diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/regression/settings.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/regression/settings.spec.ts
index d80edc4256f..5f8f1c465ad 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/regression/settings.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/regression/settings.spec.ts
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ test("a settings page survives refresh", async ({ page }) => {
   await expect(page).toHaveURL("/settings?tab=appearance")
 })
 
-test("the experimental turn navigator defaults on and can be disabled persistently", async ({ page }) => {
+test("the experimental turn navigator defaults off and can be enabled persistently", async ({ page }) => {
   const id = "ses_navigator_settings"
   const messages: SessionMessageInfo[] = Array.from({ length: 60 }, (_, index) => ({
     id: `msg_navigator_${String(index).padStart(4, "0")}`,
@@ -115,37 +115,33 @@ test("the experimental turn navigator defaults on and can be disabled persistent
     pageMessages: pageMessagesFrom({ [id]: messages }),
   })
   const navigator = page.locator('[data-component="session-turn-navigator"]')
-  await expect(navigator.locator("[data-turn]")).toHaveCount(60)
-  expect(indexes).toHaveLength(1)
-
-  await page.keyboard.press("Control+,")
-  const settings = page.getByTestId("settings-screen")
-  await settings.getByRole("tab", { name: "Experimental", exact: true }).click()
-  await expect(settings.getByRole("heading", { name: "Experimental", exact: true })).toBeVisible()
-  const toggle = settings.getByRole("switch", { name: "Turn navigator", exact: true })
-  await expect(toggle).toBeChecked()
-  await toggle.press("Space")
-  await expect(toggle).not.toBeChecked()
-  await settings.getByRole("button", { name: "Back to app", exact: true }).click()
-  await expect(navigator).toHaveCount(0)
-
-  await expect
-    .poll(() => page.evaluate(() => JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("settings.v3") ?? "{}").general?.showTurnNavigator))
-    .toBe(false)
   await page.clock.install()
   await page.reload()
   await expect(page.locator('[data-component="composer-editor"]')).toBeEditable()
   await expect(page.locator("#message-msg_navigator_0059")).toBeVisible()
   await page.clock.fastForward(1500)
   await expect(navigator).toHaveCount(0)
-  expect(indexes).toHaveLength(1)
+  expect(indexes).toHaveLength(0)
 
   await page.keyboard.press("Control+,")
+  const settings = page.getByTestId("settings-screen")
   await settings.getByRole("tab", { name: "Experimental", exact: true }).click()
+  await expect(settings.getByRole("heading", { name: "Experimental", exact: true })).toBeVisible()
+  const toggle = settings.getByRole("switch", { name: "Turn navigator", exact: true })
   await expect(toggle).not.toBeChecked()
   await toggle.press("Space")
   await expect(toggle).toBeChecked()
   await settings.getByRole("button", { name: "Back to app", exact: true }).click()
+  await page.clock.fastForward(1500)
+  await expect(navigator.locator("[data-turn]")).toHaveCount(60)
+  expect(indexes).toHaveLength(1)
+
+  await expect
+    .poll(() => page.evaluate(() => JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("settings.v3") ?? "{}").general?.showTurnNavigator))
+    .toBe(true)
+  await page.reload()
+  await expect(page.locator("#message-msg_navigator_0059")).toBeVisible()
+  await page.clock.fastForward(1500)
   await expect(navigator.locator("[data-turn]")).toHaveCount(60)
   expect(indexes).toHaveLength(2)
 })
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/regression/timeline-history.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/regression/timeline-history.spec.ts
index 38d861e3811..0437334253e 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/regression/timeline-history.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/regression/timeline-history.spec.ts
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ test.describe("timeline history", () => {
     await setupTimeline(page, {
       sessionMessages: messages,
       pageMessages: pageMessagesFrom({ [sessionID]: messages }),
+      settings: { showTurnNavigator: true },
       inbox: [
         {
           id: "msg_99999_queued_user",
@@ -234,7 +235,11 @@ test.describe("timeline history", () => {
       }),
     ]).flat()
 
-    await setupTimeline(page, { sessionMessages: messages, pageMessages: pageMessagesFrom({ [sessionID]: messages }) })
+    await setupTimeline(page, {
+      sessionMessages: messages,
+      pageMessages: pageMessagesFrom({ [sessionID]: messages }),
+      settings: { showTurnNavigator: true },
+    })
     const navigator = page.locator('[data-component="session-turn-navigator"]')
     const turns = navigator.locator("[data-turn]")
     const preview = navigator.locator('[data-slot="session-turn-navigator-preview"]')
diff --git a/packages/app/src/settings/model.test.ts b/packages/app/src/settings/model.test.ts
index aa62717cf3c..6db3915aab1 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/settings/model.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/settings/model.test.ts
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ describe("settings schema", () => {
         timelineDetail: timelinePresets[2].value,
         showCustomAgents: false,
         showTurnDiffs: false,
-        showTurnNavigator: true,
+        showTurnNavigator: false,
         backgroundActivity: "left",
         generatedUI: true,
         mobileTitlebarPosition: "top",
diff --git a/packages/app/src/settings/model.tsx b/packages/app/src/settings/model.tsx
index 3b22d897242..64a510cba7a 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/settings/model.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/settings/model.tsx
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ export const defaultSettings: Settings = {
     timelineDetail: { ...timelinePresets[2].value },
     showCustomAgents: false,
     showTurnDiffs: false,
-    showTurnNavigator: true,
+    showTurnNavigator: false,
     backgroundActivity: "left",
     generatedUI: true,
     mobileTitlebarPosition: "top",