From 60d2c2cc904ea6ba51c99e09b287c05b12e7d631 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: anj-s <32556631+anj-s@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2025 15:40:20 -0800
Subject: [PATCH] Enable WriteTodos tool by default (#12500)

---
 docs/get-started/configuration.md         | 2 +-
 docs/tools/todos.md                       | 7 ++++---
 packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts | 2 +-
 packages/core/src/config/config.ts        | 2 +-
 schemas/settings.schema.json              | 4 ++--
 5 files changed, 9 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)

diff --git a/docs/get-started/configuration.md b/docs/get-started/configuration.md
index 155e5943fb..f926c8dd62 100644
--- a/docs/get-started/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/get-started/configuration.md
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ their corresponding top-level category object in your `settings.json` file.
 
 - **`useWriteTodos`** (boolean):
   - **Description:** Enable the write_todos_list tool.
-  - **Default:** `false`
+  - **Default:** `true`
 
 #### `security`
 
diff --git a/docs/tools/todos.md b/docs/tools/todos.md
index b345094412..4c11482089 100644
--- a/docs/tools/todos.md
+++ b/docs/tools/todos.md
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ This document describes the `write_todos` tool for the Gemini CLI.
 
 The `write_todos` tool allows the Gemini agent to create and manage a list of
 subtasks for complex user requests. This provides you, the user, with greater
-visibility into the agent's plan and its current progress.
+visibility into the agent's plan and its current progress. It also helps with
+alignment where the agent is less likely to lose track of its current goal.
 
 ### Arguments
 
@@ -49,8 +50,8 @@ write_todos({
 
 ## Important notes
 
-- **Enabling:** This tool is disabled by default. To use it, you must enable it
-  in your `settings.json` file by setting `"useWriteTodos": true`.
+- **Enabling:** This tool is enabled by default. You can disable it in your
+  `settings.json` file by setting `"useWriteTodos": false`.
 
 - **Intended Use:** This tool is primarily used by the agent for complex,
   multi-turn tasks. It is generally not used for simple, single-turn questions.
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts b/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
index 1ec59060e1..558c3fba52 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
@@ -1047,7 +1047,7 @@ const SETTINGS_SCHEMA = {
     label: 'Use Write Todos',
     category: 'Advanced',
     requiresRestart: false,
-    default: false,
+    default: true,
     description: 'Enable the write_todos_list tool.',
     showInDialog: false,
   },
diff --git a/packages/core/src/config/config.ts b/packages/core/src/config/config.ts
index 3dffa488e4..483a53760d 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/config/config.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/config/config.ts
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ export class Config {
       params.truncateToolOutputLines ?? DEFAULT_TRUNCATE_TOOL_OUTPUT_LINES;
     this.enableToolOutputTruncation = params.enableToolOutputTruncation ?? true;
     this.useSmartEdit = params.useSmartEdit ?? true;
-    this.useWriteTodos = params.useWriteTodos ?? false;
+    this.useWriteTodos = params.useWriteTodos ?? true;
     this.initialUseModelRouter = params.useModelRouter ?? false;
     this.useModelRouter = this.initialUseModelRouter;
     this.disableModelRouterForAuth = params.disableModelRouterForAuth ?? [];
diff --git a/schemas/settings.schema.json b/schemas/settings.schema.json
index b1c945e470..0c7686a638 100644
--- a/schemas/settings.schema.json
+++ b/schemas/settings.schema.json
@@ -675,8 +675,8 @@
     "useWriteTodos": {
       "title": "Use Write Todos",
       "description": "Enable the write_todos_list tool.",
-      "markdownDescription": "Enable the write_todos_list tool.\n\n- Category: `Advanced`\n- Requires restart: `no`\n- Default: `false`",
-      "default": false,
+      "markdownDescription": "Enable the write_todos_list tool.\n\n- Category: `Advanced`\n- Requires restart: `no`\n- Default: `true`",
+      "default": true,
       "type": "boolean"
     },
     "security": {