diff --git a/src/config/unified-config-loader.ts b/src/config/unified-config-loader.ts
index 4cf39d60..63a97fd1 100644
--- a/src/config/unified-config-loader.ts
+++ b/src/config/unified-config-loader.ts
@@ -159,6 +159,8 @@ function mergeWithDefaults(partial: Partial<UnifiedConfig>): UnifiedConfig {
         partial.cliproxy?.backend === 'original' || partial.cliproxy?.backend === 'plus'
           ? partial.cliproxy.backend
           : undefined, // Invalid values become undefined (defaults to 'plus' at runtime)
+      // Auto-sync - default to true
+      auto_sync: partial.cliproxy?.auto_sync ?? defaults.cliproxy.auto_sync ?? true,
     },
     preferences: {
       ...defaults.preferences,
diff --git a/src/config/unified-config-types.ts b/src/config/unified-config-types.ts
index a7c0eedf..5a997480 100644
--- a/src/config/unified-config-types.ts
+++ b/src/config/unified-config-types.ts
@@ -609,6 +609,7 @@ export function createEmptyUnifiedConfig(): UnifiedConfig {
         enabled: false,
         request_log: false,
       },
+      auto_sync: true,
     },
     preferences: {
       theme: 'system',