diff --git a/picard/ui/filebrowser.py b/picard/ui/filebrowser.py
index cc4e25bcb..2ecc821d7 100644
--- a/picard/ui/filebrowser.py
+++ b/picard/ui/filebrowser.py
@@ -21,15 +21,19 @@
 import os
 import sys
 from PyQt5 import QtCore, QtWidgets
+from PyQt5.QtCore import QStandardPaths
 from picard import config
 from picard.formats import supported_formats
 from picard.util import find_existing_path
 
 
+_default_current_browser_path = QStandardPaths.writableLocation(QStandardPaths.HomeLocation)
+
+
 class FileBrowser(QtWidgets.QTreeView):
 
     options = [
-        config.TextOption("persist", "current_browser_path", ""),
+        config.TextOption("persist", "current_browser_path", _default_current_browser_path),
         config.BoolOption("persist", "show_hidden_files", False),
     ]
 
diff --git a/picard/ui/options/interface.py b/picard/ui/options/interface.py
index 0aa09ae2c..db421b127 100644
--- a/picard/ui/options/interface.py
+++ b/picard/ui/options/interface.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import os.path
 from functools import partial
 from PyQt5 import QtCore, QtWidgets
+from PyQt5.QtCore import QStandardPaths
 from picard import config
 from picard.util import icontheme
 from picard.ui.options import OptionsPage, register_options_page
@@ -29,6 +30,9 @@ from picard.const import UI_LANGUAGES
 import locale
 
 
+_default_starting_dir = QStandardPaths.writableLocation(QStandardPaths.HomeLocation)
+
+
 class InterfaceOptionsPage(OptionsPage):
 
     NAME = "interface"
@@ -96,7 +100,7 @@ class InterfaceOptionsPage(OptionsPage):
         config.BoolOption("setting", "quit_confirmation", True),
         config.TextOption("setting", "ui_language", ""),
         config.BoolOption("setting", "starting_directory", False),
-        config.TextOption("setting", "starting_directory_path", ""),
+        config.TextOption("setting", "starting_directory_path", _default_starting_dir),
         config.TextOption("setting", "load_image_behavior", "append"),
         config.ListOption("setting", "toolbar_layout", [
             'add_directory_action',
diff --git a/picard/ui/options/renaming.py b/picard/ui/options/renaming.py
index 181c5b133..9ca1af76d 100644
--- a/picard/ui/options/renaming.py
+++ b/picard/ui/options/renaming.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import os.path
 import sys
 from functools import partial
 from PyQt5 import QtWidgets
+from PyQt5.QtCore import QStandardPaths
 from PyQt5.QtGui import QPalette
 from picard import config
 from picard.const import PICARD_URLS
@@ -40,6 +41,10 @@ _DEFAULT_FILE_NAMING_FORMAT = "$if2(%albumartist%,%artist%)/" \
     "$if(%_multiartist%,%artist% - ,)" \
     "%title%"
 
+
+_default_music_dir = QStandardPaths.writableLocation(QStandardPaths.MusicLocation)
+
+
 class RenamingOptionsPage(OptionsPage):
 
     NAME = "filerenaming"
@@ -58,7 +63,7 @@ class RenamingOptionsPage(OptionsPage):
             _DEFAULT_FILE_NAMING_FORMAT,
         ),
         config.BoolOption("setting", "move_files", False),
-        config.TextOption("setting", "move_files_to", ""),
+        config.TextOption("setting", "move_files_to", _default_music_dir),
         config.BoolOption("setting", "move_additional_files", False),
         config.TextOption("setting", "move_additional_files_pattern", "*.jpg *.png"),
         config.BoolOption("setting", "delete_empty_dirs", True),