diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 247d6a88c..46a79c5b2 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 26.11.1
+
+### Fixed
+
+- The first run plugin picker no longer sets the default layout and themes to Remove. They always stay on
+
 ## 26.11.0
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/src/backend/plugins/onboarding.ts b/src/backend/plugins/onboarding.ts
index 5859d5b21..c277b895c 100644
--- a/src/backend/plugins/onboarding.ts
+++ b/src/backend/plugins/onboarding.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 import { pluginLogger } from "../utils/logger.js";
 import { getPluginRuntime } from "./index.js";
-import { onboardingDefaults } from "./bundled-index.js";
+import { isDefaultLookPlugin, onboardingDefaults } from "./bundled-index.js";
 import {
   isLinkedDesktop,
   serialized,
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ export async function offerPluginSetup(fresh: boolean): Promise<void> {
   await settings.set(PLUGIN_SETUP_OFFERED_KEY, "1");
 }
 
+// The shipped default look always stays on, so the picker never offers it.
+function inPicker(plugin: { id: string; source: string }): boolean {
+  return !(plugin.source === "bundled" && isDefaultLookPlugin(plugin.id));
+}
+
 function choicePlugins(): ChoicePlugin[] {
   return getPluginRuntime()
     .loader.list()
@@ -118,6 +123,7 @@ export async function describeOnboardingPlugins(): Promise<OnboardingPluginList>
   );
   const plugins = getPluginRuntime()
     .loader.list()
+    .filter(inPicker)
     .map((plugin): OnboardingPluginInfo => {
       const defaults =
         plugin.source === "bundled"
@@ -158,7 +164,12 @@ export function applyOnboardingChoices(
 ): Promise<OnboardingApplyResult> {
   return serialized(async () => {
     const plugins = choicePlugins();
-    const installed = new Set(plugins.map((plugin) => plugin.id));
+    const installed = new Set(
+      getPluginRuntime()
+        .loader.list()
+        .filter(inPicker)
+        .map((plugin) => plugin.id),
+    );
     const wanted: Record<string, PluginChoice> = {};
     for (const [id, choice] of Object.entries(choices)) {
       if (installed.has(id)) wanted[id] = choice;
diff --git a/src/backend/tests/plugins/onboarding.test.ts b/src/backend/tests/plugins/onboarding.test.ts
index ca8eea2af..8f00b4438 100644
--- a/src/backend/tests/plugins/onboarding.test.ts
+++ b/src/backend/tests/plugins/onboarding.test.ts
@@ -197,6 +197,13 @@ describe("describeOnboardingPlugins", () => {
     });
     expect(byId.extra).toMatchObject({ recommended: true, consent: true });
   });
+
+  it("leaves out the default look", async () => {
+    writeIndex({ extra: { defaultLook: true } });
+    await chain();
+    const list = await onboarding.describeOnboardingPlugins();
+    expect(list.plugins.map((p) => p.id).sort()).toEqual(["addon", "base"]);
+  });
 });
 
 describe("applyOnboardingChoices", () => {
@@ -263,6 +270,22 @@ describe("applyOnboardingChoices", () => {
     expect(db.settings.get(onboarding.PLUGIN_SETUP_PENDING_KEY)).toBe("1");
   });
 
+  it("never turns off or removes the default look", async () => {
+    writeIndex({ extra: { defaultLook: true } });
+    const loader = await chain();
+    const result = await onboarding.applyOnboardingChoices({
+      extra: "remove",
+      base: "remove",
+      addon: "remove",
+    });
+    expect(result.failed).toEqual([]);
+    expect(result.removed).toEqual(["addon", "base"]);
+    expect(loader.get("extra")?.state).toBe("active");
+
+    await onboarding.applyOnboardingChoices({ extra: "disabled" });
+    expect(loader.get("extra")?.state).toBe("active");
+  });
+
   it("ignores ids that are not installed", async () => {
     await chain();
     const result = await onboarding.applyOnboardingChoices({