 'Statements are sent to the LRS in batches. This setting controls the maximum number of
diff --git a/settings.php b/settings.php
index dec48e6e6b534b40826b920c86bb1609a2fff09f..b911dcf8adce6129ee1266689238baeb2bb2f0e7 100644
--- a/settings.php
+++ b/settings.php
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ if ($hassiteconfig) {
     // Switch background batch mode on.
     $settings->add(new admin_setting_configcheckbox('logstore_xapi/backgroundmode',
         get_string('backgroundmode', 'logstore_xapi'),
-        get_string('backgroundmode_desc', 'logstore_xapi'), 0));
+        get_string('backgroundmode_desc', 'logstore_xapi'), 1));
 
     $settings->add(new admin_setting_configtext('logstore_xapi/maxbatchsize',
         get_string('maxbatchsize', 'logstore_xapi'),