diff --git a/course/format/tests/stateactions_test.php b/course/format/tests/stateactions_test.php
index 9aa21ecdef8..1d9bacebc2c 100644
--- a/course/format/tests/stateactions_test.php
+++ b/course/format/tests/stateactions_test.php
@@ -1432,6 +1432,9 @@ class stateactions_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         $this->resetAfterTest();
         $this->setAdminUser();
 
+        $manager = \core_plugin_manager::resolve_plugininfo_class('mod');
+        $manager::enable_plugin('subsection', 1);
+
         $course = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_course();
         $subsection = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_module('subsection', ['course' => $course]);
         $otheractvity = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_module('forum', ['course' => $course]);
@@ -1511,6 +1514,9 @@ class stateactions_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         $this->resetAfterTest();
         $this->setAdminUser();
 
+        $manager = \core_plugin_manager::resolve_plugininfo_class('mod');
+        $manager::enable_plugin('subsection', 1);
+
         $course = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_course();
         $subsection = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_module('subsection', ['course' => $course]);
         $otheractvity = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_module('forum', ['course' => $course]);
diff --git a/lib/tests/modinfolib_test.php b/lib/tests/modinfolib_test.php
index e7f084ef9e9..84c1099560a 100644
--- a/lib/tests/modinfolib_test.php
+++ b/lib/tests/modinfolib_test.php
@@ -1795,6 +1795,10 @@ class modinfolib_test extends advanced_testcase {
      */
     public function test_get_sections_delegated_by_cm(): void {
         $this->resetAfterTest();
+
+        $manager = \core_plugin_manager::resolve_plugininfo_class('mod');
+        $manager::enable_plugin('subsection', 1);
+
         $course = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_course(['numsections' => 1]);
 
         $modinfo = get_fast_modinfo($course);
@@ -1823,6 +1827,10 @@ class modinfolib_test extends advanced_testcase {
      */
     public function test_get_delegated_section_info(): void {
         $this->resetAfterTest();
+
+        $manager = \core_plugin_manager::resolve_plugininfo_class('mod');
+        $manager::enable_plugin('subsection', 1);
+
         $course = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_course(['numsections' => 1]);
 
         // Add a section delegated by a course module.
diff --git a/mod/subsection/db/install.php b/mod/subsection/db/install.php
index 6ee6ac8c899..6578ac2bcd3 100644
--- a/mod/subsection/db/install.php
+++ b/mod/subsection/db/install.php
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
  * Custom code to be run on installing the plugin.
  */
 function xmldb_subsection_install() {
+    global $DB;
+
+    // Disable the chat activity module on new installs by default.
+    $DB->set_field('modules', 'visible', 0, ['name' => 'subsection']);
 
     return true;
 }
diff --git a/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_actionmenu.feature b/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_actionmenu.feature
index 084a0c9d453..a7008e0b53a 100644
--- a/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_actionmenu.feature
+++ b/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_actionmenu.feature
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ Feature: The module menu replaces the section menu when accessing the subsection
   I need to see the module action menu in the section page.
 
   Background:
-    Given the following "users" exist:
+    Given I enable "subsection" "mod" plugin
+    And the following "users" exist:
       | username | firstname | lastname | email                |
       | teacher1 | Teacher   | 1        | teacher1@example.com |
     And the following "courses" exist:
diff --git a/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_handling.feature b/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_handling.feature
index 64365667f2c..0224555f3b8 100644
--- a/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_handling.feature
+++ b/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_handling.feature
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ Feature: Teachers create and destroy subsections
   I need to create and destroy subsections
 
   Background:
-    Given the following "users" exist:
+    Given I enable "subsection" "mod" plugin
+    And the following "users" exist:
       | username | firstname | lastname | email |
       | teacher1 | Teacher | 1 | teacher1@example.com |
     And the following "courses" exist:
diff --git a/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_navigation.feature b/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_navigation.feature
index 3ee554d29d9..e34012781a5 100644
--- a/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_navigation.feature
+++ b/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_navigation.feature
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ Feature: Teachers navigate to subsections
   I need to navigate to subsections
 
   Background:
-    Given the following "users" exist:
+    Given I enable "subsection" "mod" plugin
+    And the following "users" exist:
       | username | firstname  | lastname  | email                 |
       | teacher1 | Teacher    | 1         | teacher1@example.com  |
     And the following "courses" exist:
diff --git a/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_rename.feature b/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_rename.feature
index 18c14f2748d..cba16f2ef44 100644
--- a/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_rename.feature
+++ b/mod/subsection/tests/behat/subsection_rename.feature
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ Feature: Teachers can rename subsections
   I need to sync subsection and activity names
 
   Background:
-    Given the following "users" exist:
+    Given I enable "subsection" "mod" plugin
+    And the following "users" exist:
       | username | firstname | lastname | email                |
       | teacher1 | Teacher   | 1        | teacher1@example.com |
     And the following "courses" exist:
diff --git a/mod/subsection/tests/courseformat/sectiondelegate_test.php b/mod/subsection/tests/courseformat/sectiondelegate_test.php
index b4213213816..13129dd3753 100644
--- a/mod/subsection/tests/courseformat/sectiondelegate_test.php
+++ b/mod/subsection/tests/courseformat/sectiondelegate_test.php
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ final class sectiondelegate_test extends \advanced_testcase {
         $this->resetAfterTest();
         $this->setAdminUser();
 
+        $manager = \core_plugin_manager::resolve_plugininfo_class('mod');
+        $manager::enable_plugin('subsection', 1);
+
         $course = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_course(['format' => 'topics', 'numsections' => 1]);
         $this->getDataGenerator()->create_module('subsection', ['course' => $course->id, 'section' => 1]);
 
diff --git a/mod/subsection/tests/courseformat/sectiondelegatemodule_test.php b/mod/subsection/tests/courseformat/sectiondelegatemodule_test.php
index 1d28f7eb7a2..16c1a8aad67 100644
--- a/mod/subsection/tests/courseformat/sectiondelegatemodule_test.php
+++ b/mod/subsection/tests/courseformat/sectiondelegatemodule_test.php
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ final class sectiondelegatemodule_test extends \advanced_testcase {
     public function test_get_parent_section(): void {
         $this->resetAfterTest();
 
+        $manager = \core_plugin_manager::resolve_plugininfo_class('mod');
+        $manager::enable_plugin('subsection', 1);
+
         $course = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_course(['format' => 'topics', 'numsections' => 2]);
         $module = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_module('subsection', (object)['course' => $course->id, 'section' => 2]);
 
@@ -63,6 +66,9 @@ final class sectiondelegatemodule_test extends \advanced_testcase {
     public function test_get_cm(): void {
         $this->resetAfterTest();
 
+        $manager = \core_plugin_manager::resolve_plugininfo_class('mod');
+        $manager::enable_plugin('subsection', 1);
+
         $course = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_course(['format' => 'topics', 'numsections' => 1]);
         $module = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_module('subsection', (object)['course' => $course->id, 'section' => 1]);
 
@@ -86,6 +92,9 @@ final class sectiondelegatemodule_test extends \advanced_testcase {
     public function test_get_course(): void {
         $this->resetAfterTest();
 
+        $manager = \core_plugin_manager::resolve_plugininfo_class('mod');
+        $manager::enable_plugin('subsection', 1);
+
         $course = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_course(['format' => 'topics', 'numsections' => 1]);
         $module = $this->getDataGenerator()->create_module('subsection', (object)['course' => $course->id, 'section' => 1]);
 
diff --git a/report/outline/tests/behat/subsection_reports.feature b/report/outline/tests/behat/subsection_reports.feature
index e038b929337..29e4dd1b17d 100644
--- a/report/outline/tests/behat/subsection_reports.feature
+++ b/report/outline/tests/behat/subsection_reports.feature
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ Feature: Subsections are shown in reports
   I need to see sections and subsections structure in reports
 
   Background:
-    Given the following "users" exist:
+    Given I enable "subsection" "mod" plugin
+    And the following "users" exist:
       | username | firstname  | lastname  | email                 |
       | teacher1 | Teacher    | 1         | teacher1@example.com  |
     And the following "courses" exist: