diff --git a/config/config.example.yml b/config/config.example.yml
index 2cb8f9541be..21629f66d20 100644
--- a/config/config.example.yml
+++ b/config/config.example.yml
@@ -431,6 +431,8 @@ item:
     pageSize: 5
     # Show the bitstream access status label on the item page
     showAccessStatuses: false
+    # Open bitstream download links in a new browser tab by default
+    openDownloadLinksInNewTab: false
   # Configuration of metadata to be displayed in the item metadata link view popover
   metadataLinkViewPopoverData:
     # Metdadata list to be displayed for entities without a specific configuration
diff --git a/src/app/shared/bitstream-attachment/attachment-render/types/file-download-button/file-download-button.component.html b/src/app/shared/bitstream-attachment/attachment-render/types/file-download-button/file-download-button.component.html
index 366996ee1f0..8eb3c85f732 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/bitstream-attachment/attachment-render/types/file-download-button/file-download-button.component.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/bitstream-attachment/attachment-render/types/file-download-button/file-download-button.component.html
@@ -1,18 +1,21 @@
 @if (!hasNoDownload) {
   @if (bitstreamPath$ | async; as bitstreamLink) {
     @if (canDownload$ | async) {
-      <button [routerLink]="bitstreamLink?.routerLink" [queryParams]="bitstreamLink?.queryParams" class="btn btn-outline-primary"
+      <a [routerLink]="bitstreamLink?.routerLink" [queryParams]="bitstreamLink?.queryParams"
+        [target]="isBlank ? '_blank' : '_self'"
+        class="btn btn-outline-primary"
         data-test="download">
         <i class="fas fa-download"></i> {{ 'file-download-button.download' | translate }}
-      </button>
+      </a>
     } @else {
-      <button [routerLink]="bitstreamLink?.routerLink"
+      <a [routerLink]="bitstreamLink?.routerLink"
         [queryParams]="bitstreamLink?.queryParams"
+        [target]="isBlank ? '_blank' : '_self'"
         [dsBtnDisabled]="(canRequestACopy$ | async) !== true"
         class="btn btn-outline-primary"
         data-test="requestACopy">
         {{ 'file-download-button.request-copy' | translate }}
-      </button>
+      </a>
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/file-download-link/file-download-link.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/file-download-link/file-download-link.component.spec.ts
index 453ac868a4c..32232c30bd1 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/file-download-link/file-download-link.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/file-download-link/file-download-link.component.spec.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,19 @@ describe('FileDownloadLinkComponent', () => {
   let item: Item;
   let storeMock: any;
 
+  const mockAppConfig = {
+    cache: {
+      msToLive: {
+        default: 15 * 60 * 1000,
+      },
+    },
+    item: {
+      bitstream: {
+        openDownloadLinksInNewTab: true,
+      },
+    },
+  };
+
   const itemRequestStub = Object.assign(new ItemRequest(), {
     token: 'item-request-token',
     requestName: 'requester name',
@@ -88,7 +101,7 @@ describe('FileDownloadLinkComponent', () => {
         { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: activatedRoute },
         { provide: Store, useValue: storeMock },
         { provide: APP_DATA_SERVICES_MAP, useValue: {} },
-        { provide: APP_CONFIG, useValue: { cache: { msToLive: { default: 15 * 60 * 1000 } } } },
+        { provide: APP_CONFIG, useValue: mockAppConfig },
       ],
     })
       .overrideComponent(FileDownloadLinkComponent, {
@@ -129,9 +142,19 @@ describe('FileDownloadLinkComponent', () => {
           fixture.detectChanges();
           const link = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('a'));
           expect(link.injector.get(RouterLinkDirectiveStub).routerLink).toContain(new URLCombiner(getBitstreamModuleRoute(), bitstream.uuid, 'download').toString());
+          expect(link.nativeElement.getAttribute('target')).toBe('_blank');
           const lock = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('.fa-lock'));
           expect(lock).toBeNull();
         });
+
+        it('should keep an explicit isBlank input over the config default', () => {
+          component.isBlank = false;
+          component.ngOnInit();
+          scheduler.flush();
+          fixture.detectChanges();
+          const link = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('a'));
+          expect(link.nativeElement.getAttribute('target')).toBe('_self');
+        });
       });
 
       describe('when the user has no download rights but has the right to request a copy', () => {
diff --git a/src/app/shared/file-download-link/file-download-link.component.ts b/src/app/shared/file-download-link/file-download-link.component.ts
index f6ddbcf230e..a3de3103e44 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/file-download-link/file-download-link.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/file-download-link/file-download-link.component.ts
@@ -5,13 +5,19 @@ import {
 } from '@angular/common';
 import {
   Component,
+  Inject,
   Input,
   OnInit,
+  Optional,
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {
   ActivatedRoute,
   RouterLink,
 } from '@angular/router';
+import {
+  APP_CONFIG,
+  AppConfig,
+} from '@dspace/config/app-config.interface';
 import { DSONameService } from '@dspace/core/breadcrumbs/dso-name.service';
 import { AuthorizationDataService } from '@dspace/core/data/feature-authorization/authorization-data.service';
 import { FeatureID } from '@dspace/core/data/feature-authorization/feature-id';
@@ -78,7 +84,7 @@ export class FileDownloadLinkComponent implements OnInit {
   /**
    * A boolean representing if link is shown in same tab or in a new one.
    */
-  @Input() isBlank = false;
+  @Input() isBlank: boolean;
 
   @Input() enableRequestACopy = true;
 
@@ -108,10 +114,13 @@ export class FileDownloadLinkComponent implements OnInit {
     public dsoNameService: DSONameService,
     private route: ActivatedRoute,
     private translateService: TranslateService,
+    @Optional() @Inject(APP_CONFIG) private appConfig?: AppConfig,
   ) {
   }
 
   ngOnInit() {
+    this.isBlank = this.isBlank ?? this.appConfig?.item?.bitstream?.openDownloadLinksInNewTab;
+
     if (this.enableRequestACopy) {
       // Obtain item request data from the route snapshot
       this.itemRequest = this.route.snapshot.data.itemRequest;
diff --git a/src/config/default-app-config.ts b/src/config/default-app-config.ts
index fd703d4d024..1801bc2471b 100644
--- a/src/config/default-app-config.ts
+++ b/src/config/default-app-config.ts
@@ -412,6 +412,8 @@ export class DefaultAppConfig implements AppConfig {
       pageSize: 5,
       // Show the bitstream access status label
       showAccessStatuses: false,
+      // Open bitstream download links in a new browser tab by default
+      openDownloadLinksInNewTab: false,
     },
     // Configuration for the metadata link view popover
     metadataLinkViewPopoverData: {
diff --git a/src/config/item-config.interface.ts b/src/config/item-config.interface.ts
index 8c6792ff620..228df8d0395 100644
--- a/src/config/item-config.interface.ts
+++ b/src/config/item-config.interface.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ export interface ItemConfig extends Config {
     pageSize: number;
     // Show the bitstream access status label
     showAccessStatuses: boolean;
+    // Open bitstream download links in a new browser tab by default
+    openDownloadLinksInNewTab?: boolean;
   }
 
   metadataLinkViewPopoverData: MetadataLinkViewPopoverDataConfig