diff --git a/src/module.ts b/src/module.ts
index 88b2de55f8..efb82173ec 100644
--- a/src/module.ts
+++ b/src/module.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { defu } from 'defu'
-import { createResolver, defineNuxtModule, addComponentsDir, addImportsDir, addPlugin, installModule, hasNuxtModule } from '@nuxt/kit'
+import { createResolver, defineNuxtModule, addComponentsDir, addImportsDir, addPlugin, hasNuxtModule } from '@nuxt/kit'
 import type { HookResult } from '@nuxt/schema'
+import type { ModuleDependencies } from 'nuxt/schema'
 import { addTemplates } from './templates'
 import { defaultOptions, getDefaultConfig, resolveColors } from './utils/defaults'
 import { name, version } from '../package.json'
@@ -120,10 +121,76 @@ export default defineNuxtModule<ModuleOptions>({
     docs: 'https://ui.nuxt.com/docs/getting-started/installation/nuxt',
     configKey: 'ui',
     compatibility: {
-      nuxt: '>=4.0.0'
+      nuxt: '>=4.1.0'
     }
   },
   defaults: defaultOptions,
+  moduleDependencies(nuxt): ModuleDependencies {
+    const userUiOptions = nuxt.options.ui || {}
+    return {
+      '@nuxt/icon': {
+        defaults: {
+          cssLayer: 'components'
+        }
+      },
+      ...userUiOptions.fonts !== false && {
+        '@nuxt/fonts': {
+          defaults: {
+            defaults: {
+              weights: [400, 500, 600, 700]
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      },
+      ...userUiOptions.colorMode !== false && {
+        '@nuxtjs/color-mode': {
+          defaults: {
+            classSuffix: '',
+            disableTransition: true
+          }
+        }
+      },
+      '@nuxtjs/mdc': {
+        optional: !userUiOptions.mdc && !userUiOptions.content,
+        defaults: {
+          highlight: {
+            theme: {
+              light: 'material-theme-lighter',
+              default: 'material-theme',
+              dark: 'material-theme-palenight'
+            }
+          },
+          components: {
+            map: {
+              'accordion': 'ProseAccordion',
+              'accordion-item': 'ProseAccordionItem',
+              'badge': 'ProseBadge',
+              'callout': 'ProseCallout',
+              'card': 'ProseCard',
+              'card-group': 'ProseCardGroup',
+              'caution': 'ProseCaution',
+              'code-collapse': 'ProseCodeCollapse',
+              'code-group': 'ProseCodeGroup',
+              'code-icon': 'ProseCodeIcon',
+              'code-preview': 'ProseCodePreview',
+              'code-tree': 'ProseCodeTree',
+              'collapsible': 'ProseCollapsible',
+              'field': 'ProseField',
+              'field-group': 'ProseFieldGroup',
+              'icon': 'ProseIcon',
+              'kbd': 'ProseKbd',
+              'note': 'ProseNote',
+              'steps': 'ProseSteps',
+              'tabs': 'ProseTabs',
+              'tabs-item': 'ProseTabsItem',
+              'tip': 'ProseTip',
+              'warning': 'ProseWarning'
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  },
   async setup(options, nuxt) {
     const { resolve } = createResolver(import.meta.url)
 
@@ -149,71 +216,9 @@ export default defineNuxtModule<ModuleOptions>({
       nuxt.options.postcss.plugins['@tailwindcss/postcss'] = {}
     }
 
-    async function registerModule(name: string, key: string, options: Record<string, any>) {
-      if (!hasNuxtModule(name)) {
-        await installModule(name, defu((nuxt.options as any)[key], options))
-      } else {
-        (nuxt.options as any)[key] = defu((nuxt.options as any)[key], options)
-      }
-    }
-
-    await registerModule('@nuxt/icon', 'icon', {
-      cssLayer: 'components'
-    })
-    if (options.fonts) {
-      await registerModule('@nuxt/fonts', 'fonts', {
-        defaults: {
-          weights: [400, 500, 600, 700]
-        }
-      })
-    }
-    if (options.colorMode) {
-      await registerModule('@nuxtjs/color-mode', 'colorMode', {
-        classSuffix: '',
-        disableTransition: true
-      })
-    }
-
     addPlugin({ src: resolve('./runtime/plugins/colors') })
 
-    if ((hasNuxtModule('@nuxtjs/mdc') || options.mdc) || (hasNuxtModule('@nuxt/content') || options.content)) {
-      nuxt.options.mdc = defu(nuxt.options.mdc, {
-        highlight: {
-          theme: {
-            light: 'material-theme-lighter',
-            default: 'material-theme',
-            dark: 'material-theme-palenight'
-          }
-        },
-        components: {
-          map: {
-            'accordion': 'ProseAccordion',
-            'accordion-item': 'ProseAccordionItem',
-            'badge': 'ProseBadge',
-            'callout': 'ProseCallout',
-            'card': 'ProseCard',
-            'card-group': 'ProseCardGroup',
-            'caution': 'ProseCaution',
-            'code-collapse': 'ProseCodeCollapse',
-            'code-group': 'ProseCodeGroup',
-            'code-icon': 'ProseCodeIcon',
-            'code-preview': 'ProseCodePreview',
-            'code-tree': 'ProseCodeTree',
-            'collapsible': 'ProseCollapsible',
-            'field': 'ProseField',
-            'field-group': 'ProseFieldGroup',
-            'icon': 'ProseIcon',
-            'kbd': 'ProseKbd',
-            'note': 'ProseNote',
-            'steps': 'ProseSteps',
-            'tabs': 'ProseTabs',
-            'tabs-item': 'ProseTabsItem',
-            'tip': 'ProseTip',
-            'warning': 'ProseWarning'
-          }
-        }
-      })
-
+    if (options.mdc || options.content || hasNuxtModule('@nuxtjs/mdc') || hasNuxtModule('@nuxt/content')) {
       addComponentsDir({
         path: resolve('./runtime/components/prose'),
         pathPrefix: false,
@@ -222,7 +227,7 @@ export default defineNuxtModule<ModuleOptions>({
       })
     }
 
-    if ((hasNuxtModule('@nuxt/content') || options.content)) {
+    if (options.content || hasNuxtModule('@nuxt/content')) {
       addComponentsDir({
         path: resolve('./runtime/components/content'),
         pathPrefix: false,
@@ -230,7 +235,7 @@ export default defineNuxtModule<ModuleOptions>({
       })
     }
 
-    if (hasNuxtModule('@nuxtjs/color-mode')) {
+    if (options.colorMode || hasNuxtModule('@nuxtjs/color-mode')) {
       addComponentsDir({
         path: resolve('./runtime/components/color-mode'),
         pathPrefix: false,