diff --git a/tools/lammps-gui/lammpsgui.cpp b/tools/lammps-gui/lammpsgui.cpp
index d72a7457ab..08dec27c59 100644
--- a/tools/lammps-gui/lammpsgui.cpp
+++ b/tools/lammps-gui/lammpsgui.cpp
@@ -1016,7 +1016,7 @@ void LammpsGui::do_run(bool use_buffer)
     runner->start();
 
     // if configured, delete old log window before opening new one
-    if (settings.value("logreplace", false).toBool()) delete logwindow;
+    if (settings.value("logreplace", true).toBool()) delete logwindow;
     logwindow = new LogWindow();
     logwindow->setReadOnly(true);
     logwindow->setCenterOnScroll(true);
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ void LammpsGui::do_run(bool use_buffer)
         logwindow->hide();
 
     // if configured, delete old log window before opening new one
-    if (settings.value("chartreplace", false).toBool()) delete chartwindow;
+    if (settings.value("chartreplace", true).toBool()) delete chartwindow;
     chartwindow = new ChartWindow(current_file);
     chartwindow->setWindowTitle(
         QString("LAMMPS-GUI - Thermo charts from running LAMMPS on %1 - %2 - Run  %3")
@@ -1107,7 +1107,7 @@ void LammpsGui::render_image()
             }
         }
         // if configured, delete old image window before opening new one
-        if (QSettings().value("imagereplace", false).toBool()) delete imagewindow;
+        if (QSettings().value("imagereplace", true).toBool()) delete imagewindow;
         imagewindow = new ImageViewer(current_file, &lammps);
     } else {
         QMessageBox::warning(this, "ImageViewer Error",
diff --git a/tools/lammps-gui/preferences.cpp b/tools/lammps-gui/preferences.cpp
index cae3783e4d..1e8e23ad62 100644
--- a/tools/lammps-gui/preferences.cpp
+++ b/tools/lammps-gui/preferences.cpp
@@ -216,16 +216,15 @@ GeneralTab::GeneralTab(QSettings *_settings, LammpsWrapper *_lammps, QWidget *pa
     sldv->setCheckState(settings->value("viewslide", true).toBool() ? Qt::Checked : Qt::Unchecked);
     auto *logr = new QCheckBox("Replace log window on new run");
     logr->setObjectName("logreplace");
-    logr->setCheckState(settings->value("logreplace", false).toBool() ? Qt::Checked
-                                                                      : Qt::Unchecked);
+    logr->setCheckState(settings->value("logreplace", true).toBool() ? Qt::Checked : Qt::Unchecked);
     auto *imgr = new QCheckBox("Replace image window on new render");
     imgr->setObjectName("imagereplace");
-    imgr->setCheckState(settings->value("imagereplace", false).toBool() ? Qt::Checked
-                                                                        : Qt::Unchecked);
+    imgr->setCheckState(settings->value("imagereplace", true).toBool() ? Qt::Checked
+                                                                       : Qt::Unchecked);
     auto *pltr = new QCheckBox("Replace chart window on new run");
     pltr->setObjectName("chartreplace");
-    pltr->setCheckState(settings->value("chartreplace", false).toBool() ? Qt::Checked
-                                                                        : Qt::Unchecked);
+    pltr->setCheckState(settings->value("chartreplace", true).toBool() ? Qt::Checked
+                                                                       : Qt::Unchecked);
 
 #if defined(LAMMPS_GUI_USE_PLUGIN)
     auto *pluginlabel = new QLabel("Path to LAMMPS Shared Library File:");