diff --git a/src/aare/gui/widgets/title_label.py b/src/aare/gui/widgets/title_label.py
index 2d128825..ac9eef1f 100644
--- a/src/aare/gui/widgets/title_label.py
+++ b/src/aare/gui/widgets/title_label.py
@@ -71,7 +71,10 @@ class TitleLabel(QLabel):
         self.setCursor(Qt.CursorShape.PointingHandCursor)
 
         settings = QSettings("PSI", "AareGUI")
-        if settings.value(self._settings_key, False, type=bool):
+        # Default collapsed: a fresh GUI shows only banners (plus the expanded
+        # Beamline state panel, which manages its own default) until the user
+        # opens what they need; their choice is then persisted per title.
+        if settings.value(self._settings_key, True, type=bool):
             self._collapsed = True
             # Deferred: the panel adds its other widgets after constructing
             # the TitleLabel, so siblings don't exist yet.
diff --git a/tests/unit/gui/test_title_label.py b/tests/unit/gui/test_title_label.py
index 4cad9306..168dc31d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/gui/test_title_label.py
+++ b/tests/unit/gui/test_title_label.py
@@ -27,38 +27,41 @@ def _build_panel(qtbot):
     return panel, title, direct_child, nested_child
 
 
-def test_toggle_hides_children_and_persists(qtbot):
+def test_starts_collapsed_by_default_and_toggle_persists(qtbot):
     _remove_key()
     try:
-        panel, title, direct_child, nested_child = _build_panel(qtbot)
-        expanded_height = panel.sizeHint().height()
-
-        title.toggle_collapsed()
-        assert direct_child.isHidden()
+        _panel, title, direct_child, nested_child = _build_panel(qtbot)
+        # Default is collapsed; applied deferred with a 0 ms timer (siblings
+        # don't exist yet at TitleLabel construction).
+        qtbot.waitUntil(lambda: direct_child.isHidden(), timeout=1000)
         assert nested_child.isHidden()
         assert not title.isHidden()
-        assert panel.sizeHint().height() < expanded_height
         assert title.toggle_button.text() == "+"
-        assert QSettings("PSI", "AareGUI").value(KEY, False, type=bool) is True
 
         title.toggle_collapsed()
         assert not direct_child.isHidden()
         assert not nested_child.isHidden()
         assert title.toggle_button.text() == "−"
-        assert QSettings("PSI", "AareGUI").value(KEY, False, type=bool) is False
+        assert QSettings("PSI", "AareGUI").value(KEY, True, type=bool) is False
+
+        title.toggle_collapsed()
+        assert direct_child.isHidden()
+        assert title.toggle_button.text() == "+"
+        assert QSettings("PSI", "AareGUI").value(KEY, False, type=bool) is True
     finally:
         _remove_key()
 
 
-def test_collapsed_state_restored_on_construction(qtbot):
-    QSettings("PSI", "AareGUI").setValue(KEY, True)
+def test_saved_expanded_state_restored_on_construction(qtbot):
+    QSettings("PSI", "AareGUI").setValue(KEY, False)
     try:
         _panel, title, direct_child, nested_child = _build_panel(qtbot)
-        # Restore is deferred with a 0 ms timer (siblings don't exist yet at
-        # TitleLabel construction), so let the event loop run once.
-        qtbot.waitUntil(lambda: direct_child.isHidden(), timeout=1000)
-        assert nested_child.isHidden()
-        assert title.toggle_button.text() == "+"
+        # A saved expanded state must override the collapsed default; give the
+        # (absent) deferred collapse a chance to run before asserting.
+        qtbot.wait(100)
+        assert not direct_child.isHidden()
+        assert not nested_child.isHidden()
+        assert title.toggle_button.text() == "−"
     finally:
         _remove_key()