diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/extensions/browser/extensionsViewlet.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/extensions/browser/extensionsViewlet.ts
index b24e041d..b8ab1bf6 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/extensions/browser/extensionsViewlet.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/extensions/browser/extensionsViewlet.ts
@@ -224,9 +224,10 @@ export class ExtensionsViewletViewsContribution implements IWorkbenchContributio
 			name: localize2('popularExtensions', "Popular"),
 			ctorDescriptor: new SyncDescriptor(DefaultPopularExtensionsView, [{ hideBadge: true }]),
 			when: ContextKeyExpr.and(DefaultViewsContext, ContextKeyExpr.not('hasInstalledExtensions'), CONTEXT_HAS_GALLERY),
+			hideByDefault: true,
 			weight: 60,
 			order: 2,
-			canToggleVisibility: false
+			canToggleVisibility: true
 		});
 
 		/*
@@ -255,6 +256,7 @@ export class ExtensionsViewletViewsContribution implements IWorkbenchContributio
 			name: localize2('recommendedExtensions', "Recommended"),
 			ctorDescriptor: new SyncDescriptor(DefaultRecommendedExtensionsView, [{ flexibleHeight: true }]),
 			when: ContextKeyExpr.and(DefaultViewsContext, SortByUpdateDateContext.negate(), ContextKeyExpr.not('config.extensions.showRecommendationsOnlyOnDemand'), CONTEXT_HAS_GALLERY),
+			hideByDefault: true,
 			weight: 40,
 			order: 3,
 			canToggleVisibility: true