diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/com/github/stenzek/duckstation/EmulationActivity.java b/android/app/src/main/java/com/github/stenzek/duckstation/EmulationActivity.java
index fcb8d19f2..0a6762d21 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/java/com/github/stenzek/duckstation/EmulationActivity.java
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/com/github/stenzek/duckstation/EmulationActivity.java
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ public class EmulationActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements SurfaceHolde
     }
 
     private void showMenu() {
-        if (getBooleanSetting("Main/PauseOnMenu", false) &&
+        if (getBooleanSetting("Main/PauseOnMenu", true) &&
                 !AndroidHostInterface.getInstance().isEmulationThreadPaused()) {
             AndroidHostInterface.getInstance().pauseEmulationThread(true);
         }
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/res/xml/general_preferences.xml b/android/app/src/main/res/xml/general_preferences.xml
index 425668139..d277fb29c 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/res/xml/general_preferences.xml
+++ b/android/app/src/main/res/xml/general_preferences.xml
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
     <SwitchPreferenceCompat
         app:key="Main/PauseOnMenu"
         app:title="@string/settings_pause_when_menu_opened"
-        app:defaultValue="false"
+        app:defaultValue="true"
         app:summary="@string/settings_summary_pause_when_menu_opened"
         app:iconSpaceReserved="false" />
     <ListPreference