diff --git a/docs/configuration.rst b/docs/configuration.rst
index e72f9bff..a17fca08 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -5463,7 +5463,7 @@ downloader.ytdl.forward-cookies
 Type
     ``bool``
 Default
-    ``false``
+    ``true``
 Description
     Forward gallery-dl's cookies to |ytdl|.
 
diff --git a/gallery_dl/downloader/ytdl.py b/gallery_dl/downloader/ytdl.py
index 26f328dd..40cddec1 100644
--- a/gallery_dl/downloader/ytdl.py
+++ b/gallery_dl/downloader/ytdl.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class YoutubeDLDownloader(DownloaderBase):
         }
 
         self.ytdl_instance = None
-        self.forward_cookies = self.config("forward-cookies", False)
+        self.forward_cookies = self.config("forward-cookies", True)
         self.progress = self.config("progress", 3.0)
         self.outtmpl = self.config("outtmpl")
 
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ class YoutubeDLDownloader(DownloaderBase):
                 if self.outtmpl == "default":
                     self.outtmpl = module.DEFAULT_OUTTMPL
             if self.forward_cookies:
+                self.log.debug("Forwarding cookies to %s",
+                               ytdl_instance.__module__)
                 set_cookie = ytdl_instance.cookiejar.set_cookie
                 for cookie in self.session.cookies:
                     set_cookie(cookie)