diff --git a/src/Settings/PaymentRuntime.php b/src/Settings/PaymentRuntime.php
index b7395ca9..753cd191 100644
--- a/src/Settings/PaymentRuntime.php
+++ b/src/Settings/PaymentRuntime.php
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class PaymentRuntime {
         $desc = sanitize_textarea_field((string) ($settings['pay_balance_desc'] ?? ''));
 
         return [
-            'enabled'         => !empty($settings['pay_balance_s']),
+            'enabled'         => !isset($settings['pay_balance_s']) || !empty($settings['pay_balance_s']),
             'withdraw_enabled' => !empty($settings['pay_balance_withdraw_s']),
             'desc'            => $desc,
             'packages_raw'    => $packages,
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ class PaymentRuntime {
         }
         $paypal_enabled = !empty($settings['pay_paypal_sdk_s']);
         $stripe_enabled = !empty($settings['pay_stripe_sdk_s']);
-        $balance_enabled = !empty($settings['pay_balance_s']);
+        $balance_enabled = !isset($settings['pay_balance_s']) || !empty($settings['pay_balance_s']);
         // 卡密收款接口随三个兑换开关任一生效（余额 / 积分 / 会员）。
         $card_pass_enabled = !empty($settings['pay_balance_pass_charge_s'])
             || !empty($settings['points_pass_exchange_s'])
@@ -512,13 +512,14 @@ class PaymentRuntime {
         $s = Settings::get_all();
         $channels = array_values(array_intersect(['alipay', 'wechat'], array_map('sanitize_key', (array) ($s['affiliate_payout_channels'] ?? ['alipay', 'wechat']))));
         if (!$channels) { $channels = ['alipay', 'wechat']; }
+        $reset_time_raw = (string) ($s['affiliate_withdrawal_reset_time'] ?? '00:00');
         return [
 			'min_amount'          => self::money_decimal($s['affiliate_min_withdrawal'] ?? '50.00', '50.00', 99999900),
 			'service_charge_rate' => max(0, min(100, (int) ($s['affiliate_withdrawal_fee'] ?? 5))),
             'daily_count'         => max(0, min(99999, (int) ($s['affiliate_daily_withdrawal_count'] ?? 3))),
 			'daily_limit'         => self::money_decimal($s['affiliate_daily_withdrawal_limit'] ?? '500.00', '500.00', 99999900),
-            'reset_time'          => preg_match('/^(?:[01]\\d|2[0-3]):[0-5]\\d$/', (string) ($s['affiliate_withdrawal_reset_time'] ?? '00:00'))
-                ? (string) $s['affiliate_withdrawal_reset_time']
+            'reset_time'          => preg_match('/^(?:[01]\\d|2[0-3]):[0-5]\\d$/', $reset_time_raw)
+                ? $reset_time_raw
                 : '00:00',
             'payout_channels'     => $channels,
         ];
@@ -553,7 +554,7 @@ class PaymentRuntime {
             case 'stripe':
                 return !empty($settings['pay_stripe_sdk_s']);
             case 'balance':
-                return !empty($settings['pay_balance_s']);
+                return !isset($settings['pay_balance_s']) || !empty($settings['pay_balance_s']);
             case 'card_pass':
                 // 收款接口随三个兑换开关任一生效（余额 / 积分 / 会员）。
                 return !empty($settings['pay_balance_pass_charge_s'])
diff --git a/tools/test-payment-runtime-defaults.php b/tools/test-payment-runtime-defaults.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0558c41f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/test-payment-runtime-defaults.php
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+<?php
+/**
+ * Test script to verify PaymentRuntime default values work correctly
+ * when database options are empty (fresh install scenario).
+ *
+ * Usage: php tools/test-payment-runtime-defaults.php
+ */
+
+// Simulate WordPress environment
+define('ABSPATH', dirname(__DIR__) . '/');
+define('WPINC', 'wp-includes');
+
+// Load Composer autoload
+require_once dirname(__DIR__) . '/vendor/autoload.php';
+
+// Mock WordPress functions
+if (!function_exists('__')) {
+    function __($text, $domain = 'default') { return $text; }
+}
+if (!function_exists('esc_url_raw')) {
+    function esc_url_raw($url) { return $url; }
+}
+if (!function_exists('sanitize_text_field')) {
+    function sanitize_text_field($str) { return trim(strip_tags($str)); }
+}
+if (!function_exists('sanitize_textarea_field')) {
+    function sanitize_textarea_field($str) { return trim(strip_tags($str)); }
+}
+if (!function_exists('sanitize_key')) {
+    function sanitize_key($key) { return strtolower(preg_replace('/[^a-z0-9_\-]/', '', $key)); }
+}
+if (!function_exists('wp_kses_post')) {
+    function wp_kses_post($data) { return $data; }
+}
+
+// Mock Settings class with empty data
+class MockSettings {
+    public static function get_all(): array {
+        // Simulate fresh install: empty settings
+        return [];
+    }
+    public static function credits_enabled(): bool { return true; }
+    public static function download_default_cost(): int { return 0; }
+}
+
+// Replace the real Settings class with mock
+class_alias('MockSettings', 'Jio\Settings\Settings');
+
+// Now test PaymentRuntime
+use Jio\Settings\PaymentRuntime;
+
+echo "Testing PaymentRuntime with empty database (fresh install)...\n\n";
+
+// Test 1: Recharge settings
+echo "1. Testing get_payment_recharge_settings():\n";
+$recharge = PaymentRuntime::get_payment_recharge_settings();
+echo "   - enabled: " . ($recharge['enabled'] ? 'true' : 'false') . " (expected: true)\n";
+echo "   - withdraw_enabled: " . ($recharge['withdraw_enabled'] ? 'true' : 'false') . " (expected: false)\n";
+if ($recharge['enabled'] !== true) {
+    echo "   ❌ FAIL: 'enabled' should be true by default!\n";
+} else {
+    echo "   ✅ PASS: 'enabled' is true\n";
+}
+echo "\n";
+
+// Test 2: Gateway settings
+echo "2. Testing get_payment_gateway_settings():\n";
+$gateway = PaymentRuntime::get_payment_gateway_settings();
+echo "   - balance_enabled: " . ($gateway['balance_enabled'] ? 'true' : 'false') . " (expected: true)\n";
+if ($gateway['balance_enabled'] !== true) {
+    echo "   ❌ FAIL: 'balance_enabled' should be true by default!\n";
+} else {
+    echo "   ✅ PASS: 'balance_enabled' is true\n";
+}
+echo "\n";
+
+// Test 3: is_gateway_enabled
+echo "3. Testing is_gateway_enabled('balance'):\n";
+$balance_enabled = PaymentRuntime::is_gateway_enabled('balance');
+echo "   - Result: " . ($balance_enabled ? 'true' : 'false') . " (expected: true)\n";
+if ($balance_enabled !== true) {
+    echo "   ❌ FAIL: balance gateway should be enabled by default!\n";
+} else {
+    echo "   ✅ PASS: balance gateway is enabled\n";
+}
+echo "\n";
+
+// Test 4: Withdrawal settings (no warning)
+echo "4. Testing get_withdrawal_settings() (should not trigger PHP warning):\n";
+try {
+    $withdrawal = PaymentRuntime::get_withdrawal_settings();
+    echo "   - reset_time: " . $withdrawal['reset_time'] . " (expected: 00:00)\n";
+    echo "   - min_amount: " . $withdrawal['min_amount'] . " (expected: 50.00)\n";
+    echo "   ✅ PASS: No PHP warning triggered\n";
+} catch (Throwable $e) {
+    echo "   ❌ FAIL: " . $e->getMessage() . "\n";
+}
+echo "\n";
+
+echo "All tests completed.\n";