diff --git a/src/web/public/panels-ui.js b/src/web/public/panels-ui.js
index 499bcf7f..4ad46faa 100644
--- a/src/web/public/panels-ui.js
+++ b/src/web/public/panels-ui.js
@@ -380,6 +380,9 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
     panel.classList.toggle('open');
 
     if (panel.classList.contains('open')) {
+      // applyMonitorVisibility() sets inline display:none when the "Show Monitor"
+      // setting is off — clear it so transient opens (session-tab task badge) work
+      panel.style.display = '';
       // Load screens and start stats collection
       await this.loadMuxSessions();
       await fetch('/api/mux-sessions/stats/start', { method: 'POST' });
diff --git a/src/web/public/settings-ui.js b/src/web/public/settings-ui.js
index 524be503..866d2763 100644
--- a/src/web/public/settings-ui.js
+++ b/src/web/public/settings-ui.js
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
     document.getElementById('appSettingsShowTokenCount').checked = settings.showTokenCount ?? defaults.showTokenCount ?? true;
     document.getElementById('appSettingsShowCost').checked = settings.showCost ?? defaults.showCost ?? false;
     document.getElementById('appSettingsShowLifecycleLog').checked = settings.showLifecycleLog ?? defaults.showLifecycleLog ?? true;
-    document.getElementById('appSettingsShowMonitor').checked = settings.showMonitor ?? defaults.showMonitor ?? true;
+    document.getElementById('appSettingsShowMonitor').checked = settings.showMonitor ?? defaults.showMonitor ?? false;
     document.getElementById('appSettingsShowProjectInsights').checked = settings.showProjectInsights ?? defaults.showProjectInsights ?? false;
     document.getElementById('appSettingsShowFileBrowser').checked = settings.showFileBrowser ?? defaults.showFileBrowser ?? false;
     document.getElementById('appSettingsShowSubagents').checked = settings.showSubagents ?? defaults.showSubagents ?? false;
@@ -1782,7 +1782,7 @@ Object.assign(CodemanApp.prototype, {
   applyMonitorVisibility() {
     const settings = this.loadAppSettingsFromStorage();
     const defaults = this.getDefaultSettings();
-    const showMonitor = settings.showMonitor ?? defaults.showMonitor ?? true;
+    const showMonitor = settings.showMonitor ?? defaults.showMonitor ?? false;
     const showSubagents = settings.showSubagents ?? defaults.showSubagents ?? false;
     const showFileBrowser = settings.showFileBrowser ?? defaults.showFileBrowser ?? false;