From 36feb73bfdaddd5e6397e62bdb8c19b4c5c03eee Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Sandy Tao <sandytao520@icloud.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2025 12:21:53 -0800
Subject: [PATCH] Revert "Enable WriteTodos tool by default (#12500)" (#12658)

---
 docs/get-started/configuration.md         | 2 +-
 docs/tools/todos.md                       | 7 +++----
 packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts | 2 +-
 packages/core/src/config/config.ts        | 2 +-
 schemas/settings.schema.json              | 4 ++--
 5 files changed, 8 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)

diff --git a/docs/get-started/configuration.md b/docs/get-started/configuration.md
index 8d17f10c78..477ddeff5a 100644
--- a/docs/get-started/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/get-started/configuration.md
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ their corresponding top-level category object in your `settings.json` file.
 
 - **`useWriteTodos`** (boolean):
   - **Description:** Enable the write_todos_list tool.
-  - **Default:** `true`
+  - **Default:** `false`
 
 #### `security`
 
diff --git a/docs/tools/todos.md b/docs/tools/todos.md
index 4c11482089..b345094412 100644
--- a/docs/tools/todos.md
+++ b/docs/tools/todos.md
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@ This document describes the `write_todos` tool for the Gemini CLI.
 
 The `write_todos` tool allows the Gemini agent to create and manage a list of
 subtasks for complex user requests. This provides you, the user, with greater
-visibility into the agent's plan and its current progress. It also helps with
-alignment where the agent is less likely to lose track of its current goal.
+visibility into the agent's plan and its current progress.
 
 ### Arguments
 
@@ -50,8 +49,8 @@ write_todos({
 
 ## Important notes
 
-- **Enabling:** This tool is enabled by default. You can disable it in your
-  `settings.json` file by setting `"useWriteTodos": false`.
+- **Enabling:** This tool is disabled by default. To use it, you must enable it
+  in your `settings.json` file by setting `"useWriteTodos": true`.
 
 - **Intended Use:** This tool is primarily used by the agent for complex,
   multi-turn tasks. It is generally not used for simple, single-turn questions.
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts b/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
index 8d4e459f58..29c4211557 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/config/settingsSchema.ts
@@ -1080,7 +1080,7 @@ const SETTINGS_SCHEMA = {
     label: 'Use Write Todos',
     category: 'Advanced',
     requiresRestart: false,
-    default: true,
+    default: false,
     description: 'Enable the write_todos_list tool.',
     showInDialog: false,
   },
diff --git a/packages/core/src/config/config.ts b/packages/core/src/config/config.ts
index 5dcaf503e0..cbe26bf7d3 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/config/config.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/config/config.ts
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ export class Config {
       params.truncateToolOutputLines ?? DEFAULT_TRUNCATE_TOOL_OUTPUT_LINES;
     this.enableToolOutputTruncation = params.enableToolOutputTruncation ?? true;
     this.useSmartEdit = params.useSmartEdit ?? true;
-    this.useWriteTodos = params.useWriteTodos ?? true;
+    this.useWriteTodos = params.useWriteTodos ?? false;
     this.initialUseModelRouter = params.useModelRouter ?? false;
     this.useModelRouter = this.initialUseModelRouter;
     this.disableModelRouterForAuth = params.disableModelRouterForAuth ?? [];
diff --git a/schemas/settings.schema.json b/schemas/settings.schema.json
index 055164cd4e..0633784aa3 100644
--- a/schemas/settings.schema.json
+++ b/schemas/settings.schema.json
@@ -939,8 +939,8 @@
     "useWriteTodos": {
       "title": "Use Write Todos",
       "description": "Enable the write_todos_list tool.",
-      "markdownDescription": "Enable the write_todos_list tool.\n\n- Category: `Advanced`\n- Requires restart: `no`\n- Default: `true`",
-      "default": true,
+      "markdownDescription": "Enable the write_todos_list tool.\n\n- Category: `Advanced`\n- Requires restart: `no`\n- Default: `false`",
+      "default": false,
       "type": "boolean"
     },
     "security": {