diff --git a/docs/get-started/configuration.md b/docs/get-started/configuration.md
index c5ac46b78b..a18edcbc50 100644
--- a/docs/get-started/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/get-started/configuration.md
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ their corresponding top-level category object in your `settings.json` file.
 
 - **`ui.useFullWidth`** (boolean):
   - **Description:** Use the entire width of the terminal for output.
-  - **Default:** `false`
+  - **Default:** `true`
 
 - **`ui.useAlternateBuffer`** (boolean):
   - **Description:** Use an alternate screen buffer for the UI, preserving shell
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts b/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
index 41331a60f8..f9f994840e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ const SETTINGS_SCHEMA = {
         label: 'Use Full Width',
         category: 'UI',
         requiresRestart: false,
-        default: false,
+        default: true,
         description: 'Use the entire width of the terminal for output.',
         showInDialog: true,
       },
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/AlternateBufferQuittingDisplay.test.tsx.snap b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/AlternateBufferQuittingDisplay.test.tsx.snap
index 0e7ef17e3b..39df73eee6 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/AlternateBufferQuittingDisplay.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/AlternateBufferQuittingDisplay.test.tsx.snap
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ Tips for getting started:
 2. Be specific for the best results.
 3. Create GEMINI.md files to customize your interactions with Gemini.
 4. /help for more information.
-╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
-│ToolMessage: tool1 - Success                                                │
-╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
-╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
-│ToolMessage: tool2 - Success                                                │
-╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
-╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
-│ToolMessage: tool3 - Pending                                                │
-╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯"
+╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ToolMessage: tool1 - Success                                                  │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ToolMessage: tool2 - Success                                                  │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ToolMessage: tool3 - Pending                                                  │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯"
 `;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/Footer.test.tsx.snap b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/Footer.test.tsx.snap
index 72203200a4..292e3b9bc3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/Footer.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/Footer.test.tsx.snap
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 // Vitest Snapshot v1, https://vitest.dev/guide/snapshot.html
 
-exports[`<Footer /> > footer configuration filtering (golden snapshots) > renders complete footer in narrow terminal (baseline narrow) > complete-footer-narrow 1`] = `" ...s/to/make/it/long              no sandbox              gemini-pro (100%)"`;
+exports[`<Footer /> > footer configuration filtering (golden snapshots) > renders complete footer in narrow terminal (baseline narrow) > complete-footer-narrow 1`] = `" ...s/to/make/it/long               no sandbox               gemini-pro (100%)"`;
 
-exports[`<Footer /> > footer configuration filtering (golden snapshots) > renders complete footer with all sections visible (baseline) > complete-footer-wide 1`] = `" ...ectories/to/make/it/long              no sandbox (see /docs)               gemini-pro (100% context left)"`;
+exports[`<Footer /> > footer configuration filtering (golden snapshots) > renders complete footer with all sections visible (baseline) > complete-footer-wide 1`] = `" ...directories/to/make/it/long                  no sandbox (see /docs)                  gemini-pro (100% context left)"`;
 
-exports[`<Footer /> > footer configuration filtering (golden snapshots) > renders footer with CWD and model info hidden to test alignment (only sandbox visible) > footer-only-sandbox 1`] = `"                                            no sandbox (see /docs)"`;
+exports[`<Footer /> > footer configuration filtering (golden snapshots) > renders footer with CWD and model info hidden to test alignment (only sandbox visible) > footer-only-sandbox 1`] = `"                                                 no sandbox (see /docs)"`;
 
 exports[`<Footer /> > footer configuration filtering (golden snapshots) > renders footer with all optional sections hidden (minimal footer) > footer-minimal 1`] = `""`;
 
-exports[`<Footer /> > footer configuration filtering (golden snapshots) > renders footer with only model info hidden (partial filtering) > footer-no-model 1`] = `" ...ectories/to/make/it/long                             no sandbox (see /docs)"`;
+exports[`<Footer /> > footer configuration filtering (golden snapshots) > renders footer with only model info hidden (partial filtering) > footer-no-model 1`] = `" ...directories/to/make/it/long                                 no sandbox (see /docs)"`;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/InputPrompt.test.tsx.snap b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/InputPrompt.test.tsx.snap
index 3fe5d2a2a7..e71999c99d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/InputPrompt.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/__snapshots__/InputPrompt.test.tsx.snap
@@ -1,57 +1,57 @@
 // Vitest Snapshot v1, https://vitest.dev/guide/snapshot.html
 
 exports[`InputPrompt > command search (Ctrl+R when not in shell) > expands and collapses long suggestion via Right/Left arrows > command-search-render-collapsed-match 1`] = `
-"╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
-│ (r:)    Type your message or @path/to/file                                                                 │
-╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+"╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ (r:)    Type your message or @path/to/file                                                                           │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
  lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll →
  lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
  ..."
 `;
 
 exports[`InputPrompt > command search (Ctrl+R when not in shell) > expands and collapses long suggestion via Right/Left arrows > command-search-render-expanded-match 1`] = `
-"╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
-│ (r:)    Type your message or @path/to/file                                                                 │
-╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+"╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ (r:)    Type your message or @path/to/file                                                                           │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
  lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll ←
  lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
  llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll"
 `;
 
 exports[`InputPrompt > command search (Ctrl+R when not in shell) > renders match window and expanded view (snapshots) > command-search-render-collapsed-match 1`] = `
-"╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
-│ (r:)  commit                                                                                               │
-╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+"╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ (r:)  commit                                                                                                         │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
  git commit -m "feat: add search" in src/app"
 `;
 
 exports[`InputPrompt > command search (Ctrl+R when not in shell) > renders match window and expanded view (snapshots) > command-search-render-expanded-match 1`] = `
-"╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
-│ (r:)  commit                                                                                               │
-╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+"╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ (r:)  commit                                                                                                         │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
  git commit -m "feat: add search" in src/app"
 `;
 
 exports[`InputPrompt > snapshots > should not show inverted cursor when shell is focused 1`] = `
-"╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
-│ >   Type your message or @path/to/file                                                                     │
-╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯"
+"╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ >   Type your message or @path/to/file                                                                               │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯"
 `;
 
 exports[`InputPrompt > snapshots > should render correctly in shell mode 1`] = `
-"╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
-│ !   Type your message or @path/to/file                                                                     │
-╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯"
+"╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ !   Type your message or @path/to/file                                                                               │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯"
 `;
 
 exports[`InputPrompt > snapshots > should render correctly in yolo mode 1`] = `
-"╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
-│ *   Type your message or @path/to/file                                                                     │
-╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯"
+"╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ *   Type your message or @path/to/file                                                                               │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯"
 `;
 
 exports[`InputPrompt > snapshots > should render correctly when accepting edits 1`] = `
-"╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
-│ >   Type your message or @path/to/file                                                                     │
-╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯"
+"╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ >   Type your message or @path/to/file                                                                               │
+╰──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯"
 `;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/utils/ui-sizing.ts b/packages/cli/src/ui/utils/ui-sizing.ts
index 01e0773e45..84a3efd7ef 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/utils/ui-sizing.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/utils/ui-sizing.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export const calculateMainAreaWidth = (
   terminalWidth: number,
   settings: LoadedSettings,
 ): number => {
-  if (settings.merged.ui?.useFullWidth) {
+  if (settings.merged.ui?.useFullWidth !== false) {
     if (settings.merged.ui?.useAlternateBuffer) {
       return terminalWidth - 1;
     }
diff --git a/schemas/settings.schema.json b/schemas/settings.schema.json
index 295f7d5215..5298f013f9 100644
--- a/schemas/settings.schema.json
+++ b/schemas/settings.schema.json
@@ -271,8 +271,8 @@
         "useFullWidth": {
           "title": "Use Full Width",
           "description": "Use the entire width of the terminal for output.",
-          "markdownDescription": "Use the entire width of the terminal for output.\n\n- Category: `UI`\n- Requires restart: `no`\n- Default: `false`",
-          "default": false,
+          "markdownDescription": "Use the entire width of the terminal for output.\n\n- Category: `UI`\n- Requires restart: `no`\n- Default: `true`",
+          "default": true,
           "type": "boolean"
         },
         "useAlternateBuffer": {