diff --git a/packages/nc-gui/pages/index/index/index.vue b/packages/nc-gui/pages/index/index/index.vue
index 13db5064b7..8586c51f76 100644
--- a/packages/nc-gui/pages/index/index/index.vue
+++ b/packages/nc-gui/pages/index/index/index.vue
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   ref,
   themeV2Colors,
   useApi,
+  useGlobal,
   useNuxtApp,
   useUIPermission,
 } from '#imports'
@@ -32,6 +33,8 @@ const filterQuery = ref('')
 
 const projects = ref<ProjectType[]>()
 
+const { appInfo } = useGlobal()
+
 const loadProjects = async () => {
   const response = await api.project.list({})
   projects.value = response.list
@@ -177,7 +180,7 @@ onBeforeMount(loadProjects)
               </div>
             </a-menu-item>
 
-            <a-menu-item>
+            <a-menu-item v-if="appInfo.connectToExternalDB">
               <div
                 v-e="['c:project:create:extdb']"
                 class="nc-project-menu-item group nc-create-external-db-project"
diff --git a/packages/nocodb/src/lib/meta/api/projectApis.ts b/packages/nocodb/src/lib/meta/api/projectApis.ts
index 177d70b931..75ca810f80 100644
--- a/packages/nocodb/src/lib/meta/api/projectApis.ts
+++ b/packages/nocodb/src/lib/meta/api/projectApis.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,11 @@ export async function projectUpdate(
     'color',
   ]);
 
-  if (data?.title && project.title !== data.title && await Project.getByTitle(data.title)) {
+  if (
+    data?.title &&
+    project.title !== data.title &&
+    (await Project.getByTitle(data.title))
+  ) {
     NcError.badRequest('Project title already in use');
   }
 
@@ -114,6 +118,9 @@ async function projectCreate(req: Request<any, any>, res) {
       },
     ];
   } else {
+    if (process.env.NC_CONNECT_TO_EXTERNAL_DB_DISABLED) {
+      NcError.badRequest('Connecting to external db is disabled');
+    }
     projectBody.is_meta = false;
   }