diff --git a/include/SDL3/SDL_hints.h b/include/SDL3/SDL_hints.h
index 1449492b8e..310aa64711 100644
--- a/include/SDL3/SDL_hints.h
+++ b/include/SDL3/SDL_hints.h
@@ -2098,8 +2098,8 @@ extern "C" {
  *
  * The variable can be set to the following values:
  *
- * - "0": A separate thread is not used. (default)
- * - "1": A separate thread is used for handling raw input messages.
+ * - "0": A separate thread is not used.
+ * - "1": A separate thread is used for handling raw input messages. (default)
  *
  * This hint should be set before SDL is initialized.
  *
diff --git a/src/joystick/windows/SDL_windowsjoystick.c b/src/joystick/windows/SDL_windowsjoystick.c
index 1accf174a3..e7fbfcb346 100644
--- a/src/joystick/windows/SDL_windowsjoystick.c
+++ b/src/joystick/windows/SDL_windowsjoystick.c
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ static bool SDL_StartJoystickThread(void)
     }
 
     s_bJoystickThreadQuit = false;
-    s_joystickThread = SDL_CreateThreadWithStackSize(SDL_JoystickThread, "SDL_joystick", 64 * 1024, NULL);
+    s_joystickThread = SDL_CreateThread(SDL_JoystickThread, "SDL_joystick", NULL);
     if (!s_joystickThread) {
         return false;
     }
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ static bool WINDOWS_JoystickInit(void)
     WIN_InitDeviceNotification();
 
 #if !defined(SDL_PLATFORM_XBOXONE) && !defined(SDL_PLATFORM_XBOXSERIES)
-    s_bJoystickThread = SDL_GetHintBoolean(SDL_HINT_JOYSTICK_THREAD, false);
+    s_bJoystickThread = SDL_GetHintBoolean(SDL_HINT_JOYSTICK_THREAD, true);
     if (s_bJoystickThread) {
         if (!SDL_StartJoystickThread()) {
             return false;