diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/inserter/menu.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/inserter/menu.js
index 6a38e52cbffba1..8e93ed59836ee1 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/inserter/menu.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/inserter/menu.js
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ function InserterMenu(
 		showMostUsedBlocks,
 		__experimentalFilterValue = '',
 		shouldFocusBlock = true,
+		__experimentalInitialCategory,
 	},
 	ref
 ) {
@@ -56,8 +57,9 @@ function InserterMenu(
 	const [ patternFilter, setPatternFilter ] = useState( 'all' );
 	const [ selectedMediaCategory, setSelectedMediaCategory ] =
 		useState( null );
-	const [ selectedTab, setSelectedTab ] = useState( null );
-
+	const [ selectedTab, setSelectedTab ] = useState(
+		__experimentalInitialCategory || null
+	);
 	const [ destinationRootClientId, onInsertBlocks, onToggleInsertionPoint ] =
 		useInsertionPoint( {
 			rootClientId,
@@ -259,6 +261,7 @@ function InserterMenu(
 						showMedia={ showMedia }
 						onSelect={ handleSetSelectedTab }
 						tabsContents={ inserterTabsContents }
+						initialTabId={ __experimentalInitialCategory }
 					/>
 				) }
 				{ ! delayedFilterValue && ! showAsTabs && (
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/inserter/tabs.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/inserter/tabs.js
index 4795c3ce4fdc24..af86d7dc69a8db 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/inserter/tabs.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/inserter/tabs.js
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ function InserterTabs( {
 	showMedia = false,
 	onSelect,
 	tabsContents,
+	initialTabId,
 } ) {
 	const tabs = [
 		blocksTab,
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ function InserterTabs( {
 
 	return (
 		<div className="block-editor-inserter__tabs">
-			<Tabs onSelect={ onSelect }>
+			<Tabs initialTabId={ initialTabId } onSelect={ onSelect }>
 				<Tabs.TabList>
 					{ tabs.map( ( tab ) => (
 						<Tabs.Tab key={ tab.name } tabId={ tab.name }>