diff --git a/crates/omnigraph-server/src/config.rs b/crates/omnigraph-server/src/config.rs
index 6e2eae0..0b621e1 100644
--- a/crates/omnigraph-server/src/config.rs
+++ b/crates/omnigraph-server/src/config.rs
@@ -115,17 +115,33 @@ pub struct QueryEntry {
 
 /// MCP exposure for a stored query. A *deployment* concern (the same
 /// `.gq` may be exposed in one graph and hidden in another), so it lives
-/// in YAML rather than in the `.gq` source. Default `expose: false` —
-/// a query is HTTP-callable but absent from the MCP tool catalog unless
-/// the operator opts in. The catalog projection lands in a later slice;
-/// v1 round-trips these fields.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+/// in YAML rather than in the `.gq` source. **Default `expose: true`** —
+/// declaring a query in the manifest *is* the opt-in, so it appears in the
+/// MCP tool catalog (`GET /queries`) by default; set `expose: false` to
+/// keep a query HTTP/service-callable but hidden from the agent tool list.
+/// `expose` governs catalog membership only — it is **not** an
+/// authorization gate (invocation is gated by `invoke_query`), so a hidden
+/// query is still invocable by name with the right permission.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct McpSettings {
-    #[serde(default)]
+    #[serde(default = "mcp_expose_default")]
     pub expose: bool,
     pub tool_name: Option<String>,
 }
 
+fn mcp_expose_default() -> bool {
+    true
+}
+
+impl Default for McpSettings {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            expose: mcp_expose_default(),
+            tool_name: None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
 pub enum AliasCommand {
@@ -601,9 +617,9 @@ queries:
         assert_eq!(find_user.file, "./queries/find_user.gq");
         assert!(find_user.mcp.expose);
         assert_eq!(find_user.mcp.tool_name.as_deref(), Some("lookup_user"));
-        // Default exposure is false (safe by default) and tool_name absent.
+        // Default exposure is true (the manifest entry is the opt-in); tool_name absent.
         let audit = &prod["internal_audit"];
-        assert!(!audit.mcp.expose);
+        assert!(audit.mcp.expose);
         assert!(audit.mcp.tool_name.is_none());
 
         // Top-level registry (single-graph mode).
diff --git a/crates/omnigraph-server/src/queries.rs b/crates/omnigraph-server/src/queries.rs
index 07a4883..ae6a367 100644
--- a/crates/omnigraph-server/src/queries.rs
+++ b/crates/omnigraph-server/src/queries.rs
@@ -36,9 +36,10 @@ pub struct StoredQuery {
     pub source: Arc<str>,
     /// Parsed declaration (params, mutations, description, …).
     pub decl: QueryDecl,
-    /// Whether this query is listed in the MCP tool catalog. Default
-    /// `false`: HTTP-callable but not MCP-enumerated until the operator
-    /// opts in. Consulted by the catalog projection (a later slice).
+    /// Whether this query is listed in the MCP tool catalog (`GET /queries`).
+    /// Default `true` (the manifest entry is the opt-in); `expose: false`
+    /// keeps it HTTP/service-callable but hidden from the agent tool list.
+    /// Catalog membership only — not an authorization gate.
     pub expose: bool,
     /// Optional MCP tool-name override; defaults to `name`.
     pub tool_name: Option<String>,
diff --git a/docs/user/cli-reference.md b/docs/user/cli-reference.md
index 5091953..2f9e198 100644
--- a/docs/user/cli-reference.md
+++ b/docs/user/cli-reference.md
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ graphs:
       <query-name>:               # key MUST equal the `query <name>` symbol inside the .gq
         file: <path-to-.gq>       # relative to this config's directory
         mcp:
-          expose: false           # default false: HTTP-callable but not listed as an MCP tool
+          expose: true            # default true: listed in the MCP catalog (GET /queries); set false to hide (still HTTP-callable)
           tool_name: <name>       # optional MCP tool-name override (defaults to <query-name>;
                                   #   must be unique across exposed queries)
 server:
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ aliases:
     branch: <name>
     format: <output-format>
 queries:                          # top-level stored-query registry (single-graph mode); mirrors top-level `policy`
-  <query-name>: { file: <path-to-.gq>, mcp: { expose: false } }
+  <query-name>: { file: <path-to-.gq> }   # mcp.expose defaults to true
 policy:
   file: ./policy.yaml
 ```