diff --git a/desktop/macos/CHANGELOG.json b/desktop/macos/CHANGELOG.json
index 5b296cd8d9c..ee68f01d305 100644
--- a/desktop/macos/CHANGELOG.json
+++ b/desktop/macos/CHANGELOG.json
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 {
-  "unreleased": [],
+  "unreleased": [
+    "Recording now captures audio only during meetings by default — the mic and other apps' audio are captured only while you're in a call. Change this anytime in Settings → General → System Audio (Always / Only during meetings / Never)"
+  ],
   "releases": [
     {
       "version": "0.11.467",
diff --git a/desktop/macos/Desktop/Sources/ProactiveAssistants/Services/AssistantSettings.swift b/desktop/macos/Desktop/Sources/ProactiveAssistants/Services/AssistantSettings.swift
index d6e267ca32e..a2a39c87c4c 100644
--- a/desktop/macos/Desktop/Sources/ProactiveAssistants/Services/AssistantSettings.swift
+++ b/desktop/macos/Desktop/Sources/ProactiveAssistants/Services/AssistantSettings.swift
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ class AssistantSettings {
     static let shared = AssistantSettings()
 
     /// Controls when system audio (audio from other apps — calls, videos, music) is captured
-    /// during a recording. `always` = capture for the whole recording (default, prior behavior);
-    /// `onlyDuringMeetings` = capture only while a conferencing call is detected; `never` = never.
+    /// during a recording. `always` = capture for the whole recording; `onlyDuringMeetings` =
+    /// capture only while a conferencing call is detected (default); `never` = never.
     enum SystemAudioCaptureMode: String {
         case always
         case onlyDuringMeetings
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class AssistantSettings {
     private let defaultTranscriptionVocabulary: [String] = []
     private let defaultVadGateEnabled = false
     private let defaultBatchTranscriptionEnabled = false
-    private let defaultSystemAudioCaptureMode: SystemAudioCaptureMode = .always
+    private let defaultSystemAudioCaptureMode: SystemAudioCaptureMode = .onlyDuringMeetings
 
     private init() {
         // Register defaults