diff --git a/app/containers/ImageViewer/ImageViewer.tsx b/app/containers/ImageViewer/ImageViewer.tsx
index 38813a8aa11..802597ed354 100644
--- a/app/containers/ImageViewer/ImageViewer.tsx
+++ b/app/containers/ImageViewer/ImageViewer.tsx
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create({
 });
 
 export const ImageViewer = ({ uri = '', width, height, ...props }: ImageViewerProps): React.ReactElement => {
-	const [autoplayGifs] = useUserPreferences<boolean>(AUTOPLAY_GIFS_PREFERENCES_KEY);
+	const [autoplayGifs] = useUserPreferences<boolean>(AUTOPLAY_GIFS_PREFERENCES_KEY, true);
 	const [isPlaying, setIsPlaying] = useState<boolean>(!!autoplayGifs);
 	const expoImageRef = useRef<Image>(null);
 
diff --git a/app/containers/markdown/components/mentions/AtMention.tsx b/app/containers/markdown/components/mentions/AtMention.tsx
index df9dd3b33d6..cf0779c0343 100644
--- a/app/containers/markdown/components/mentions/AtMention.tsx
+++ b/app/containers/markdown/components/mentions/AtMention.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ interface IAtMention {
 
 const AtMention = React.memo(({ mention, mentions, username, navToRoomInfo, style = [], useRealName }: IAtMention) => {
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
-	const [mentionsWithAtSymbol] = useUserPreferences<boolean>(USER_MENTIONS_PREFERENCES_KEY);
+	const [mentionsWithAtSymbol] = useUserPreferences<boolean>(USER_MENTIONS_PREFERENCES_KEY, false);
 	const preffix = mentionsWithAtSymbol ? '@' : '';
 	if (mention === 'all' || mention === 'here') {
 		return (
diff --git a/app/containers/markdown/components/mentions/Hashtag.tsx b/app/containers/markdown/components/mentions/Hashtag.tsx
index 4013d236487..c5d8ffff7ee 100644
--- a/app/containers/markdown/components/mentions/Hashtag.tsx
+++ b/app/containers/markdown/components/mentions/Hashtag.tsx
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ interface IHashtag {
 
 const Hashtag = React.memo(({ hashtag, channels, navToRoomInfo, style = [] }: IHashtag) => {
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
-	const [roomsWithHashTagSymbol] = useUserPreferences<boolean>(ROOM_MENTIONS_PREFERENCES_KEY);
+	const [roomsWithHashTagSymbol] = useUserPreferences<boolean>(ROOM_MENTIONS_PREFERENCES_KEY, false);
 	const isMasterDetail = useAppSelector(state => state.app.isMasterDetail);
 	const preffix = roomsWithHashTagSymbol ? '#' : '';
 	const handlePress = async () => {
diff --git a/app/views/AccessibilityAndAppearanceView/index.tsx b/app/views/AccessibilityAndAppearanceView/index.tsx
index de018f4975c..da71ce1ba85 100644
--- a/app/views/AccessibilityAndAppearanceView/index.tsx
+++ b/app/views/AccessibilityAndAppearanceView/index.tsx
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ export type TAlertDisplayType = 'TOAST' | 'DIALOG';
 const AccessibilityAndAppearanceView = () => {
 	const navigation = useNavigation<NativeStackNavigationProp<AccessibilityStackParamList>>();
 	const isMasterDetail = useAppSelector(state => state.app.isMasterDetail as boolean);
-	const [mentionsWithAtSymbol, setMentionsWithAtSymbol] = useUserPreferences<boolean>(USER_MENTIONS_PREFERENCES_KEY);
-	const [roomsWithHashTagSymbol, setRoomsWithHashTagSymbol] = useUserPreferences<boolean>(ROOM_MENTIONS_PREFERENCES_KEY);
+	const [mentionsWithAtSymbol, setMentionsWithAtSymbol] = useUserPreferences<boolean>(USER_MENTIONS_PREFERENCES_KEY, false);
+	const [roomsWithHashTagSymbol, setRoomsWithHashTagSymbol] = useUserPreferences<boolean>(ROOM_MENTIONS_PREFERENCES_KEY, false);
 	const [autoplayGifs, setAutoplayGifs] = useUserPreferences<boolean>(AUTOPLAY_GIFS_PREFERENCES_KEY, true);
 	const [alertDisplayType, setAlertDisplayType] = useUserPreferences<TAlertDisplayType>(
 		ALERT_DISPLAY_TYPE_PREFERENCES_KEY,