diff --git a/packages/sanity/src/core/config/prepareConfig.ts b/packages/sanity/src/core/config/prepareConfig.ts
index c54fb81c6aa..07bc72bf3f4 100644
--- a/packages/sanity/src/core/config/prepareConfig.ts
+++ b/packages/sanity/src/core/config/prepareConfig.ts
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ function resolveSource({
         context,
         reducer: legacySearchEnabledReducer,
         propertyName: 'enableLegacySearch',
-        initialValue: false,
+        initialValue: true,
       }),
       // we will use this when we add search config to PluginOptions
       /*filters: resolveConfigProperty({