diff --git a/MQTT_IMPLEMENTATION.md b/MQTT_IMPLEMENTATION.md
index e4c0d3386..f66f38880 100644
--- a/MQTT_IMPLEMENTATION.md
+++ b/MQTT_IMPLEMENTATION.md
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ The MQTT bridge comes with the following defaults for fresh installs:
 - **Packet Messages**: Enabled
 - **Raw Messages**: Disabled
 - **RX Packets**: Enabled (uplink received packets)
-- **TX Packets**: Disabled (`off` — set to `on` or `advert` to enable)
+- **TX Packets**: `advert` by default (uplink this node's own adverts; set to `on` for all TX or `off` to disable)
 - **Status Interval**: 5 minutes (300000 ms)
 - **Slot 1**: `analyzer-us`
 - **Slot 2**: `analyzer-eu`
diff --git a/docs/cli_commands.md b/docs/cli_commands.md
index 757c959ed..3b778d6ab 100644
--- a/docs/cli_commands.md
+++ b/docs/cli_commands.md
@@ -1020,7 +1020,7 @@ region save
 - `advert`: uplink only this node's own advert packets (self-originated advertisements only — forwarded adverts from other nodes are filtered out)
 - `off`: disable TX packet uplinking
 
-**Default:** `off`
+**Default:** `advert`
 
 > **Note:** `mqtt.rx` and `mqtt.tx` take effect immediately — no restart required. Both can be enabled simultaneously.
 
diff --git a/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
index f22c6a7ac..1d65ba62a 100644
--- a/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -971,7 +971,7 @@ MyMesh::MyMesh(mesh::MainBoard &board, mesh::Radio &radio, mesh::MillisecondCloc
   _prefs.mqtt_status_enabled = 1;    // enabled
   _prefs.mqtt_packets_enabled = 1;   // enabled
   _prefs.mqtt_raw_enabled = 0;       // disabled
-  _prefs.mqtt_tx_enabled = 0;        // disabled (RX only for now)
+  _prefs.mqtt_tx_enabled = 2;        // advert: own adverts only (matches MQTTPrefs default)
   _prefs.mqtt_rx_enabled = 1;        // RX packets enabled by default
   _prefs.mqtt_status_interval = 300000; // 5 minutes
 
diff --git a/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp
index 4ecdf2905..3497b8e3e 100644
--- a/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_room_server/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ MyMesh::MyMesh(mesh::MainBoard &board, mesh::Radio &radio, mesh::MillisecondCloc
   _prefs.mqtt_status_enabled = 1;    // enabled
   _prefs.mqtt_packets_enabled = 1;   // enabled
   _prefs.mqtt_raw_enabled = 0;       // disabled
-  _prefs.mqtt_tx_enabled = 0;        // disabled (RX only for now)
+  _prefs.mqtt_tx_enabled = 2;        // advert: own adverts only (matches MQTTPrefs default)
   _prefs.mqtt_rx_enabled = 1;        // RX packets enabled by default
   _prefs.mqtt_status_interval = 300000; // 5 minutes
   
diff --git a/src/helpers/CommonCLI.cpp b/src/helpers/CommonCLI.cpp
index 899317fdb..0853d82aa 100644
--- a/src/helpers/CommonCLI.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/CommonCLI.cpp
@@ -125,9 +125,7 @@ void CommonCLI::loadPrefs(FILESYSTEM* fs) {
   syncMQTTPrefsToNodePrefs();
   
   // For MQTT bridge, migrate bridge.source to RX (logRx) only on fresh installs or upgrades
-  // This ensures new users get the correct default, but respects existing user choices
-  // MQTT bridge with TX requires mqtt.tx to be enabled (disabled by default),
-  // so RX is the sensible default for MQTT bridge installations
+  // so legacy "tx" is not the default. mqtt.rx / mqtt.tx are separate (fresh default: advert for TX)
   if ((is_fresh_install || is_upgrade) && _prefs->bridge_pkt_src == 0) {
     MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("MQTT Bridge: Migrating bridge.source from tx to rx (MQTT bridge default)");
     _prefs->bridge_pkt_src = 1;  // Set to RX (logRx)
@@ -364,7 +362,7 @@ static void setMQTTPrefsDefaults(MQTTPrefs* prefs) {
   prefs->mqtt_status_enabled = 1;    // enabled by default
   prefs->mqtt_packets_enabled = 1;   // enabled by default
   prefs->mqtt_raw_enabled = 0;       // disabled by default
-  prefs->mqtt_tx_enabled = 0;        // disabled by default
+  prefs->mqtt_tx_enabled = 2;        // advert: own adverts only, by default
   prefs->mqtt_rx_enabled = 1;        // RX packets enabled by default
   prefs->mqtt_status_interval = 300000; // 5 minutes default
   // Slot presets: analyzer-us and analyzer-eu enabled by default, rest = none