diff --git a/src/lib/__snapshots__/create-config.test.ts.snap b/src/lib/__snapshots__/create-config.test.ts.snap
index 4a068ecae1..cdbba31c80 100644
--- a/src/lib/__snapshots__/create-config.test.ts.snap
+++ b/src/lib/__snapshots__/create-config.test.ts.snap
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ exports[`should create default config 1`] = `
         },
       },
       "migrationLock": true,
-      "navigationSidebar": false,
+      "navigationSidebar": true,
       "newCreateProjectUI": false,
       "outdatedSdksBanner": false,
       "parseProjectFromSession": false,
diff --git a/src/lib/types/experimental.ts b/src/lib/types/experimental.ts
index c71b8a3849..65f1ff1bbf 100644
--- a/src/lib/types/experimental.ts
+++ b/src/lib/types/experimental.ts
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ const flags: IFlags = {
     ),
     navigationSidebar: parseEnvVarBoolean(
         process.env.UNLEASH_EXPERIMENTAL_SIDEBAR_NAVIGATION,
-        false,
+        true,
     ),
 };
 
diff --git a/src/server-dev.ts b/src/server-dev.ts
index b35f5f11de..44f6b0e5dd 100644
--- a/src/server-dev.ts
+++ b/src/server-dev.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ process.nextTick(async () => {
                         createProjectWithEnvironmentConfig: true,
                         manyStrategiesPagination: true,
                         enableLegacyVariants: false,
-                        navigationSidebar: false,
                     },
                 },
                 authentication: {