diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index e111801e67..95b4fb1b2c 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -22756,9 +22756,10 @@ Enable polling the kernel for battery level changes.
 @item @code{ignore-lid?} (default: @code{#f})
 Ignore the lid state, this can be useful if it's incorrect on a device.
 
-@item @code{use-percentage-for-policy?} (default: @code{#f})
-Whether battery percentage based policy should be used.  The default is to use
-the time left, change to @code{#t} to use the percentage.
+@item @code{use-percentage-for-policy?} (default: @code{#t})
+Whether a to use a policy based on battery percentage rather than on
+estimated time left.  A policy based on battery percentage is usually
+more reliable.
 
 @item @code{percentage-low} (default: @code{20})
 When @code{use-percentage-for-policy?} is @code{#t}, this sets the percentage
diff --git a/gnu/services/desktop.scm b/gnu/services/desktop.scm
index 6bad2b5ecd..07e7500847 100644
--- a/gnu/services/desktop.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/desktop.scm
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@
   (ignore-lid?                upower-configuration-ignore-lid?
                               (default #f))
   (use-percentage-for-policy? upower-configuration-use-percentage-for-policy?
-                              (default #f))
+                              (default #t))
   (percentage-low             upower-configuration-percentage-low
                               (default 20))
   (percentage-critical        upower-configuration-percentage-critical