From 5e218a56303a3b634218128a4068bbe7e62eb0c9 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Jacob Richman <jacob314@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:30:38 -0800
Subject: [PATCH] Turn off alternate buffer mode by default. (#13623)

---
 docs/get-started/configuration.md               | 2 +-
 integration-tests/test-helper.ts                | 3 +++
 packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts       | 2 +-
 packages/cli/src/gemini.test.tsx                | 1 +
 packages/cli/src/test-utils/render.tsx          | 2 +-
 packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useAlternateBuffer.ts | 2 +-
 schemas/settings.schema.json                    | 4 ++--
 7 files changed, 10 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/docs/get-started/configuration.md b/docs/get-started/configuration.md
index 101c003358..a7a7213df2 100644
--- a/docs/get-started/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/get-started/configuration.md
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ their corresponding top-level category object in your `settings.json` file.
 - **`ui.useAlternateBuffer`** (boolean):
   - **Description:** Use an alternate screen buffer for the UI, preserving shell
     history.
-  - **Default:** `true`
+  - **Default:** `false`
   - **Requires restart:** Yes
 
 - **`ui.incrementalRendering`** (boolean):
diff --git a/integration-tests/test-helper.ts b/integration-tests/test-helper.ts
index e83939420c..94d3e697b8 100644
--- a/integration-tests/test-helper.ts
+++ b/integration-tests/test-helper.ts
@@ -321,6 +321,9 @@ export class TestRig {
           selectedType: 'gemini-api-key',
         },
       },
+      ui: {
+        useAlternateBuffer: true,
+      },
       model: DEFAULT_GEMINI_MODEL,
       sandbox:
         env['GEMINI_SANDBOX'] !== 'false' ? env['GEMINI_SANDBOX'] : false,
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts b/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
index 5222ed32f4..0fcae7874a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ const SETTINGS_SCHEMA = {
         label: 'Use Alternate Screen Buffer',
         category: 'UI',
         requiresRestart: true,
-        default: true,
+        default: false,
         description:
           'Use an alternate screen buffer for the UI, preserving shell history.',
         showInDialog: true,
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/gemini.test.tsx b/packages/cli/src/gemini.test.tsx
index ef4efd8965..8caca0c5c4 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/gemini.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/gemini.test.tsx
@@ -509,6 +509,7 @@ describe('startInteractiveUI', () => {
     merged: {
       ui: {
         hideWindowTitle: false,
+        useAlternateBuffer: true,
       },
     },
   } as LoadedSettings;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/test-utils/render.tsx b/packages/cli/src/test-utils/render.tsx
index 0cc3ab1251..74335963b1 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/test-utils/render.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/test-utils/render.tsx
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ export const renderWithProviders = (
     width,
     mouseEventsEnabled = false,
     config = configProxy as unknown as Config,
-    useAlternateBuffer,
+    useAlternateBuffer = true,
     uiActions,
   }: {
     shellFocus?: boolean;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useAlternateBuffer.ts b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useAlternateBuffer.ts
index efa8fbf3cf..ba5dd460ee 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useAlternateBuffer.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/hooks/useAlternateBuffer.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { useSettings } from '../contexts/SettingsContext.js';
 import type { LoadedSettings } from '../../config/settings.js';
 
 export const isAlternateBufferEnabled = (settings: LoadedSettings): boolean =>
-  settings.merged.ui?.useAlternateBuffer !== false;
+  settings.merged.ui?.useAlternateBuffer === true;
 
 export const useAlternateBuffer = (): boolean => {
   const settings = useSettings();
diff --git a/schemas/settings.schema.json b/schemas/settings.schema.json
index a874852120..8f2f74f7f5 100644
--- a/schemas/settings.schema.json
+++ b/schemas/settings.schema.json
@@ -292,8 +292,8 @@
         "useAlternateBuffer": {
           "title": "Use Alternate Screen Buffer",
           "description": "Use an alternate screen buffer for the UI, preserving shell history.",
-          "markdownDescription": "Use an alternate screen buffer for the UI, preserving shell history.\n\n- Category: `UI`\n- Requires restart: `yes`\n- Default: `true`",
-          "default": true,
+          "markdownDescription": "Use an alternate screen buffer for the UI, preserving shell history.\n\n- Category: `UI`\n- Requires restart: `yes`\n- Default: `false`",
+          "default": false,
           "type": "boolean"
         },
         "incrementalRendering": {