Default MCQ audio off until the human opts in

prefs.example.json

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "audio_enabled": true,
+  "audio_enabled": false,
   "duck_enabled": true,
   "ack_enabled": false,
   "always_listen": false,

scripts/test_install.py

@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def test_prefs_quiet_defaults() -> None:
     d = prefs_mod.defaults()
     assert d["always_listen"] is False
     assert d["ack_enabled"] is False
-    assert d["audio_enabled"] is True
+    assert d["audio_enabled"] is False
 
 
 def main() -> None:

scripts/test_prefs_audio_env.py

@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ def main() -> int:
     os.environ.pop("ASK_QUESTION_AUDIO", None)
     assert prefs.get_audio_enabled() is False, "prefs false must mute"
 
+    # No prefs file → packaged default is quiet (audio off).
+    prefs_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+    assert prefs.get_audio_enabled() is False, "shipped default must mute"
+
     prefs_path.write_text('{"audio_enabled": true}\n', encoding="utf-8")
     assert prefs.get_audio_enabled() is True, "prefs true must unmute"
 

src/ask_question_mcp/doctor.py

@@ -970,7 +970,7 @@ def setup_guide(topic: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
             "Complete the STT walkthrough (topic=stt).",
             "Put both URLs in mcp.json `env` (see topic=mcp).",
             "Re-run check_setup until ready.tts and ready.stt are true.",
-            "Keep the dialog Audio checkbox on (prefs audio_enabled, default true).",
+            "Turn the dialog Audio checkbox on (prefs audio_enabled, default false).",
         ],
         "docs": [DOCS_VOICE],
     }

src/ask_question_mcp/gtk4_list_ask.py

@@ -2624,7 +2624,7 @@ def _poll_speak_phase() -> bool:
 
             GLib.timeout_add(150, _poll_speak_phase)
             always = False if _prefs is None else _prefs.get_always_listen()
-            audio_on = True if _prefs is None else _prefs.get_audio_enabled()
+            audio_on = False if _prefs is None else _prefs.get_audio_enabled()
             if always and audio_on:
                 start_voice_listen_thread()
 

src/ask_question_mcp/linux_webview_ask.py

@@ -986,7 +986,7 @@ def main() -> int:
     ui_payload["voice_answer"] = voice_answer
     ui_payload["audio_mode"] = audio_mode
     ui_payload["audio_enabled"] = (
-        bool(_prefs.get_audio_enabled()) if _prefs is not None else True
+        bool(_prefs.get_audio_enabled()) if _prefs is not None else False
     )
     ui_payload["always_listen"] = (
         bool(_prefs.get_always_listen()) if _prefs is not None else False

src/ask_question_mcp/prefs.py

@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@
 _PREFS_PATH = Path.home() / ".config" / "ask-question-mcp" / "prefs.json"
 
 # Packaged defaults for new installs / other users (no prefs.json required).
-# Text-first: speak questions when TTS is configured; do not auto-listen or
-# speak acks until the human opts in (dialog checkbox / prefs.json / env).
+# Quiet-first: Audio checkbox off until the human opts in (dialog / prefs.json).
+# ``ASK_QUESTION_AUDIO=0`` still hard-mutes; ``=1`` does not force speak on.
 # Volumes tuned 2026-07-26 under session duck + pw-play + flat-volumes boost.
 _DEFAULTS: dict[str, Any] = {
-    "audio_enabled": True,
+    "audio_enabled": False,
     "duck_enabled": True,
     "ack_enabled": False,
     "always_listen": False,
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def get_audio_enabled() -> bool:
     env = _env_bool("ASK_QUESTION_AUDIO")
     if env is False:
         return False
-    return bool(load_prefs().get("audio_enabled", True))
+    return bool(load_prefs().get("audio_enabled", _DEFAULTS["audio_enabled"]))
 
 
 def set_audio_enabled(enabled: bool) -> None: