diff --git a/packages/service-worker/src/module.ts b/packages/service-worker/src/module.ts
index 7e7779f5d7..85eef4f67c 100644
--- a/packages/service-worker/src/module.ts
+++ b/packages/service-worker/src/module.ts
@@ -100,7 +100,9 @@ export function ngswAppInitializer(
     if (typeof options.registrationStrategy === 'function') {
       readyToRegister$ = options.registrationStrategy();
     } else {
-      const [strategy, ...args] = (options.registrationStrategy || 'registerWhenStable').split(':');
+      const [strategy, ...args] =
+          (options.registrationStrategy || 'registerWhenStable:30000').split(':');
+
       switch (strategy) {
         case 'registerImmediately':
           readyToRegister$ = of (null);
diff --git a/packages/service-worker/test/module_spec.ts b/packages/service-worker/test/module_spec.ts
index 46591e100f..2f6d8a3768 100644
--- a/packages/service-worker/test/module_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/service-worker/test/module_spec.ts
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ describe('ServiceWorkerModule', () => {
             return isStableSub;
           };
 
-      it('defaults to registering the SW when the app stabilizes', fakeAsync(() => {
+      it('defaults to registering the SW when the app stabilizes (under 30s)', fakeAsync(() => {
            const isStableSub = configTestBedWithMockedStability();
 
            isStableSub.next(false);
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ describe('ServiceWorkerModule', () => {
            tick();
            expect(swRegisterSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 
-           tick(60000);
+           tick(20000);
            expect(swRegisterSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 
            isStableSub.next(true);
@@ -165,6 +165,17 @@ describe('ServiceWorkerModule', () => {
            expect(swRegisterSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('sw.js', {scope: undefined});
          }));
 
+      it('defaults to registering the SW after 30s if the app does not stabilize sooner',
+         fakeAsync(() => {
+           const isStableSub = configTestBedWithMockedStability();
+
+           tick(29999);
+           expect(swRegisterSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+           tick(1);
+           expect(swRegisterSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('sw.js', {scope: undefined});
+         }));
+
       it('registers the SW when the app stabilizes with `registerWhenStable:<timeout>`',
          fakeAsync(() => {
            const isStableSub = configTestBedWithMockedStability('registerWhenStable:1000');