diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/workbench.contribution.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/workbench.contribution.ts
index 315c12122fc11860cf5e5abfe1a2805745420ed9..4fa5fe3b5d26f9c9caa09a2a4f4333504151dc6f 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/workbench.contribution.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/workbench.contribution.ts
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ import { isStandalone } from 'vs/base/browser/browser';
 			},
 			'zenMode.restore': {
 				'type': 'boolean',
-				'default': false,
+				'default': true,
 				'description': nls.localize('zenMode.restore', "Controls whether a window should restore to zen mode if it was exited in zen mode.")
 			},
 			'zenMode.silentNotifications': {