diff --git a/docs/user/dashboard/dashboard.asciidoc b/docs/user/dashboard/dashboard.asciidoc
index 89fa564b0ac7..070d511ed807 100644
--- a/docs/user/dashboard/dashboard.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/user/dashboard/dashboard.asciidoc
@@ -290,6 +290,13 @@ To add a panel to another dashboard, copy the panel.
 
 View the underlying documents in a panel, or in a data series. 
 
+. In kibana.yml, add the following:
++
+["source","yml"]
+-----------
+xpack.discoverEnhanced.actions.exploreDataInContextMenu.enabled: true
+-----------
+
 TIP: *Explore underlying data* is supported only for visualization panels with a single index pattern.
 
 To view the underlying documents in the panel: 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/discover_enhanced/common/config.ts b/x-pack/plugins/discover_enhanced/common/config.ts
index f8de31aed719..26b4cc6520c1 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/discover_enhanced/common/config.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/discover_enhanced/common/config.ts
@@ -6,5 +6,8 @@
  */
 
 export interface Config {
-  actions: { exploreDataInChart: { enabled: boolean } };
+  actions: {
+    exploreDataInChart: { enabled: boolean };
+    exploreDataInContextMenu: { enabled: boolean };
+  };
 }
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/discover_enhanced/public/plugin.ts b/x-pack/plugins/discover_enhanced/public/plugin.ts
index a5425307aec6..60f242d682ff 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/discover_enhanced/public/plugin.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/discover_enhanced/public/plugin.ts
@@ -56,8 +56,10 @@ export class DiscoverEnhancedPlugin
     if (isSharePluginInstalled) {
       const params = { start };
 
-      const exploreDataAction = new ExploreDataContextMenuAction(params);
-      uiActions.addTriggerAction(CONTEXT_MENU_TRIGGER, exploreDataAction);
+      if (this.config.actions.exploreDataInContextMenu.enabled) {
+        const exploreDataAction = new ExploreDataContextMenuAction(params);
+        uiActions.addTriggerAction(CONTEXT_MENU_TRIGGER, exploreDataAction);
+      }
 
       if (this.config.actions.exploreDataInChart.enabled) {
         const exploreDataChartAction = new ExploreDataChartAction(params);
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/discover_enhanced/server/config.ts b/x-pack/plugins/discover_enhanced/server/config.ts
index f57b162dc5b4..95ac46a662ea 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/discover_enhanced/server/config.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/discover_enhanced/server/config.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ export const configSchema = schema.object({
     exploreDataInChart: schema.object({
       enabled: schema.boolean({ defaultValue: false }),
     }),
+    exploreDataInContextMenu: schema.object({
+      enabled: schema.boolean({ defaultValue: false }),
+    }),
   }),
 });
 
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/dashboard/drilldowns/index.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/dashboard/drilldowns/index.ts
index a88389f2498d..fa24a4ba6a19 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/dashboard/drilldowns/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/dashboard/drilldowns/index.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ export default function ({ loadTestFile, getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
 
     loadTestFile(require.resolve('./dashboard_to_dashboard_drilldown'));
     loadTestFile(require.resolve('./dashboard_to_url_drilldown'));
+    // Requires xpack.discoverEnhanced.actions.exploreDataInContextMenu.enabled
+    // setting set in kibana.yml to work (not enabled by default)
     loadTestFile(require.resolve('./explore_data_panel_action'));
 
     // Disabled for now as it requires xpack.discoverEnhanced.actions.exploreDataInChart.enabled
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/dashboard.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/dashboard.ts
index 1490abb320ca..9998f1dd4cdc 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/dashboard.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/dashboard.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
       expect(hasIpFilter).to.be(true);
     });
 
+    // Requires xpack.discoverEnhanced.actions.exploreDataInContextMenu.enabled
+    // setting set in kibana.yml to work (not enabled by default)
     it('should be able to drill down to discover', async () => {
       await PageObjects.common.navigateToApp('dashboard');
       await PageObjects.dashboard.clickNewDashboard();
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/config.js b/x-pack/test/functional/config.js
index 0b22ab920287..f171e247472f 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/config.js
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/config.js
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ export default async function ({ readConfigFile }) {
         '--usageCollection.maximumWaitTimeForAllCollectorsInS=1',
         '--xpack.security.encryptionKey="wuGNaIhoMpk5sO4UBxgr3NyW1sFcLgIf"', // server restarts should not invalidate active sessions
         '--xpack.encryptedSavedObjects.encryptionKey="DkdXazszSCYexXqz4YktBGHCRkV6hyNK"',
+        '--xpack.discoverEnhanced.actions.exploreDataInContextMenu.enabled=true',
         '--timelion.ui.enabled=true',
         '--savedObjects.maxImportPayloadBytes=10485760', // for OSS test management/_import_objects
       ],