diff --git a/packages/metro-config/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/loadConfig-test.js.snap b/packages/metro-config/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/loadConfig-test.js.snap
index fa73975b8f..5468e71d7c 100644
--- a/packages/metro-config/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/loadConfig-test.js.snap
+++ b/packages/metro-config/src/__tests__/__snapshots__/loadConfig-test.js.snap
@@ -173,6 +173,10 @@ Object {
       "interval": 30000,
       "timeout": 5000,
     },
+    "unstable_autoSaveCache": Object {
+      "debounceMs": 5000,
+      "enabled": true,
+    },
     "unstable_workerThreads": false,
     "watchman": Object {
       "deferStates": Array [
@@ -356,6 +360,10 @@ Object {
       "interval": 30000,
       "timeout": 5000,
     },
+    "unstable_autoSaveCache": Object {
+      "debounceMs": 5000,
+      "enabled": true,
+    },
     "unstable_workerThreads": false,
     "watchman": Object {
       "deferStates": Array [
@@ -539,6 +547,10 @@ Object {
       "interval": 30000,
       "timeout": 5000,
     },
+    "unstable_autoSaveCache": Object {
+      "debounceMs": 5000,
+      "enabled": true,
+    },
     "unstable_workerThreads": false,
     "watchman": Object {
       "deferStates": Array [
@@ -722,6 +734,10 @@ Object {
       "interval": 30000,
       "timeout": 5000,
     },
+    "unstable_autoSaveCache": Object {
+      "debounceMs": 5000,
+      "enabled": true,
+    },
     "unstable_workerThreads": false,
     "watchman": Object {
       "deferStates": Array [
diff --git a/packages/metro-config/src/configTypes.flow.js b/packages/metro-config/src/configTypes.flow.js
index fa35901df8..3d4fca03cf 100644
--- a/packages/metro-config/src/configTypes.flow.js
+++ b/packages/metro-config/src/configTypes.flow.js
@@ -201,6 +201,10 @@ type WatcherConfigT = {
     timeout: number,
     filePrefix: string,
   }>,
+  unstable_autoSaveCache: $ReadOnly<{
+    enabled: boolean,
+    debounceMs?: number,
+  }>,
   unstable_workerThreads: boolean,
   watchman: $ReadOnly<{
     deferStates: $ReadOnlyArray<string>,
@@ -223,6 +227,9 @@ export type InputConfigT = $ReadOnly<
         Partial<{
           ...WatcherConfigT,
           healthCheck?: $ReadOnly<Partial<WatcherConfigT['healthCheck']>>,
+          unstable_autoSaveCache?: $ReadOnly<
+            Partial<WatcherConfigT['unstable_autoSaveCache']>,
+          >,
         }>,
       >,
     }>,
diff --git a/packages/metro-config/src/defaults/index.js b/packages/metro-config/src/defaults/index.js
index 07192a8273..0a24c21f90 100644
--- a/packages/metro-config/src/defaults/index.js
+++ b/packages/metro-config/src/defaults/index.js
@@ -148,6 +148,10 @@ const getDefaultValues = (projectRoot: ?string): ConfigT => ({
       timeout: 5000,
     },
     unstable_workerThreads: false,
+    unstable_autoSaveCache: {
+      enabled: true,
+      debounceMs: 5000,
+    },
     watchman: {
       deferStates: ['hg.update'],
     },
diff --git a/packages/metro-config/src/loadConfig.js b/packages/metro-config/src/loadConfig.js
index 2db3874056..cd5a95d343 100644
--- a/packages/metro-config/src/loadConfig.js
+++ b/packages/metro-config/src/loadConfig.js
@@ -176,6 +176,11 @@ function mergeConfig<T: $ReadOnly<InputConfigT>>(
           // $FlowFixMe: Spreading shapes creates an explosion of union types
           ...nextConfig.watcher?.healthCheck,
         },
+        unstable_autoSaveCache: {
+          // $FlowFixMe[exponential-spread]
+          ...totalConfig.watcher?.unstable_autoSaveCache,
+          ...nextConfig.watcher?.unstable_autoSaveCache,
+        },
       },
     }),
     defaultConfig,
diff --git a/packages/metro-config/types/configTypes.d.ts b/packages/metro-config/types/configTypes.d.ts
index 06a462a73c..15f3676531 100644
--- a/packages/metro-config/types/configTypes.d.ts
+++ b/packages/metro-config/types/configTypes.d.ts
@@ -200,11 +200,18 @@ export interface WatcherConfigT {
     timeout: number;
     filePrefix: string;
   };
+  unstable_autoSaveCache: {
+    enabled: boolean;
+    debounceMs?: number;
+  };
 }
 
 export interface WatcherInputConfigT
-  extends Partial<Omit<WatcherConfigT, 'healthCheck'>> {
+  extends Partial<
+    Omit<WatcherConfigT, 'healthCheck' | 'unstable_autoSaveCache'>
+  > {
   healthCheck?: Partial<WatcherConfigT['healthCheck']>;
+  unstable_autoSaveCache?: Partial<WatcherConfigT['unstable_autoSaveCache']>;
 }
 
 export interface InputConfigT
diff --git a/packages/metro/src/node-haste/DependencyGraph/createFileMap.js b/packages/metro/src/node-haste/DependencyGraph/createFileMap.js
index 65268abfdb..905c0a8f96 100644
--- a/packages/metro/src/node-haste/DependencyGraph/createFileMap.js
+++ b/packages/metro/src/node-haste/DependencyGraph/createFileMap.js
@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ function createFileMap(
       : config.resolver.dependencyExtractor;
   const computeDependencies = dependencyExtractor != null;
 
+  const watch = options?.watch == null ? !ci.isCI : options.watch;
+  const {enabled: autoSaveEnabled, ...autoSaveOpts} =
+    config.watcher.unstable_autoSaveCache ?? {};
+  const autoSave = watch && autoSaveEnabled ? autoSaveOpts : false;
+
   return MetroFileMap.create({
     cacheManagerFactory:
       config?.unstable_fileMapCacheManagerFactory ??
@@ -76,6 +81,7 @@ function createFileMap(
           cacheDirectory:
             config.fileMapCacheDirectory ?? config.hasteMapCacheDirectory,
           cacheFilePrefix: options?.cacheFilePrefix,
+          autoSave,
         })),
     perfLoggerFactory: config.unstable_perfLoggerFactory,
     computeDependencies,
@@ -104,7 +110,7 @@ function createFileMap(
     roots: config.watchFolders,
     throwOnModuleCollision: options?.throwOnModuleCollision ?? true,
     useWatchman: config.resolver.useWatchman,
-    watch: options?.watch == null ? !ci.isCI : options.watch,
+    watch,
     watchmanDeferStates: config.watcher.watchman.deferStates,
   });
 }