diff --git a/src/imessage/monitor.ts b/src/imessage/monitor.ts
index 7de70b8b9..be8dcb5e9 100644
--- a/src/imessage/monitor.ts
+++ b/src/imessage/monitor.ts
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ export async function monitorIMessageProvider(
         ? imessageCfg.allowFrom
         : []),
   );
-  const groupPolicy = imessageCfg.groupPolicy ?? "allowlist";
+  const groupPolicy = imessageCfg.groupPolicy ?? "open";
   const dmPolicy = imessageCfg.dmPolicy ?? "pairing";
   const includeAttachments =
     opts.includeAttachments ?? imessageCfg.includeAttachments ?? false;
diff --git a/src/slack/monitor.ts b/src/slack/monitor.ts
index 82e1306cd..af8101a71 100644
--- a/src/slack/monitor.ts
+++ b/src/slack/monitor.ts
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ export async function monitorSlackProvider(opts: MonitorSlackOpts = {}) {
   const groupDmChannels = normalizeAllowList(dmConfig?.groupChannels);
   const channelsConfig = slackCfg.channels;
   const dmEnabled = dmConfig?.enabled ?? true;
-  const groupPolicy = slackCfg.groupPolicy ?? "allowlist";
+  const groupPolicy = slackCfg.groupPolicy ?? "open";
   const useAccessGroups = cfg.commands?.useAccessGroups !== false;
   const reactionMode = slackCfg.reactionNotifications ?? "own";
   const reactionAllowlist = slackCfg.reactionAllowlist ?? [];
diff --git a/src/web/inbound.ts b/src/web/inbound.ts
index d5fc9a9ca..8bc6c9749 100644
--- a/src/web/inbound.ts
+++ b/src/web/inbound.ts
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ export async function monitorWebInbox(options: {
       // - "open": groups bypass allowFrom, only mention-gating applies
       // - "disabled": block all group messages entirely
       // - "allowlist": only allow group messages from senders in groupAllowFrom/allowFrom
-      const groupPolicy = account.groupPolicy ?? "allowlist";
+      const groupPolicy = account.groupPolicy ?? "open";
       if (group && groupPolicy === "disabled") {
         logVerbose(`Blocked group message (groupPolicy: disabled)`);
         continue;