diff --git a/src/common/__tests__/cluster-store.test.ts b/src/common/__tests__/cluster-store.test.ts
index 603a7c1b9e..d2d31302d1 100644
--- a/src/common/__tests__/cluster-store.test.ts
+++ b/src/common/__tests__/cluster-store.test.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,20 @@ import { workspaceStore } from "../workspace-store";
 
 const testDataIcon = fs.readFileSync("test-data/cluster-store-migration-icon.png");
 
+jest.mock("electron", () => {
+  return {
+    app: {
+      getVersion: () => "99.99.99",
+      getPath: () => "tmp",
+      getLocale: () => "en"
+    },
+    ipcMain: {
+      handle: jest.fn(),
+      on: jest.fn()
+    }
+  };
+});
+
 let clusterStore: ClusterStore;
 
 describe("empty config", () => {
@@ -48,6 +62,7 @@ describe("empty config", () => {
       expect(storedCluster.id).toBe("foo");
       expect(storedCluster.preferences.terminalCWD).toBe("/tmp");
       expect(storedCluster.preferences.icon).toBe("data:image/jpeg;base64, iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA1wAAAKoCAYAAABjkf5");
+      expect(storedCluster.enabled).toBe(true);
     });
 
     it("adds cluster to default workspace", () => {
@@ -170,7 +185,8 @@ describe("config with existing clusters", () => {
               kubeConfig: "foo",
               contextName: "foo",
               preferences: { terminalCWD: "/foo" },
-              workspace: "foo"
+              workspace: "foo",
+              ownerRef: "foo"
             },
           ]
         })
@@ -208,6 +224,12 @@ describe("config with existing clusters", () => {
     expect(storedClusters[1].preferences.terminalCWD).toBe("/foo2");
     expect(storedClusters[2].id).toBe("cluster3");
   });
+
+  it("marks owned cluster disabled by default", () => {
+    const storedClusters = clusterStore.clustersList;
+    expect(storedClusters[0].enabled).toBe(true);
+    expect(storedClusters[2].enabled).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
 
 describe("pre 2.0 config with an existing cluster", () => {
diff --git a/src/common/__tests__/workspace-store.test.ts b/src/common/__tests__/workspace-store.test.ts
index e50bb23c99..a15128f4e3 100644
--- a/src/common/__tests__/workspace-store.test.ts
+++ b/src/common/__tests__/workspace-store.test.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ jest.mock("electron", () => {
       getVersion: () => "99.99.99",
       getPath: () => "tmp",
       getLocale: () => "en"
+    },
+    ipcMain: {
+      handle: jest.fn(),
+      on: jest.fn()
     }
   };
 });
@@ -60,7 +64,9 @@ describe("workspace store tests", () => {
         name: "foobar",
       }));
 
-      expect(ws.getById("123").name).toBe("foobar");
+      const workspace = ws.getById("123");
+      expect(workspace.name).toBe("foobar");
+      expect(workspace.enabled).toBe(true);
     });
 
     it("cannot set a non-existent workspace to be active", () => {
diff --git a/src/common/cluster-store.ts b/src/common/cluster-store.ts
index 35ec663a55..5a9827eee5 100644
--- a/src/common/cluster-store.ts
+++ b/src/common/cluster-store.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { appEventBus } from "./event-bus";
 import { dumpConfigYaml } from "./kube-helpers";
 import { saveToAppFiles } from "./utils/saveToAppFiles";
 import { KubeConfig } from "@kubernetes/client-node";
-import { subscribeToBroadcast, unsubscribeAllFromBroadcast } from "./ipc";
+import { handleRequest, requestMain, subscribeToBroadcast, unsubscribeAllFromBroadcast } from "./ipc";
 import _ from "lodash";
 import move from "array-move";
 import type { WorkspaceId } from "./workspace-store";
@@ -40,13 +40,30 @@ export interface ClusterStoreModel {
 export type ClusterId = string;
 
 export interface ClusterModel {
+  /** Unique id for a cluster */
   id: ClusterId;
+
+  /** Path to cluster kubeconfig */
   kubeConfigPath: string;
+
+  /** Workspace id */
   workspace?: WorkspaceId;
+
+  /** User context in kubeconfig  */
   contextName?: string;
+
+  /** Preferences */
   preferences?: ClusterPreferences;
+
+  /** Metadata */
   metadata?: ClusterMetadata;
+
+  /**
+   * If extension sets ownerRef it has to explicitly mark a cluster as enabled during onActive (or when cluster is saved)
+   */
   ownerRef?: string;
+
+  /** List of accessible namespaces */
   accessibleNamespaces?: string[];
 
   /** @deprecated */
@@ -89,6 +106,8 @@ export class ClusterStore extends BaseStore<ClusterStoreModel> {
   @observable removedClusters = observable.map<ClusterId, Cluster>();
   @observable clusters = observable.map<ClusterId, Cluster>();
 
+  private static stateRequestChannel = "cluster:states";
+
   private constructor() {
     super({
       configName: "lens-cluster-store",
@@ -102,8 +121,40 @@ export class ClusterStore extends BaseStore<ClusterStoreModel> {
     this.pushStateToViewsAutomatically();
   }
 
+  async load() {
+    await super.load();
+    type clusterStateSync = {
+      id: string;
+      state: ClusterState;
+    };
+    if (ipcRenderer) {
+      logger.info("[CLUSTER-STORE] requesting initial state sync");
+      const clusterStates: clusterStateSync[] = await requestMain(ClusterStore.stateRequestChannel);
+      clusterStates.forEach((clusterState) => {
+        const cluster = this.getById(clusterState.id);
+        if (cluster) {
+          cluster.setState(clusterState.state);
+        }
+      });
+    } else {
+      handleRequest(ClusterStore.stateRequestChannel, (): clusterStateSync[] => {
+        const states: clusterStateSync[] = [];
+        this.clustersList.forEach((cluster) => {
+          states.push({
+            state: cluster.getState(),
+            id: cluster.id
+          });
+        });
+        return states;
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
   protected pushStateToViewsAutomatically() {
     if (!ipcRenderer) {
+      reaction(() => this.enabledClustersList, () => {
+        this.pushState();
+      });
       reaction(() => this.connectedClustersList, () => {
         this.pushState();
       });
@@ -205,6 +256,9 @@ export class ClusterStore extends BaseStore<ClusterStoreModel> {
     if (!(model instanceof Cluster)) {
       cluster = new Cluster(model);
     }
+    if (!cluster.isManaged) {
+      cluster.enabled = true;
+    }
     this.clusters.set(model.id, cluster);
     return cluster;
   }
diff --git a/src/common/workspace-store.ts b/src/common/workspace-store.ts
index 75ab36f19e..4d5af6da98 100644
--- a/src/common/workspace-store.ts
+++ b/src/common/workspace-store.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { action, computed, observable, toJS, reaction } from "mobx";
 import { BaseStore } from "./base-store";
 import { clusterStore } from "./cluster-store";
 import { appEventBus } from "./event-bus";
-import { broadcastMessage } from "../common/ipc";
+import { broadcastMessage, handleRequest, requestMain } from "../common/ipc";
 import logger from "../main/logger";
 import type { ClusterId } from "./cluster-store";
 
@@ -27,11 +27,45 @@ export interface WorkspaceState {
 }
 
 export class Workspace implements WorkspaceModel, WorkspaceState {
+  /**
+   * Unique id for workspace
+   *
+   * @observable
+   */
   @observable id: WorkspaceId;
+  /**
+   * Workspace name
+   *
+   * @observable
+   */
   @observable name: string;
+  /**
+   * Workspace description
+   *
+   * @observable
+   */
   @observable description?: string;
+  /**
+   * Workspace owner reference
+   *
+   * If extension sets ownerRef then it needs to explicitly mark workspace as enabled onActivate (or when workspace is saved)
+   *
+   * @observable
+   */
   @observable ownerRef?: string;
+  /**
+   * Is workspace enabled
+   *
+   * Workspaces that don't have ownerRef will be enabled by default. Workspaces with ownerRef need to explicitly enable a workspace.
+   *
+   * @observable
+   */
   @observable enabled: boolean;
+  /**
+   * Last active cluster id
+   *
+   * @observable
+   */
   @observable lastActiveClusterId?: ClusterId;
 
   constructor(data: WorkspaceModel) {
@@ -49,9 +83,9 @@ export class Workspace implements WorkspaceModel, WorkspaceState {
   }
 
   getState(): WorkspaceState {
-    return {
+    return toJS({
       enabled: this.enabled
-    };
+    });
   }
 
   pushState(state = this.getState()) {
@@ -77,16 +111,40 @@ export class Workspace implements WorkspaceModel, WorkspaceState {
 
 export class WorkspaceStore extends BaseStore<WorkspaceStoreModel> {
   static readonly defaultId: WorkspaceId = "default";
+  private static stateRequestChannel = "workspace:states";
 
   private constructor() {
     super({
       configName: "lens-workspace-store",
     });
+  }
 
-    if (!ipcRenderer) {
-      setInterval(() => {
-        this.pushState();
-      }, 5000);
+  async load() {
+    await super.load();
+    type workspaceStateSync = {
+      id: string;
+      state: WorkspaceState;
+    };
+    if (ipcRenderer) {
+      logger.info("[WORKSPACE-STORE] requesting initial state sync");
+      const workspaceStates: workspaceStateSync[] = await requestMain(WorkspaceStore.stateRequestChannel);
+      workspaceStates.forEach((workspaceState) => {
+        const workspace = this.getById(workspaceState.id);
+        if (workspace) {
+          workspace.setState(workspaceState.state);
+        }
+      });
+    } else {
+      handleRequest(WorkspaceStore.stateRequestChannel, (): workspaceStateSync[] => {
+        const states: workspaceStateSync[] = [];
+        this.workspacesList.forEach((workspace) => {
+          states.push({
+            state: workspace.getState(),
+            id: workspace.id
+          });
+        });
+        return states;
+      });
     }
   }
 
@@ -157,6 +215,10 @@ export class WorkspaceStore extends BaseStore<WorkspaceStoreModel> {
       return;
     }
     this.workspaces.set(id, workspace);
+    if (!workspace.isManaged) {
+      workspace.enabled = true;
+    }
+
     appEventBus.emit({name: "workspace", action: "add"});
     return workspace;
   }
diff --git a/src/main/cluster.ts b/src/main/cluster.ts
index 5ee7457529..3f03f90716 100644
--- a/src/main/cluster.ts
+++ b/src/main/cluster.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ export type ClusterRefreshOptions = {
 
 export interface ClusterState {
   initialized: boolean;
+  enabled: boolean;
   apiUrl: string;
   online: boolean;
   disconnected: boolean;
@@ -351,6 +352,7 @@ export class Cluster implements ClusterModel, ClusterState {
   getState(): ClusterState {
     const state: ClusterState = {
       initialized: this.initialized,
+      enabled: this.enabled,
       apiUrl: this.apiUrl,
       online: this.online,
       ready: this.ready,
diff --git a/src/renderer/components/+workspaces/workspaces.tsx b/src/renderer/components/+workspaces/workspaces.tsx
index ccffcca3b7..4dd3cd14b5 100644
--- a/src/renderer/components/+workspaces/workspaces.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/components/+workspaces/workspaces.tsx
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export class Workspaces extends React.Component {
 
   @computed get workspaces(): Workspace[] {
     const currentWorkspaces: Map<WorkspaceId, Workspace> = new Map();
-    workspaceStore.workspacesList.forEach((w) => {
+    workspaceStore.enabledWorkspacesList.forEach((w) => {
       currentWorkspaces.set(w.id, w);
     });
     const allWorkspaces = new Map([
diff --git a/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/clusters-menu.tsx b/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/clusters-menu.tsx
index ab608815aa..c3c710f8d9 100644
--- a/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/clusters-menu.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/clusters-menu.tsx
@@ -65,26 +65,28 @@ export class ClustersMenu extends React.Component<Props> {
         }
       }));
     }
-    menu.append(new MenuItem({
-      label: _i18n._(t`Remove`),
-      click: () => {
-        ConfirmDialog.open({
-          okButtonProps: {
-            primary: false,
-            accent: true,
-            label: _i18n._(t`Remove`),
-          },
-          ok: () => {
-            if (clusterStore.activeClusterId === cluster.id) {
-              navigate(landingURL());
-              clusterStore.setActive(null);
-            }
-            clusterStore.removeById(cluster.id);
-          },
-          message: <p>Are you sure want to remove cluster <b title={cluster.id}>{cluster.contextName}</b>?</p>,
-        });
-      }
-    }));
+    if (!cluster.isManaged) {
+      menu.append(new MenuItem({
+        label: _i18n._(t`Remove`),
+        click: () => {
+          ConfirmDialog.open({
+            okButtonProps: {
+              primary: false,
+              accent: true,
+              label: _i18n._(t`Remove`),
+            },
+            ok: () => {
+              if (clusterStore.activeClusterId === cluster.id) {
+                navigate(landingURL());
+                clusterStore.setActive(null);
+              }
+              clusterStore.removeById(cluster.id);
+            },
+            message: <p>Are you sure want to remove cluster <b title={cluster.id}>{cluster.contextName}</b>?</p>,
+          });
+        }
+      }));
+    }
     menu.popup({
       window: remote.getCurrentWindow()
     });
@@ -106,7 +108,7 @@ export class ClustersMenu extends React.Component<Props> {
     const { className } = this.props;
     const { newContexts } = userStore;
     const workspace = workspaceStore.getById(workspaceStore.currentWorkspaceId);
-    const clusters = clusterStore.getByWorkspaceId(workspace.id);
+    const clusters = clusterStore.getByWorkspaceId(workspace.id).filter(cluster => cluster.enabled);
     const activeClusterId = clusterStore.activeCluster;
     return (
       <div className={cssNames("ClustersMenu flex column", className)}>