diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.cpp
index b283862c467..9ffd402d3ed 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.cpp
@@ -1078,6 +1078,11 @@ bool Project::isModified() const
     return !modifiedDocuments().isEmpty();
 }
 
+bool Project::isEditModePreferred() const
+{
+    return true;
+}
+
 #if defined(WITH_TESTS)
 
 static FilePath constructTestPath(const char *basePath)
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.h b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.h
index ab9b55cd47d..22495aa47a1 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.h
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/project.h
@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@ public:
     QList<Core::IDocument *> modifiedDocuments() const;
     bool isModified() const;
 
+    virtual bool isEditModePreferred() const;
+
 signals:
     void projectFileIsDirty(const Utils::FilePath &path);
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.cpp
index f869a9d3cd4..692efcb988b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/projectexplorer.cpp
@@ -2512,12 +2512,13 @@ ProjectExplorerPlugin::OpenProjectResult ProjectExplorerPlugin::openProjects(con
     }
     dd->updateActions();
 
-    bool switchToProjectsMode = Utils::anyOf(openedPro, &Project::needsConfiguration);
-
+    const bool switchToProjectsMode = Utils::anyOf(openedPro, &Project::needsConfiguration);
+    const bool switchToEditMode = Utils::allOf(openedPro,
+                                               [](Project *p) { return p->isEditModePreferred(); });
     if (!openedPro.isEmpty()) {
         if (switchToProjectsMode)
             ModeManager::activateMode(Constants::MODE_SESSION);
-        else
+        else if (switchToEditMode)
             ModeManager::activateMode(Core::Constants::MODE_EDIT);
         ModeManager::setFocusToCurrentMode();
     }
diff --git a/src/plugins/qmlprojectmanager/qmlproject.cpp b/src/plugins/qmlprojectmanager/qmlproject.cpp
index 7e88a6168a9..e96dadb970b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmlprojectmanager/qmlproject.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/qmlprojectmanager/qmlproject.cpp
@@ -456,6 +456,11 @@ Tasks QmlProject::projectIssues(const Kit *k) const
     return result;
 }
 
+bool QmlProject::isEditModePreferred() const
+{
+    return !isQtDesignStudio();
+}
+
 Project::RestoreResult QmlProject::fromMap(const QVariantMap &map, QString *errorMessage)
 {
     RestoreResult result = Project::fromMap(map, errorMessage);
diff --git a/src/plugins/qmlprojectmanager/qmlproject.h b/src/plugins/qmlprojectmanager/qmlproject.h
index f21f8a5610e..a351d394c7d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmlprojectmanager/qmlproject.h
+++ b/src/plugins/qmlprojectmanager/qmlproject.h
@@ -148,6 +148,8 @@ public:
 
     static bool isQtDesignStudio();
 
+    bool isEditModePreferred() const override;
+
 protected:
     RestoreResult fromMap(const QVariantMap &map, QString *errorMessage) override;