diff --git a/apps/theming/lib/Service/ThemesService.php b/apps/theming/lib/Service/ThemesService.php
index d080752a032a3..8244e69e21911 100644
--- a/apps/theming/lib/Service/ThemesService.php
+++ b/apps/theming/lib/Service/ThemesService.php
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ public function disableTheme(ITheme $theme): array {
 			$this->setEnabledThemes($enabledThemes);
 			return $enabledThemes;
 		}
-		
+
 		return $themesIds;
 	}
 
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ public function getEnabledThemes(): array {
 		}
 
 		$enforcedTheme = $this->config->getSystemValueString('enforce_theme', '');
-		$enabledThemes = json_decode($this->config->getUserValue($user->getUID(), Application::APP_ID, 'enabled-themes', '[]'));
+		$enabledThemes = json_decode($this->config->getUserValue($user->getUID(), Application::APP_ID, 'enabled-themes', '["default"]'));
 		if ($enforcedTheme !== '') {
 			return array_merge([$enforcedTheme], $enabledThemes);
 		}
diff --git a/apps/theming/tests/Service/ThemesServiceTest.php b/apps/theming/tests/Service/ThemesServiceTest.php
index 4728a2cf64ed5..1b152b0072124 100644
--- a/apps/theming/tests/Service/ThemesServiceTest.php
+++ b/apps/theming/tests/Service/ThemesServiceTest.php
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ public function testGetThemesEnforcedInvalid() {
 
 	public function dataTestEnableTheme() {
 		return [
-			['default', [], ['default']],
-			['dark', [], ['dark']],
+			['default', ['default'], ['default']],
+			['dark', ['default'], ['dark']],
 			['dark', ['dark'], ['dark']],
 			['opendyslexic', ['dark'], ['dark', 'opendyslexic']],
 			['dark', ['light-highcontrast', 'opendyslexic'], ['opendyslexic', 'dark']],
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ public function testEnableTheme(string $toEnable, array $enabledThemes, array $e
 
 		$this->config->expects($this->once())
 			->method('getUserValue')
-			->with('user', Application::APP_ID, 'enabled-themes', '[]')
+			->with('user', Application::APP_ID, 'enabled-themes', '["default"]')
 			->willReturn(json_encode($enabledThemes));
 
 		$this->assertEquals($expectedEnabled, $this->themesService->enableTheme($this->themes[$toEnable]));
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ public function testEnableTheme(string $toEnable, array $enabledThemes, array $e
 
 	public function dataTestDisableTheme() {
 		return [
-			['dark', [], []],
+			['dark', ['default'], ['default']],
 			['dark', ['dark'], []],
 			['opendyslexic', ['dark', 'opendyslexic'], ['dark'], ],
 			['light-highcontrast', ['opendyslexic'], ['opendyslexic']],
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ public function testDisableTheme(string $toDisable, array $enabledThemes, array
 
 		$this->config->expects($this->once())
 			->method('getUserValue')
-			->with('user', Application::APP_ID, 'enabled-themes', '[]')
+			->with('user', Application::APP_ID, 'enabled-themes', '["default"]')
 			->willReturn(json_encode($enabledThemes));
 
 
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ public function testIsEnabled(string $themeId, array $enabledThemes, $expected)
 
 		$this->config->expects($this->once())
 			->method('getUserValue')
-			->with('user', Application::APP_ID, 'enabled-themes', '[]')
+			->with('user', Application::APP_ID, 'enabled-themes', '["default"]')
 			->willReturn(json_encode($enabledThemes));
 
 
@@ -251,14 +251,14 @@ public function testGetEnabledThemes() {
 
 		$this->config->expects($this->once())
 			->method('getUserValue')
-			->with('user', Application::APP_ID, 'enabled-themes', '[]')
-			->willReturn(json_encode([]));
+			->with('user', Application::APP_ID, 'enabled-themes', '["default"]')
+			->willReturn(json_encode(['default']));
 		$this->config->expects($this->once())
 			->method('getSystemValueString')
 			->with('enforce_theme', '')
 			->willReturn('');
 
-		$this->assertEquals([], $this->themesService->getEnabledThemes());
+		$this->assertEquals(['default'], $this->themesService->getEnabledThemes());
 	}
 
 	public function testGetEnabledThemesEnforced() {
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ public function testGetEnabledThemesEnforced() {
 
 		$this->config->expects($this->once())
 			->method('getUserValue')
-			->with('user', Application::APP_ID, 'enabled-themes', '[]')
+			->with('user', Application::APP_ID, 'enabled-themes', '["default"]')
 			->willReturn(json_encode([]));
 		$this->config->expects($this->once())
 			->method('getSystemValueString')