diff --git a/MOM_input b/MOM_input
index 90b80d6fc..64fed2354 100644
--- a/MOM_input
+++ b/MOM_input
@@ -174,6 +174,12 @@ TFREEZE_FORM = "TEOS_POLY"      ! default = "TEOS10"
                                 ! point.  Currently, the valid choices are "LINEAR", "MILLERO_78", "TEOS_POLY",
                                 ! "TEOS10"
 
+! === module MOM_restart ===
+PARALLEL_RESTARTFILES = True    !   [Boolean] default = False
+                                ! If true, the IO layout is used to group processors that write to the same
+                                ! restart file or each processor writes its own (numbered) restart file. If
+                                ! false, a single restart file is generated combining output from all PEs.
+
 ! === module MOM_tracer_flow_control ===
 USE_IDEAL_AGE_TRACER = True     !   [Boolean] default = False
                                 ! If true, use the ideal_age_example tracer package.
@@ -789,3 +795,5 @@ USE_RIGID_SEA_ICE = True        !   [Boolean] default = False
 SEA_ICE_RIGID_MASS = 100.0      !   [kg m-2] default = 1000.0
                                 ! The mass of sea-ice per unit area at which the sea-ice starts to exhibit
                                 ! rigidity
+
+! === module MOM_restart ===
diff --git a/docs/MOM_parameter_doc.all b/docs/MOM_parameter_doc.all
index d3bf33b47..4c1418f04 100644
--- a/docs/MOM_parameter_doc.all
+++ b/docs/MOM_parameter_doc.all
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ TFREEZE_T_IS_POTT = False       !   [Boolean] default = False
                                 ! applied.
 
 ! === module MOM_restart ===
-PARALLEL_RESTARTFILES = False   !   [Boolean] default = False
+PARALLEL_RESTARTFILES = True    !   [Boolean] default = False
                                 ! If true, the IO layout is used to group processors that write to the same
                                 ! restart file or each processor writes its own (numbered) restart file. If
                                 ! false, a single restart file is generated combining output from all PEs.
diff --git a/docs/MOM_parameter_doc.short b/docs/MOM_parameter_doc.short
index f50f2bcfb..a9ec5d145 100644
--- a/docs/MOM_parameter_doc.short
+++ b/docs/MOM_parameter_doc.short
@@ -146,6 +146,12 @@ TFREEZE_FORM = "TEOS_POLY"      ! default = "TEOS10"
                                 ! point.  Currently, the valid choices are "LINEAR", "MILLERO_78", "TEOS_POLY",
                                 ! "TEOS10"
 
+! === module MOM_restart ===
+PARALLEL_RESTARTFILES = True    !   [Boolean] default = False
+                                ! If true, the IO layout is used to group processors that write to the same
+                                ! restart file or each processor writes its own (numbered) restart file. If
+                                ! false, a single restart file is generated combining output from all PEs.
+
 ! === module MOM_tracer_flow_control ===
 USE_IDEAL_AGE_TRACER = True     !   [Boolean] default = False
                                 ! If true, use the ideal_age_example tracer package.
@@ -761,3 +767,5 @@ USE_RIGID_SEA_ICE = True        !   [Boolean] default = False
 SEA_ICE_RIGID_MASS = 100.0      !   [kg m-2] default = 1000.0
                                 ! The mass of sea-ice per unit area at which the sea-ice starts to exhibit
                                 ! rigidity
+
+! === module MOM_restart ===