diff --git a/cockatrice/src/game_graphics/board/abstract_card_item.cpp b/cockatrice/src/game_graphics/board/abstract_card_item.cpp
index f7ae1ff71..f2c0966e4 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/game_graphics/board/abstract_card_item.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/game_graphics/board/abstract_card_item.cpp
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ class QSizeF;
 // Width the hovered card smooth-zooms to: exactly the hover panel picture size, so
 // all four corners coincide when the panel swaps in over it.
 static constexpr qreal HOVER_ZOOM_WIDTH = 270.0;
-// The pre-panel hover enlargement. The smooth zoom is opt-in, so this stays the hover
-// behavior whenever no zoom trigger is configured (see setHoverHighlighted).
+// The pre-panel hover enlargement. This stays the hover behavior when the smooth zoom is
+// turned off (see setHoverHighlighted).
 static constexpr qreal LEGACY_HOVER_SCALE = 1.1;
 static constexpr int HOVER_ZOOM_IN_MS = 220;
 static constexpr int HOVER_ZOOM_OUT_MS = 140;
@@ -356,11 +356,9 @@ void AbstractCardItem::setHoverHighlighted(bool highlighted)
         setZValue(ZValues::HOVERED_CARD);
     }
 
-    // Fallback to the historical hover scale: the smooth hover zoom is opt-in and its
-    // trigger defaults to Off, so when hovering drives neither the zoom nor the panel
-    // (zoom trigger Off, panel not on hover) contact alone must still enlarge the card
-    // to the old 1.1x while scaleCards is on. Otherwise every existing user silently
-    // loses the hover enlargement on upgrade.
+    // Fallback to the historical hover scale when the smooth hover zoom is turned off and
+    // the panel is not driven by hover: contact alone must still enlarge the card to the
+    // old 1.1x while scaleCards is on.
     auto &display = SettingsCache::instance().cardsDisplay();
     const bool legacyHoverScale = display.getScaleCards() &&
                                   display.getHoverZoomTrigger() == CardsDisplaySettings::HoverPanelTriggerOff &&
diff --git a/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/cards_display_settings.cpp b/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/cards_display_settings.cpp
index 910e3f09d..bdd494646 100644
--- a/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/cards_display_settings.cpp
+++ b/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/cards_display_settings.cpp
@@ -70,16 +70,14 @@ bool CardsDisplaySettings::getScaleCards() const
 
 int CardsDisplaySettings::getHoverPanelTrigger() const
 {
-    // Off by default: the panel is new, so it is opt-in.
-    return getValue("hoverPanelTrigger", QString(), QString(), static_cast<int>(HoverPanelTriggerOff)).toInt();
+    return getValue("hoverPanelTrigger", QString(), QString(), static_cast<int>(HoverPanelTriggerHover)).toInt();
 }
 
 int CardsDisplaySettings::getHoverZoomTrigger() const
 {
-    // Off by default: the smooth hover zoom is opt-in. With no trigger configured,
-    // hovering keeps the historical 1.1x scale (AbstractCardItem::setHoverHighlighted)
-    // instead of the smooth zoom to the hover panel size.
-    return getValue("hoverZoomTrigger", QString(), QString(), static_cast<int>(HoverPanelTriggerOff)).toInt();
+    // Hover is the default: hovering first zooms the card, then the tab panel shows up.
+    // Either trigger can still be changed or turned off in the interface settings.
+    return getValue("hoverZoomTrigger", QString(), QString(), static_cast<int>(HoverPanelTriggerHover)).toInt();
 }
 
 bool CardsDisplaySettings::getHoverPanelDoubleConfirm() const
diff --git a/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/cards_display_settings.h b/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/cards_display_settings.h
index 59a513e8f..d8ced83a4 100644
--- a/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/cards_display_settings.h
+++ b/libcockatrice_settings/libcockatrice/settings/cards_display_settings.h
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ public:
         HoverPanelTriggerRightClick = 1,
         HoverPanelTriggerWheel = 2,
         HoverPanelTriggerShortcut = 3,
-        /// Never fires. The hover zoom and panel are opt-in, so this is their default.
+        /// Never fires when selected; lets the user turn the hover zoom and panel off.
         HoverPanelTriggerOff = 4
     };
 
diff --git a/tests/settings/settings_defaults_test.cpp b/tests/settings/settings_defaults_test.cpp
index 4ca440567..acffae9a8 100644
--- a/tests/settings/settings_defaults_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/settings/settings_defaults_test.cpp
@@ -686,8 +686,7 @@ TEST_F(SettingsDefaultsTest, CardsDisplay_ArrowDrawAnimation_Default)
 TEST_F(SettingsDefaultsTest, CardsDisplay_HoverPanelTrigger_Default)
 {
     CardsDisplaySettings s(settingsPath, nullptr);
-    // Off by default: the panel is opt-in on upgrade.
-    ASSERT_EQ(s.getHoverPanelTrigger(), CardsDisplaySettings::HoverPanelTriggerOff);
+    ASSERT_EQ(s.getHoverPanelTrigger(), CardsDisplaySettings::HoverPanelTriggerHover);
 }
 
 TEST_F(SettingsDefaultsTest, CardsDisplay_HoverPanelTrigger_SetAndGet)
@@ -702,8 +701,7 @@ TEST_F(SettingsDefaultsTest, CardsDisplay_HoverPanelTrigger_SetAndGet)
 TEST_F(SettingsDefaultsTest, CardsDisplay_HoverZoomTrigger_Default)
 {
     CardsDisplaySettings s(settingsPath, nullptr);
-    // Off by default: the smooth hover zoom is opt-in on upgrade.
-    ASSERT_EQ(s.getHoverZoomTrigger(), CardsDisplaySettings::HoverPanelTriggerOff);
+    ASSERT_EQ(s.getHoverZoomTrigger(), CardsDisplaySettings::HoverPanelTriggerHover);
 }
 
 TEST_F(SettingsDefaultsTest, CardsDisplay_HoverZoomTrigger_SetAndGet)