diff --git a/nebula_app/src/display/settings.rs b/nebula_app/src/display/settings.rs
index 8113dc9..07e7167 100644
--- a/nebula_app/src/display/settings.rs
+++ b/nebula_app/src/display/settings.rs
@@ -878,7 +878,7 @@ pub(super) fn nebula_settings_load(config: &UiConfig) -> NebulaRuntimeSettings {
         pinned_hosts: Vec::new(),
         saved_hosts: Vec::new(),
         hidden_hosts: Vec::new(),
-        panel_resize: false,
+        panel_resize: true,
         sidebar_w: super::SIDEBAR_W_LOGICAL,
         drawer_w: super::side_panel::PANEL_W_LOGICAL,
         hosts_band: 0.0,
@@ -970,7 +970,7 @@ pub(super) fn nebula_settings_load(config: &UiConfig) -> NebulaRuntimeSettings {
                 Some(("restore_session", v)) => settings.restore_session = parse_bool(v, true),
                 Some(("resume_ai", v)) => settings.resume_ai = parse_bool(v, true),
                 Some(("tray", v)) => settings.tray = parse_bool(v, true),
-                Some(("panel_resize", v)) => settings.panel_resize = parse_bool(v, false),
+                Some(("panel_resize", v)) => settings.panel_resize = parse_bool(v, true),
                 Some(("sidebar_w", v)) => {
                     if let Ok(w) = v.trim().parse::<f32>() {
                         settings.sidebar_w = w.clamp(super::SIDEBAR_W_MIN, super::SIDEBAR_W_MAX);
diff --git a/nebula_settings/src/lib.rs b/nebula_settings/src/lib.rs
index f4d4eb1..7628b3a 100644
--- a/nebula_settings/src/lib.rs
+++ b/nebula_settings/src/lib.rs
@@ -1233,7 +1233,7 @@ impl RuntimeSettings {
             background_image_cover_chrome: raw
                 .bool_on("background_image_cover_chrome")
                 .unwrap_or(false),
-            panel_resize: raw.bool_on("panel_resize").unwrap_or(false),
+            panel_resize: raw.bool_on("panel_resize").unwrap_or(true),
             sidebar_width: raw
                 .f32("sidebar_w")
                 .map(|width| width.clamp(MIN_SIDEBAR_WIDTH, MAX_SIDEBAR_WIDTH))
@@ -1552,7 +1552,10 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(settings.background, None);
         assert_eq!(settings.theme_foreground, None);
         assert_eq!(settings.custom_theme, None);
-        assert!(!settings.panel_resize);
+        assert!(settings.panel_resize);
+        assert!(
+            !RuntimeSettings::from_raw(&RawSettings::from_text("panel_resize=0\n")).panel_resize
+        );
         assert_eq!(settings.sidebar_width, DEFAULT_SIDEBAR_WIDTH);
         assert_eq!(settings.ssh_proxy_mode, ProxyModeName::Off);
         assert_eq!(settings.quick_terminal_hotkey, DEFAULT_QUICK_TERMINAL_HOTKEY);