diff --git a/extensions/data-workspace/src/dialogs/openExistingDialog.ts b/extensions/data-workspace/src/dialogs/openExistingDialog.ts
index bfb1d8b483..748f317beb 100644
--- a/extensions/data-workspace/src/dialogs/openExistingDialog.ts
+++ b/extensions/data-workspace/src/dialogs/openExistingDialog.ts
@@ -244,7 +244,8 @@ export async function browseForProject(workspaceService: IWorkspaceService): Pro
 		canSelectFolders: false,
 		canSelectMany: false,
 		openLabel: constants.SelectProjectFileActionName,
-		filters: filters
+		filters: filters,
+		defaultUri: defaultProjectSaveLocation()
 	});
 
 	return fileUris?.[0];