diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index c632341..24ceed5 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -487,7 +487,10 @@ impl App {
         let mut tab = Tab::new(location.clone(), self.config.tab);
         tab.mode = match self.mode {
             Mode::App => tab::Mode::App,
-            Mode::Desktop => tab::Mode::Desktop,
+            Mode::Desktop => {
+                tab.config.view = tab::View::Grid;
+                tab::Mode::Desktop
+            }
         };
         let entity = self
             .tab_model
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index f23a4fe..e75569b 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ pub struct TabConfig {
 impl Default for TabConfig {
     fn default() -> Self {
         Self {
-            view: View::Grid,
+            view: View::List,
             folders_first: true,
             show_hidden: false,
             sort_name: HeadingOptions::Name,