diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/LocalPreferences.kt b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/LocalPreferences.kt
index 6cd193236c..e321c6b259 100644
--- a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/LocalPreferences.kt
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/LocalPreferences.kt
@@ -1254,6 +1254,8 @@ private class InboxPrefs(
 
 private fun SharedPreferences.readInboxPrefs() =
     InboxPrefs(
+        // Missing key = an account saved before this setting existed. Those keep CUSTOM; only
+        // brand-new logins get the ALWAYS default from AccountSettings' constructor.
         defaultRelayAuthPolicy =
             getString(PrefKeys.DEFAULT_RELAY_AUTH_POLICY, null)
                 ?.let { runCatching { RelayAuthPolicy.valueOf(it) }.getOrNull() }
diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/model/AccountSettings.kt b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/model/AccountSettings.kt
index 9802633ddf..523d86f594 100644
--- a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/model/AccountSettings.kt
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/model/AccountSettings.kt
@@ -338,7 +338,9 @@ class AccountSettings(
     var callVideoResolution: CallVideoResolution = CallVideoResolution.HD_720,
     var callMaxBitrateBps: Int = 1_500_000,
     val callsEnabled: MutableStateFlow<Boolean> = MutableStateFlow(true),
-    val defaultRelayAuthPolicy: MutableStateFlow<RelayAuthPolicy> = MutableStateFlow(RelayAuthPolicy.CUSTOM),
+    // New accounts authenticate with every relay that asks. Existing accounts keep whatever they
+    // had saved (LocalPreferences falls back to CUSTOM for prefs written before this key existed).
+    val defaultRelayAuthPolicy: MutableStateFlow<RelayAuthPolicy> = MutableStateFlow(RelayAuthPolicy.ALWAYS),
     val relayGroupViewMode: MutableStateFlow<RelayGroupViewMode> = MutableStateFlow(RelayGroupViewMode.DEFAULT),
     val concordViewMode: MutableStateFlow<ConcordViewMode> = MutableStateFlow(ConcordViewMode.DEFAULT),
     // Which conversation protocols the Messages inbox loads and shows. A disabled type is both hidden