diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/TESTING-INSTRUCTIONS.md b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/TESTING-INSTRUCTIONS.md
index 1e84fe63392..9b277859022 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/TESTING-INSTRUCTIONS.md
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/TESTING-INSTRUCTIONS.md
@@ -2,6 +2,15 @@
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+### Close activity panel tabs by default and track #6566
+
+1. Open your browser console and enter `localStorage.setItem( 'debug', 'wc-admin:tracks' );`.  Make sure the "Verbose" is selected under the levels shown.
+2. With the task list enabled, navigate to the homescreen.
+3. Check that the `wcadmin_activity_panel_visible_panels` event is shown with `taskList: true` in its data.
+4. Hide the task list.
+5. Note that `wcadmin_activity_panel_visible_panels` event is shown with visible activity panels.
+6. After refreshing, make sure that the "Orders" activity panel is closed by default.
+
 ### Update undefined task name properties for help panel tracks #6565
 
 1. Enter `localStorage.setItem( 'debug', 'wc-admin:*' );` into your console. Leave your console open.
diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/client/homescreen/activity-panel/index.js b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/client/homescreen/activity-panel/index.js
index 83085129af8..f9382c9758b 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/client/homescreen/activity-panel/index.js
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/client/homescreen/activity-panel/index.js
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import {
 } from '@wordpress/components';
 import { getSetting } from '@woocommerce/wc-admin-settings';
 import { OPTIONS_STORE_NAME } from '@woocommerce/data';
+import { recordEvent } from '@woocommerce/tracks';
+import { useEffect } from '@wordpress/element';
 
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
@@ -52,6 +54,17 @@ export const ActivityPanel = () => {
 
 	const panels = getAllPanels( panelsData );
 
+	useEffect( () => {
+		const visiblePanels = panels.reduce(
+			( acc, panel ) => {
+				acc[ panel.id ] = true;
+				return acc;
+			},
+			{ taskList: panelsData.isTaskListHidden !== 'yes' }
+		);
+		recordEvent( 'activity_panel_visible_panels', visiblePanels );
+	}, [ panelsData.isTaskListHidden ] );
+
 	if ( panels.length === 0 ) {
 		return null;
 	}
@@ -86,6 +99,15 @@ export const ActivityPanel = () => {
 						initialOpen={ initialOpen }
 						collapsible={ collapsible }
 						disabled={ ! collapsible }
+						onToggle={ ( isOpen ) => {
+							if ( ! isOpen ) {
+								return;
+							}
+
+							recordEvent( 'activity_panel_open', {
+								tab: id,
+							} );
+						} }
 					>
 						<PanelRow>{ panel }</PanelRow>
 					</PanelBody>
diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/client/homescreen/activity-panel/panels.js b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/client/homescreen/activity-panel/panels.js
index 2ca77779535..b0cdbe35b43 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/client/homescreen/activity-panel/panels.js
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/client/homescreen/activity-panel/panels.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export function getAllPanels( {
 			count: countUnreadOrders,
 			collapsible: true,
 			id: 'orders-panel',
-			initialOpen: true,
+			initialOpen: false,
 			panel: (
 				<OrdersPanel
 					countUnreadOrders={ countUnreadOrders }
diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/readme.txt b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/readme.txt
index c6b587360e0..00b50eeb388 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce-admin/readme.txt
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce-admin/readme.txt
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ Release and roadmap notes are available on the [WooCommerce Developers Blog](htt
 
 == Unreleased ==
 
+- Dev: Close activity panel tabs by default and track #6566
 - Dev: Update undefined task name properties for help panel tracks #6565
 - Fix: Allow the manager role to query certain options #6577
 - Fix: Fix hidden menu title on smaller screens #6562