diff --git a/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/changelog/pcg-guard-updates-default-true b/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/changelog/pcg-guard-updates-default-true
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5d886832c7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/changelog/pcg-guard-updates-default-true
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Significance: minor
+Type: changed
+
+Plugin Conflicts Guardian: pcg_guard_updates now defaults to true, enabling the post-update health check and rollback flow by default.
diff --git a/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/src/features/plugin-conflicts-guardian/README.md b/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/src/features/plugin-conflicts-guardian/README.md
index a3cdd389901..a649905499b 100644
--- a/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/src/features/plugin-conflicts-guardian/README.md
+++ b/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/src/features/plugin-conflicts-guardian/README.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Pre-flight plugin-activation check. When an admin clicks Activate (or finishes a
 Two independent filters:
 
 - `pcg_guard_activation` — enables the activation probe and the syntax-only install/update gate. Defaults `true`.
-- `pcg_guard_updates` — enables the post-update health check + rollback flow. Defaults `false`.
+- `pcg_guard_updates` — enables the post-update health check + rollback flow. Defaults `true`.
 
 ## Files
 
diff --git a/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/src/features/plugin-conflicts-guardian/probe-endpoint.php b/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/src/features/plugin-conflicts-guardian/probe-endpoint.php
index d8b606712f1..cd3d9eddc13 100644
--- a/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/src/features/plugin-conflicts-guardian/probe-endpoint.php
+++ b/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/src/features/plugin-conflicts-guardian/probe-endpoint.php
@@ -51,8 +51,7 @@ function pcg_maybe_handle_probe() {
 	// pull in the other as an unintended dependency.
 	$is_update_mode = PCG_Load_Tester::MODE_UPDATE === $mode;
 	$gate_filter    = $is_update_mode ? 'pcg_guard_updates' : 'pcg_guard_activation';
-	$gate_default   = ! $is_update_mode;
-	if ( ! apply_filters( $gate_filter, $gate_default ) ) {
+	if ( ! apply_filters( $gate_filter, true ) ) {
 		pcg_probe_bail_error( 'Plugin Conflicts Guardian is disabled.', 403 );
 	}
 
diff --git a/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/src/features/plugin-conflicts-guardian/update-healthcheck.php b/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/src/features/plugin-conflicts-guardian/update-healthcheck.php
index 3c8f1e405c5..af4a38652e6 100644
--- a/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/src/features/plugin-conflicts-guardian/update-healthcheck.php
+++ b/projects/packages/jetpack-mu-wpcom/src/features/plugin-conflicts-guardian/update-healthcheck.php
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
  * @return bool|WP_Error Passed through unchanged.
  */
 function pcg_healthcheck_capture_snapshot( $return, $hook_extra ) {
-	if ( ! apply_filters( 'pcg_guard_updates', false ) ) {
+	if ( ! apply_filters( 'pcg_guard_updates', true ) ) {
 		return $return;
 	}
 	if ( ! pcg_healthcheck_is_plugin_pre_install_update( $hook_extra ) ) {
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ function pcg_healthcheck_capture_snapshot( $return, $hook_extra ) {
  * @return void
  */
 function pcg_healthcheck_after_update( $upgrader, $hook_extra ) { // phpcs:ignore Generic.CodeAnalysis.UnusedFunctionParameter.FoundAfterLastUsed -- $upgrader is the WP-Upgrader-supplied argument; we accept it for the action signature.
-	if ( ! apply_filters( 'pcg_guard_updates', false ) ) {
+	if ( ! apply_filters( 'pcg_guard_updates', true ) ) {
 		return;
 	}
 	if ( ! pcg_healthcheck_is_plugin_update( $hook_extra ) ) {