diff --git a/docs/configuration.rst b/docs/configuration.rst
index faa3f09e..c686ec93 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -3491,7 +3491,7 @@ extractor.gofile.recursive
 Type
     ``bool``
 Default
-    ``false``
+    ``true``
 Description
     Recursively download files from subfolders.
 
@@ -4862,7 +4862,7 @@ extractor.pixeldrain.recursive
 Type
     ``bool``
 Default
-    ``false``
+    ``true``
 Description
     Recursively download files from subfolders.
 
diff --git a/docs/gallery-dl.conf b/docs/gallery-dl.conf
index 826cd77f..484997ec 100644
--- a/docs/gallery-dl.conf
+++ b/docs/gallery-dl.conf
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@
         {
             "api-token": null,
             "website-token": null,
-            "recursive": false
+            "recursive": true
         },
         "hdoujin":
         {
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@
         "pixeldrain":
         {
             "api-key"  : null,
-            "recursive": false,
+            "recursive": true,
             "zip"      : false
         },
         "pixiv":
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/gofile.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/gofile.py
index 7c9755ad..83e58308 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/gofile.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/gofile.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class GofileFolderExtractor(Extractor):
         self.content_id = match[1]
 
     def items(self):
-        recursive = self.config("recursive")
+        recursive = self.config("recursive", True)
         password = self.config("password")
 
         token = self.config("api-token")
diff --git a/gallery_dl/extractor/pixeldrain.py b/gallery_dl/extractor/pixeldrain.py
index c8bd1f93..3e123332 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/extractor/pixeldrain.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/extractor/pixeldrain.py
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ class PixeldrainFolderExtractor(PixeldrainExtractor):
         }
 
     def items(self):
-        recursive = self.config("recursive")
+        recursive = self.config("recursive", True)
 
         url = f"{self.root}/api/filesystem/{self.groups[0]}"
         stat = self.request_json(url + "?stat")