diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index 335bbb5c..e3ff2375 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -22,6 +22,13 @@ Changed
   for the corresponding parser/subcommand (`#809
   <https://github.com/omni-us/jsonargparse/pull/809>`__).
 
+Deprecated
+^^^^^^^^^^
+- ``ArgumentParser.default_meta`` property and ``with_meta`` parameter of
+  ``ArgumentParser.parse_*`` are deprecated and will be removed in v5.0.0.
+  Instead use ``.clone(with_meta=...)`` (`#810
+  <https://github.com/omni-us/jsonargparse/pull/810>`__).
+
 
 v4.43.0 (2025-11-11)
 --------------------
diff --git a/jsonargparse/_cli.py b/jsonargparse/_cli.py
index 8775be96..20f50b15 100644
--- a/jsonargparse/_cli.py
+++ b/jsonargparse/_cli.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def auto_cli(
     if unexpected:
         raise ValueError(f"Unexpected components, not class or function: {unexpected}")
 
-    parser = parser_class(default_meta=False, **kwargs)
+    parser = parser_class(**kwargs)
     parser.add_argument("--config", action=ActionConfigFile, help=config_help)
 
     if not isinstance(components, (list, dict)):
diff --git a/jsonargparse/_core.py b/jsonargparse/_core.py
index 0dde003a..bedf2458 100644
--- a/jsonargparse/_core.py
+++ b/jsonargparse/_core.py
@@ -242,7 +242,6 @@ def __init__(
         dump_header: Optional[list[str]] = None,
         default_config_files: Optional[list[Union[str, os.PathLike]]] = None,
         default_env: bool = False,
-        default_meta: bool = True,
         **kwargs,
     ) -> None:
         """Initializer for ArgumentParser instance.
@@ -261,7 +260,6 @@ def __init__(
             dump_header: Header to include as comment when dumping a config object.
             default_config_files: Default config file locations, e.g. ``['~/.config/myapp/*.yaml']``.
             default_env: Set the default value on whether to parse environment variables.
-            default_meta: Set the default value on whether to include metadata in config objects.
         """
         super().__init__(*args, formatter_class=formatter_class, logger=logger, **kwargs)
         self._group_class = get_argument_group_class(self)
@@ -271,7 +269,6 @@ def __init__(
         self.required_args: set[str] = set()
         self.save_path_content: set[str] = set()
         self.default_config_files = default_config_files
-        self.default_meta = default_meta
         self.default_env = default_env
         self.env_prefix = env_prefix
         self.parser_mode = parser_mode
@@ -340,7 +337,6 @@ def _parse_common(
         cfg: Namespace,
         env: Optional[bool],
         defaults: bool,
-        with_meta: Optional[bool],
         skip_validation: bool,
         skip_required: bool = False,
         skip_subcommands: bool = False,
@@ -352,7 +348,6 @@ def _parse_common(
             cfg: The configuration object.
             env: Whether to merge with the parsed environment, None to use parser's default.
             defaults: Whether to merge with the parser's defaults.
-            with_meta: Whether to include metadata in config object, None to use parser's default.
             skip_validation: Whether to skip validation of configuration.
             skip_required: Whether to skip check of required arguments.
             skip_subcommands: Whether to skip subcommand processing.
@@ -387,9 +382,6 @@ def _parse_common(
             if not skip_validation:
                 self.validate(cfg, skip_required=skip_required)
 
-        if not (with_meta or (with_meta is None and self._default_meta)):
-            cfg = cfg.clone(with_meta=False)
-
         return cfg
 
     def _parse_defaults_and_environ(
@@ -417,7 +409,6 @@ def parse_args(  # type: ignore[override]
         namespace: Optional[Namespace] = None,
         env: Optional[bool] = None,
         defaults: bool = True,
-        with_meta: Optional[bool] = None,
         **kwargs,
     ) -> Namespace:
         """Parses command line argument strings.
@@ -430,7 +421,6 @@ def parse_args(  # type: ignore[override]
             args: List of arguments to parse or None to use sys.argv.
             env: Whether to merge with the parsed environment, None to use parser's default.
             defaults: Whether to merge with the parser's defaults.
-            with_meta: Whether to include metadata in config object, None to use parser's default.
 
         Returns:
             A config object with all parsed values.
@@ -465,7 +455,6 @@ def parse_args(  # type: ignore[override]
                 cfg=cfg,
                 env=env,
                 defaults=defaults,
-                with_meta=with_meta,
                 skip_validation=skip_validation,
             )
 
@@ -481,7 +470,6 @@ def parse_object(
         cfg_base: Optional[Namespace] = None,
         env: Optional[bool] = None,
         defaults: bool = True,
-        with_meta: Optional[bool] = None,
         **kwargs,
     ) -> Namespace:
         """Parses configuration given as an object.
@@ -490,7 +478,6 @@ def parse_object(
             cfg_obj: The configuration object.
             env: Whether to merge with the parsed environment, None to use parser's default.
             defaults: Whether to merge with the parser's defaults.
-            with_meta: Whether to include metadata in config object, None to use parser's default.
 
         Returns:
             A config object with all parsed values.
@@ -513,7 +500,6 @@ def parse_object(
                 cfg=cfg,
                 env=env,
                 defaults=defaults,
-                with_meta=with_meta,
                 skip_validation=skip_validation,
                 skip_required=skip_required,
             )
@@ -558,7 +544,6 @@ def parse_env(
         self,
         env: Optional[dict[str, str]] = None,
         defaults: bool = True,
-        with_meta: Optional[bool] = None,
         **kwargs,
     ) -> Namespace:
         """Parses environment variables.
@@ -566,7 +551,6 @@ def parse_env(
         Args:
             env: The environment object to use, if None `os.environ` is used.
             defaults: Whether to merge with the parser's defaults.
-            with_meta: Whether to include metadata in config object, None to use parser's default.
 
         Returns:
             A config object with all parsed values.
@@ -582,7 +566,6 @@ def parse_env(
             kwargs = {
                 "env": True,
                 "defaults": defaults,
-                "with_meta": with_meta,
                 "skip_validation": skip_validation,
                 "skip_subcommands": skip_subcommands,
             }
@@ -603,7 +586,6 @@ def parse_path(
         ext_vars: Optional[dict] = None,
         env: Optional[bool] = None,
         defaults: bool = True,
-        with_meta: Optional[bool] = None,
         **kwargs,
     ) -> Namespace:
         """Parses a configuration file given its path.
@@ -613,7 +595,6 @@ def parse_path(
             ext_vars: Optional external variables used for parsing jsonnet.
             env: Whether to merge with the parsed environment, None to use parser's default.
             defaults: Whether to merge with the parser's defaults.
-            with_meta: Whether to include metadata in config object, None to use parser's default.
 
         Returns:
             A config object with all parsed values.
@@ -625,12 +606,11 @@ def parse_path(
         with change_to_path_dir(fpath):
             cfg_str = fpath.get_content()
             parsed_cfg = self.parse_string(
-                cfg_str,
-                os.path.basename(cfg_path),
-                ext_vars,
-                env,
-                defaults,
-                with_meta,
+                cfg_str=cfg_str,
+                cfg_path=os.path.basename(cfg_path),
+                ext_vars=ext_vars,
+                env=env,
+                defaults=defaults,
                 **kwargs,
             )
 
@@ -644,7 +624,6 @@ def parse_string(
         ext_vars: Optional[dict] = None,
         env: Optional[bool] = None,
         defaults: bool = True,
-        with_meta: Optional[bool] = None,
         **kwargs,
     ) -> Namespace:
         """Parses configuration given as a string.
@@ -655,7 +634,6 @@ def parse_string(
             ext_vars: Optional external variables used for parsing jsonnet.
             env: Whether to merge with the parsed environment, None to use parser's default.
             defaults: Whether to merge with the parser's defaults.
-            with_meta: Whether to include metadata in config object, None to use parser's default.
 
         Returns:
             A config object with all parsed values.
@@ -679,7 +657,6 @@ def parse_string(
                 cfg=cfg,
                 env=env,
                 defaults=defaults,
-                with_meta=with_meta,
                 skip_validation=skip_validation,
                 fail_no_subcommand=fail_no_subcommand,
             )
@@ -1051,7 +1028,6 @@ def get_defaults(self, skip_validation: bool = False, **kwargs) -> Namespace:
                             cfg=cfg,
                             env=False,
                             defaults=False,
-                            with_meta=None,
                             skip_validation=skip_validation,
                             skip_required=True,
                         )
@@ -1555,25 +1531,6 @@ def default_env(self, default_env: bool):
             for subparser in self._subcommands_action._name_parser_map.values():
                 subparser.default_env = self._default_env
 
-    @property
-    def default_meta(self) -> bool:
-        """Whether by default metadata is included in config objects.
-
-        :getter: Returns the current default metadata setting.
-        :setter: Sets the default metadata setting.
-
-        Raises:
-            ValueError: If an invalid value is given.
-        """
-        return self._default_meta
-
-    @default_meta.setter
-    def default_meta(self, default_meta: bool):
-        if isinstance(default_meta, bool):
-            self._default_meta = default_meta
-        else:
-            raise ValueError("default_meta expects a boolean.")
-
     @property
     def env_prefix(self) -> Union[bool, str]:
         """The environment variables prefix property.
diff --git a/jsonargparse/_deprecated.py b/jsonargparse/_deprecated.py
index 37e56a2a..9e837dc2 100644
--- a/jsonargparse/_deprecated.py
+++ b/jsonargparse/_deprecated.py
@@ -107,19 +107,24 @@ def parse_as_dict_patch():
 
     assert not hasattr(ArgumentParser, "_unpatched_init")
 
-    message = """
+    message_parse_as_dict = """
     ``parse_as_dict`` parameter was deprecated in v4.0.0 and will be removed in
     v5.0.0. After removal, the parse_*, dump, save and instantiate_classes
     methods will only return Namespace and/or accept Namespace objects. If
     needed for some use case, config objects can be converted to a nested dict
     using the Namespace.as_dict method.
     """
+    message_with_meta = """
+    ``with_meta`` parameter was deprecated in v4.44.0 and will be removed in
+    v5.0.0. After removal, config objects will always include metadata. To
+    remove metadata from a config object, do ``.clone(with_meta=False)``.
+    """
 
     # Patch __init__
     def patched_init(self, *args, parse_as_dict: bool = False, **kwargs):
         self._parse_as_dict = parse_as_dict
         if parse_as_dict:
-            deprecation_warning(patched_init, message)
+            deprecation_warning(patched_init, message_parse_as_dict)
         self._unpatched_init(*args, **kwargs)
 
     ArgumentParser._unpatched_init = ArgumentParser.__init__
@@ -129,9 +134,21 @@ def patched_init(self, *args, parse_as_dict: bool = False, **kwargs):
     def patch_parse_method(method_name):
         unpatched_method_name = "_unpatched_" + method_name
 
-        def patched_parse(self, *args, _skip_validation: bool = False, **kwargs) -> Union[Namespace, Dict[str, Any]]:
+        def patched_parse(
+            self,
+            *args,
+            with_meta: Optional[bool] = None,
+            _skip_validation: bool = False,
+            **kwargs,
+        ) -> Union[Namespace, Dict[str, Any]]:
             parse_method = getattr(self, unpatched_method_name)
             cfg = parse_method(*args, _skip_validation=_skip_validation, **kwargs)
+
+            if isinstance(with_meta, bool):
+                deprecation_warning(patched_parse, message_with_meta)
+            if not (with_meta or (with_meta is None and self._default_meta)):
+                cfg = cfg.clone(with_meta=False)
+
             return cfg.as_dict() if self._parse_as_dict and not _skip_validation else cfg
 
         setattr(ArgumentParser, unpatched_method_name, getattr(ArgumentParser, method_name))
@@ -539,12 +556,23 @@ def deprecation_warning_error_handler(stacklevel):
     deprecation_warning("ArgumentParser.error_handler", error_handler_message, stacklevel=stacklevel)
 
 
+default_meta_message = """
+    ``default_meta`` property was deprecated in v4.44.0 and will be removed in
+    v5.0.0. After removal, config objects will always include metadata. To
+    remove metadata from a config object, do ``.clone(with_meta=False)``.
+"""
+
+
 class ParserDeprecations:
     """Helper class for ArgumentParser deprecations. Will be removed in v5.0.0."""
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, error_handler=False, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, *args, error_handler=False, default_meta=None, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.error_handler = error_handler
+        if default_meta is None:
+            self._default_meta = True
+        else:
+            self.default_meta = default_meta
 
     @property
     @deprecated("error_handler property is deprecated and will be removed in v5.0.0.")
@@ -572,6 +600,27 @@ def error_handler(self, error_handler):
         else:
             raise ValueError("error_handler can be either a Callable or None.")
 
+    @property
+    @deprecated(default_meta_message)
+    def default_meta(self) -> bool:
+        """Whether by default metadata is included in config objects.
+
+        :getter: Returns the current default metadata setting.
+        :setter: Sets the default metadata setting.
+
+        Raises:
+            ValueError: If an invalid value is given.
+        """
+        return self._default_meta
+
+    @default_meta.setter
+    def default_meta(self, default_meta: bool):
+        if isinstance(default_meta, bool):
+            deprecation_warning("ArgumentParser.default_meta", default_meta_message)
+            self._default_meta = default_meta
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("default_meta expects a boolean.")
+
     @deprecated(
         """
         instantiate_subclasses was deprecated in v4.0.0 and will be removed in v5.0.0.
diff --git a/jsonargparse_tests/test_actions.py b/jsonargparse_tests/test_actions.py
index d4ddca40..615c6bf9 100644
--- a/jsonargparse_tests/test_actions.py
+++ b/jsonargparse_tests/test_actions.py
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ def test_action_parser_parse_path(composed_parsers):
 
     yaml_main2 = yaml_main.parent / "main2.yaml"
     yaml_main2.write_text(parser.dump(cfg))
-    cfg2 = parser.parse_path(yaml_main2, with_meta=False)
+    cfg2 = parser.parse_path(yaml_main2).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert expected == cfg2.as_dict()
 
 
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ def test_action_parser_parse_env_inner(composed_parsers):
     assert "opt2_env" == parser.parse_env({"LV1_INNER2__OPT2": "opt2_env"}).inner2.opt2
     assert "opt3_env" == parser.parse_env({"LV1_INNER2__INNER3__OPT3": "opt3_env"}).inner2.inner3.opt3
     expected = {"opt1": "opt1_def", "inner2": {"opt2": "opt2_def", "inner3": {"opt3": "opt3_yaml"}}}
-    cfg = parser.parse_env({"LV1_INNER2__INNER3": str(yaml_inner3)}, with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_env({"LV1_INNER2__INNER3": str(yaml_inner3)}).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert expected == cfg.as_dict()
     assert "opt2_yaml" == parser.parse_env({"LV1_INNER2": str(yaml_inner2)}).inner2.opt2
 
@@ -259,15 +259,17 @@ def test_action_parser_parse_args_subconfig_path(composed_parsers):
     parser, _, yaml_inner2, yaml_inner3 = composed_parsers
 
     expected = {"opt1": "opt1_arg", "inner2": {"opt2": "opt2_yaml", "inner3": {"opt3": "opt3_yaml"}}}
-    cfg = parser.parse_args(["--opt1", "opt1_arg", f"--inner2={yaml_inner2}"], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args(["--opt1", "opt1_arg", f"--inner2={yaml_inner2}"]).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert expected == cfg.as_dict()
 
     expected = {"opt1": "opt1_def", "inner2": {"opt2": "opt2_arg", "inner3": {"opt3": "opt3_yaml"}}}
-    cfg = parser.parse_args(["--inner2.opt2", "opt2_arg", f"--inner2.inner3={yaml_inner3}"], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args(["--inner2.opt2", "opt2_arg", f"--inner2.inner3={yaml_inner3}"]).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert expected == cfg.as_dict()
 
     expected = {"opt1": "opt1_def", "inner2": {"opt2": "opt2_def", "inner3": {"opt3": "opt3_arg"}}}
-    cfg = parser.parse_args([f"--inner2.inner3={yaml_inner3}", "--inner2.inner3.opt3", "opt3_arg"], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args([f"--inner2.inner3={yaml_inner3}", "--inner2.inner3.opt3", "opt3_arg"]).clone(
+        with_meta=False
+    )
     assert expected == cfg.as_dict()
 
 
@@ -275,11 +277,11 @@ def test_action_parser_parse_args_subconfig_string(composed_parsers):
     parser = composed_parsers[0]
 
     expected = {"opt2": "opt2_str", "inner3": {"opt3": "opt3_str"}}
-    cfg = parser.parse_args([f"--inner2={json_or_yaml_dump(expected)}"], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args([f"--inner2={json_or_yaml_dump(expected)}"]).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert expected == cfg.inner2.as_dict()
 
     expected = {"opt3": "opt3_str"}
-    cfg = parser.parse_args([f"--inner2.inner3={json_or_yaml_dump(expected)}"], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args([f"--inner2.inner3={json_or_yaml_dump(expected)}"]).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert expected == cfg.inner2.inner3.as_dict()
 
 
@@ -288,7 +290,7 @@ def test_action_parser_parse_args_global_config(composed_parsers):
     parser.add_argument("--cfg", action="config")
 
     expected = {"opt1": "opt1_yaml", "inner2": {"opt2": "opt2_yaml", "inner3": {"opt3": "opt3_yaml"}}}
-    cfg = parser.parse_args([f"--cfg={yaml_main}"], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args([f"--cfg={yaml_main}"]).clone(with_meta=False)
     delattr(cfg, "cfg")
     assert expected == cfg.as_dict()
 
diff --git a/jsonargparse_tests/test_core.py b/jsonargparse_tests/test_core.py
index 0e264e76..639ef471 100644
--- a/jsonargparse_tests/test_core.py
+++ b/jsonargparse_tests/test_core.py
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ def test_parse_args_url_config(parser_schema_jsonnet):
         responses.add(responses.GET, base_url + name, status=200, body=body)
         responses.add(responses.HEAD, base_url + name, status=200)
 
-    cfg = parser.parse_args([f"--cfg={base_url}main.yaml"], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args([f"--cfg={base_url}main.yaml"]).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert expected.subparser == cfg.subparser
     if jsonschema_support:
         assert expected.schema == cfg.schema
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ def rm_out_files():
                 file.unlink()
 
     with subtests.test("parse_path with metadata"):
-        cfg1 = parser.parse_path(main_file_in, with_meta=True)
+        cfg1 = parser.parse_path(main_file_in).clone(with_meta=True)
         assert expected == cfg1.clone(with_meta=False)
         assert str(cfg1.subparser["__path__"]) == "subparser.yaml"
         if jsonschema_support:
@@ -680,13 +680,13 @@ def rm_out_files():
             assert schema_file_out.is_file()
         if jsonnet_support:
             assert jsonnet_file_out.read_text() == '{"c": 3, "d": 4}'
-        cfg2 = parser.parse_path(main_file_out, with_meta=False)
+        cfg2 = parser.parse_path(main_file_out).clone(with_meta=False)
         assert expected == cfg2
 
     with subtests.test("save without metadata (single-file)"):
         rm_out_files()
         parser.save(cfg1, main_file_out, multifile=False)
-        cfg3 = parser.parse_path(main_file_out, with_meta=False)
+        cfg3 = parser.parse_path(main_file_out).clone(with_meta=False)
         assert expected == cfg3
 
     if jsonschema_support:
@@ -1130,20 +1130,6 @@ def test_parse_known_args_not_implemented_without_caller_module(parser):
         pytest.raises(NotImplementedError, lambda: parser.parse_known_args([]))
 
 
-def test_default_meta_property():
-    parser = ArgumentParser()
-    assert True is parser.default_meta
-    parser.default_meta = False
-    assert False is parser.default_meta
-    parser = ArgumentParser(default_meta=False)
-    assert False is parser.default_meta
-    parser.default_meta = True
-    assert True is parser.default_meta
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as ctx:
-        parser.default_meta = "invalid"
-    ctx.match("default_meta expects a boolean")
-
-
 def test_pickle_parser(example_parser):
     parser = pickle.loads(pickle.dumps(example_parser))
     assert example_parser.get_defaults() == parser.get_defaults()
diff --git a/jsonargparse_tests/test_deprecated.py b/jsonargparse_tests/test_deprecated.py
index 400a7baf..1184552e 100644
--- a/jsonargparse_tests/test_deprecated.py
+++ b/jsonargparse_tests/test_deprecated.py
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def test_ActionEnum():
     for val in ["X", "b", 2]:
         pytest.raises(ArgumentError, lambda: parser.parse_args(["--enum=" + str(val)]))
 
-    cfg = parser.parse_args(["--enum=C"], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args(["--enum=C"]).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert "enum: C\n" == parser.dump(cfg)
 
     help_str = get_parser_help(parser)
@@ -398,11 +398,11 @@ def test_parse_as_dict(tmp_cwd):
     with open("config.json", "w") as f:
         f.write("{}")
     with catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
-        parser = ArgumentParser(parse_as_dict=True, default_meta=False)
+        parser = ArgumentParser(parse_as_dict=True)
     assert_deprecation_warn(
         w,
         message="``parse_as_dict`` parameter was deprecated",
-        code="ArgumentParser(parse_as_dict=True,",
+        code="ArgumentParser(parse_as_dict=True)",
     )
     assert {} == parser.parse_args([])
     assert {} == parser.parse_env([])
@@ -416,6 +416,41 @@ def test_parse_as_dict(tmp_cwd):
         assert "{}\n" == f.read()
 
 
+def test_default_meta_property(parser):
+    with catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
+        assert True is parser.default_meta
+    assert_deprecation_warn(
+        w,
+        message="``default_meta`` property was deprecated",
+        code="True is parser.default_meta",
+    )
+    with catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
+        parser.default_meta = False
+    assert_deprecation_warn(
+        w,
+        message="``default_meta`` property was deprecated",
+        code="parser.default_meta = False",
+    )
+    assert False is parser.default_meta
+    parser = ArgumentParser(default_meta=False)
+    assert False is parser.default_meta
+    parser.default_meta = True
+    assert True is parser.default_meta
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as ctx:
+        parser.default_meta = "invalid"
+    ctx.match("default_meta expects a boolean")
+
+
+def test_parse_with_meta_parameter(parser):
+    with catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
+        parser.parse_args([], with_meta=False)
+    assert_deprecation_warn(
+        w,
+        message="``with_meta`` parameter was deprecated in v4.44.0 and will be removed in v5.0.0",
+        code="parser.parse_args([], with_meta=False)",
+    )
+
+
 def test_deprecated_skip_check_method(parser):
     parser.add_argument("--key", type=int)
     cfg = Namespace(key=1)
diff --git a/jsonargparse_tests/test_signatures.py b/jsonargparse_tests/test_signatures.py
index 656afd5f..83e7e04b 100644
--- a/jsonargparse_tests/test_signatures.py
+++ b/jsonargparse_tests/test_signatures.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def test_add_class_without_nesting(parser):
     for key in ["c2_a0", "c1_a1", "c0_a0"]:
         assert _find_action(parser, key) is None, f"{key} should not be in parser but is"
 
-    cfg = parser.parse_args(["--c3_a0=0", "--c3_a3=true", "--c3_a4=a"], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args(["--c3_a0=0", "--c3_a3=true", "--c3_a4=a"]).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert cfg.as_dict() == {
         "c1_a2": 2.0,
         "c1_a3": None,
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ def test_add_method_normal_and_static(parser):
         assert _find_action(parser, key) is not None, f"{key} should be in parser but is not"
     assert _find_action(parser, "s._a3") is None, "s._a3 should not be in parser but is"
 
-    cfg = parser.parse_args(["--m.a1=x", "--s.a1=y"], with_meta=False).as_dict()
+    cfg = parser.parse_args(["--m.a1=x", "--s.a1=y"]).clone(with_meta=False).as_dict()
     assert cfg == {"m": {"a1": "x", "a2": 2.0, "a3": False}, "s": {"a1": "y", "a2": 2.0}}
     assert "x" == WithMethods().normal_method(**cfg["m"])
     assert "y" == WithMethods.static_method(**cfg["s"])
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ def test_add_function_arguments(parser):
     for key in ["a1", "a2", "a3", "a4"]:
         assert _find_action(parser, key) is not None, f"{key} should be in parser but is not"
 
-    cfg = parser.parse_args(["--a1=x"], with_meta=False).as_dict()
+    cfg = parser.parse_args(["--a1=x"]).clone(with_meta=False).as_dict()
     assert cfg == {"a1": "x", "a2": 2.0, "a3": False, "a4": None}
     assert "x" == func(**cfg)
 
@@ -655,16 +655,15 @@ def func_config(a1="1", a2: float = 2.0, a3: bool = False):
 
 
 def test_add_function_group_config(parser, tmp_cwd):
-    parser.default_meta = False
     parser.add_function_arguments(func, "func")
 
     cfg_path = Path("config.yaml")
     cfg_path.write_text(json_or_yaml_dump({"a1": "one", "a3": True}))
 
-    cfg = parser.parse_args([f"--func={cfg_path}"])
+    cfg = parser.parse_args([f"--func={cfg_path}"]).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert cfg.func == Namespace(a1="one", a2=2.0, a3=True, a4=None)
 
-    cfg = parser.parse_args(['--func={"a1": "ONE"}'])
+    cfg = parser.parse_args(['--func={"a1": "ONE"}']).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert cfg.func == Namespace(a1="ONE", a2=2.0, a3=False, a4=None)
 
     with pytest.raises(ArgumentError) as ctx:
diff --git a/jsonargparse_tests/test_subcommands.py b/jsonargparse_tests/test_subcommands.py
index 9df470f1..b81e03bb 100644
--- a/jsonargparse_tests/test_subcommands.py
+++ b/jsonargparse_tests/test_subcommands.py
@@ -252,9 +252,9 @@ def test_subcommand_default_config_repeated_keys(parser, subparser, tmp_cwd):
     subcommands = parser.add_subcommands()
     subcommands.add_subcommand("test", subparser)
 
-    cfg = parser.parse_args([], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args([]).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert cfg == Namespace(subcommand="test", test=Namespace(test="value"))
-    cfg = parser.parse_args(["test", "--test=x"], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args(["test", "--test=x"]).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert cfg == Namespace(subcommand="test", test=Namespace(test="x"))
 
 
@@ -269,9 +269,9 @@ def test_subsubcommand_default_config_repeated_keys(parser, subparser, tmp_cwd):
     subcommands2 = subparser.add_subcommands()
     subcommands2.add_subcommand("test", subsubparser)
 
-    cfg = parser.parse_args([], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args([]).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert cfg.as_dict() == {"subcommand": "test", "test": {"subcommand": "test", "test": {"test": "value"}}}
-    cfg = parser.parse_args(["test", "test", "--test=x"], with_meta=False)
+    cfg = parser.parse_args(["test", "test", "--test=x"]).clone(with_meta=False)
     assert cfg.as_dict() == {"subcommand": "test", "test": {"subcommand": "test", "test": {"test": "x"}}}
 
 
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ def test_subsubcommands_parse_args(subtests):
     parser_s2_b = ArgumentParser(exit_on_error=False)
     parser_s2_b.add_argument("--os2b", default="os2b_def")
 
-    parser = ArgumentParser(prog="app", exit_on_error=False, default_meta=False)
+    parser = ArgumentParser(prog="app", exit_on_error=False)
     subcommands1 = parser.add_subcommands()
     subcommands1.add_subcommand("a", parser_s1_a)