diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/email/email_params.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/email/email_params.test.tsx
index 1762fc0b39f8e..7626606a0bf60 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/email/email_params.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/email/email_params.test.tsx
@@ -128,4 +128,62 @@ describe('EmailParamsFields renders', () => {
 
     expect(editAction).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith('message', 'Some different default message', 0);
   });
+
+  test('when useDefaultMessage is set to true and the default message changes, the underlying message is replaced with the default message', () => {
+    const actionParams = {
+      cc: [],
+      bcc: [],
+      to: ['test@test.com'],
+      subject: 'test',
+    };
+
+    const editAction = jest.fn();
+    const wrapper = mountWithIntl(
+      <EmailParamsFields
+        actionParams={{ ...actionParams, message: 'not the default message' }}
+        errors={{ to: [], cc: [], bcc: [], subject: [], message: [] }}
+        editAction={editAction}
+        defaultMessage={'Some default message'}
+        index={0}
+      />
+    );
+    const text = wrapper.find('[data-test-subj="messageTextArea"]').first().text();
+    expect(text).toEqual('not the default message');
+
+    wrapper.setProps({
+      useDefaultMessage: true,
+      defaultMessage: 'Some different default message',
+    });
+
+    expect(editAction).toHaveBeenCalledWith('message', 'Some different default message', 0);
+  });
+
+  test('when useDefaultMessage is set to false and the default message changes, the underlying message is not changed', () => {
+    const actionParams = {
+      cc: [],
+      bcc: [],
+      to: ['test@test.com'],
+      subject: 'test',
+    };
+
+    const editAction = jest.fn();
+    const wrapper = mountWithIntl(
+      <EmailParamsFields
+        actionParams={{ ...actionParams, message: 'not the default message' }}
+        errors={{ to: [], cc: [], bcc: [], subject: [], message: [] }}
+        editAction={editAction}
+        defaultMessage={'Some default message'}
+        index={0}
+      />
+    );
+    const text = wrapper.find('[data-test-subj="messageTextArea"]').first().text();
+    expect(text).toEqual('not the default message');
+
+    wrapper.setProps({
+      useDefaultMessage: false,
+      defaultMessage: 'Some different default message',
+    });
+
+    expect(editAction).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/email/email_params.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/email/email_params.tsx
index 29e2a8525ae04..a8df45ba0e33f 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/email/email_params.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/email/email_params.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export const EmailParamsFields = ({
   isDisabled,
   onBlur = noop,
   showEmailSubjectAndMessage = true,
+  useDefaultMessage,
 }: ActionParamsProps<EmailActionParams>) => {
   const { to, cc, bcc, subject, message } = actionParams;
   const toOptions = to ? to.map((label: string) => ({ label })) : [];
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ export const EmailParamsFields = ({
   >([false, defaultMessage]);
   useEffect(() => {
     if (
+      useDefaultMessage ||
       !actionParams?.message ||
       (isUsingDefault &&
         actionParams?.message === defaultMessageUsed &&
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/server_log/server_log_params.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/server_log/server_log_params.test.tsx
index 90bed8f28701a..6a5426d952897 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/server_log/server_log_params.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/server_log/server_log_params.test.tsx
@@ -136,4 +136,56 @@ describe('ServerLogParamsFields renders', () => {
 
     expect(editAction).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith('message', 'Some different default message', 0);
   });
+
+  test('when useDefaultMessage is set to true and the default message changes, the underlying message is replaced with the default message', () => {
+    const actionParams = {
+      level: ServerLogLevelOptions.TRACE,
+    };
+
+    const editAction = jest.fn();
+    const wrapper = mountWithIntl(
+      <ServerLogParamsFields
+        actionParams={{ ...actionParams, message: 'not the default message' }}
+        errors={{ message: [] }}
+        editAction={editAction}
+        defaultMessage={'Some default message'}
+        index={0}
+      />
+    );
+    const text = wrapper.find('[data-test-subj="messageTextArea"]').first().text();
+    expect(text).toEqual('not the default message');
+
+    wrapper.setProps({
+      useDefaultMessage: true,
+      defaultMessage: 'Some different default message',
+    });
+
+    expect(editAction).toHaveBeenCalledWith('message', 'Some different default message', 0);
+  });
+
+  test('when useDefaultMessage is set to false and the default message changes, the underlying message is not changed', () => {
+    const actionParams = {
+      level: ServerLogLevelOptions.TRACE,
+    };
+
+    const editAction = jest.fn();
+    const wrapper = mountWithIntl(
+      <ServerLogParamsFields
+        actionParams={{ ...actionParams, message: 'not the default message' }}
+        errors={{ message: [] }}
+        editAction={editAction}
+        defaultMessage={'Some default message'}
+        index={0}
+      />
+    );
+    const text = wrapper.find('[data-test-subj="messageTextArea"]').first().text();
+    expect(text).toEqual('not the default message');
+
+    wrapper.setProps({
+      useDefaultMessage: false,
+      defaultMessage: 'Some different default message',
+    });
+
+    expect(editAction).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/server_log/server_log_params.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/server_log/server_log_params.tsx
index f9882f1a67c76..7c74245289833 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/server_log/server_log_params.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/server_log/server_log_params.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,15 @@ import { ServerLogActionParams } from '../types';
 
 export const ServerLogParamsFields: React.FunctionComponent<
   ActionParamsProps<ServerLogActionParams>
-> = ({ actionParams, editAction, index, errors, messageVariables, defaultMessage }) => {
+> = ({
+  actionParams,
+  editAction,
+  index,
+  errors,
+  messageVariables,
+  defaultMessage,
+  useDefaultMessage,
+}) => {
   const { message, level } = actionParams;
   const levelOptions = [
     { value: 'trace', text: 'Trace' },
@@ -36,6 +44,7 @@ export const ServerLogParamsFields: React.FunctionComponent<
   >([false, defaultMessage]);
   useEffect(() => {
     if (
+      useDefaultMessage ||
       !actionParams?.message ||
       (isUsingDefault &&
         actionParams?.message === defaultMessageUsed &&
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/slack/slack_params.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/slack/slack_params.test.tsx
index 6611b33e094b2..faf6dc208a116 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/slack/slack_params.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/slack/slack_params.test.tsx
@@ -28,4 +28,56 @@ describe('SlackParamsFields renders', () => {
       'test message'
     );
   });
+
+  test('when useDefaultMessage is set to true and the default message changes, the underlying message is replaced with the default message', () => {
+    const actionParams = {
+      message: 'not the default message',
+    };
+
+    const editAction = jest.fn();
+    const wrapper = mountWithIntl(
+      <SlackParamsFields
+        actionParams={actionParams}
+        errors={{ message: [] }}
+        editAction={editAction}
+        defaultMessage={'Some default message'}
+        index={0}
+      />
+    );
+    const text = wrapper.find('[data-test-subj="messageTextArea"]').first().text();
+    expect(text).toEqual('not the default message');
+
+    wrapper.setProps({
+      useDefaultMessage: true,
+      defaultMessage: 'Some different default message',
+    });
+
+    expect(editAction).toHaveBeenCalledWith('message', 'Some different default message', 0);
+  });
+
+  test('when useDefaultMessage is set to false and the default message changes, the underlying message is not changed', () => {
+    const actionParams = {
+      message: 'not the default message',
+    };
+
+    const editAction = jest.fn();
+    const wrapper = mountWithIntl(
+      <SlackParamsFields
+        actionParams={actionParams}
+        errors={{ message: [] }}
+        editAction={editAction}
+        defaultMessage={'Some default message'}
+        index={0}
+      />
+    );
+    const text = wrapper.find('[data-test-subj="messageTextArea"]').first().text();
+    expect(text).toEqual('not the default message');
+
+    wrapper.setProps({
+      useDefaultMessage: false,
+      defaultMessage: 'Some different default message',
+    });
+
+    expect(editAction).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/slack/slack_params.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/slack/slack_params.tsx
index ec62b64b47961..4d219aebfe5bd 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/slack/slack_params.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/slack/slack_params.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ const SlackParamsFields: React.FunctionComponent<ActionParamsProps<SlackActionPa
   errors,
   messageVariables,
   defaultMessage,
+  useDefaultMessage,
 }) => {
   const { message } = actionParams;
   const [[isUsingDefault, defaultMessageUsed], setDefaultMessageUsage] = useState<
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ const SlackParamsFields: React.FunctionComponent<ActionParamsProps<SlackActionPa
   >([false, defaultMessage]);
   useEffect(() => {
     if (
+      useDefaultMessage ||
       !actionParams?.message ||
       (isUsingDefault &&
         actionParams?.message === defaultMessageUsed &&
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/teams/teams_params.test.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/teams/teams_params.test.tsx
index ac1228ac5fda4..b730e21bb350a 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/teams/teams_params.test.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/teams/teams_params.test.tsx
@@ -29,4 +29,56 @@ describe('TeamsParamsFields renders', () => {
       'test message'
     );
   });
+
+  test('when useDefaultMessage is set to true and the default message changes, the underlying message is replaced with the default message', () => {
+    const actionParams = {
+      message: 'not the default message',
+    };
+
+    const editAction = jest.fn();
+    const wrapper = mountWithIntl(
+      <TeamsParamsFields
+        actionParams={actionParams}
+        errors={{ message: [] }}
+        editAction={editAction}
+        defaultMessage={'Some default message'}
+        index={0}
+      />
+    );
+    const text = wrapper.find('[data-test-subj="messageTextArea"]').first().text();
+    expect(text).toEqual('not the default message');
+
+    wrapper.setProps({
+      useDefaultMessage: true,
+      defaultMessage: 'Some different default message',
+    });
+
+    expect(editAction).toHaveBeenCalledWith('message', 'Some different default message', 0);
+  });
+
+  test('when useDefaultMessage is set to false and the default message changes, the underlying message is not changed', () => {
+    const actionParams = {
+      message: 'not the default message',
+    };
+
+    const editAction = jest.fn();
+    const wrapper = mountWithIntl(
+      <TeamsParamsFields
+        actionParams={actionParams}
+        errors={{ message: [] }}
+        editAction={editAction}
+        defaultMessage={'Some default message'}
+        index={0}
+      />
+    );
+    const text = wrapper.find('[data-test-subj="messageTextArea"]').first().text();
+    expect(text).toEqual('not the default message');
+
+    wrapper.setProps({
+      useDefaultMessage: false,
+      defaultMessage: 'Some different default message',
+    });
+
+    expect(editAction).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/teams/teams_params.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/teams/teams_params.tsx
index d2ef099bee82b..93f8d0e0fe02e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/teams/teams_params.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/stack_connectors/public/connector_types/teams/teams_params.tsx
@@ -18,14 +18,15 @@ const TeamsParamsFields: React.FunctionComponent<ActionParamsProps<TeamsActionPa
   errors,
   messageVariables,
   defaultMessage,
+  useDefaultMessage,
 }) => {
   const { message } = actionParams;
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!message && defaultMessage && defaultMessage.length > 0) {
+    if (useDefaultMessage || (!message && defaultMessage && defaultMessage.length > 0)) {
       editAction('message', defaultMessage, index);
     }
     // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
-  }, []);
+  }, [defaultMessage]);
 
   return (
     <TextAreaWithMessageVariables
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/sections/action_connector_form/action_type_form.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/sections/action_connector_form/action_type_form.tsx
index 4615dae4780cb..11e987f87a8ce 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/sections/action_connector_form/action_type_form.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/application/sections/action_connector_form/action_type_form.tsx
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ export const ActionTypeForm = ({
     -1,
     's',
   ];
+  const [useDefaultMessage, setUseDefaultMessage] = useState(false);
   const isSummaryAction = actionItem.frequency?.summary;
 
   const getDefaultParams = async () => {
@@ -264,6 +265,8 @@ export const ActionTypeForm = ({
       )}
       onSummaryChange={useCallback(
         (summary: boolean) => {
+          // use the default message when a user toggles between action frequencies
+          setUseDefaultMessage(true);
           setActionFrequencyProperty('summary', summary, index);
         },
         [setActionFrequencyProperty, index]
@@ -387,6 +390,7 @@ export const ActionTypeForm = ({
                     ? defaultSummaryMessage
                     : selectedActionGroup?.defaultActionMessage ?? defaultActionMessage
                 }
+                useDefaultMessage={useDefaultMessage}
                 actionConnector={actionConnector}
                 executionMode={ActionConnectorMode.ActionForm}
               />
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/types.ts b/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/types.ts
index 6622b35fa8920..f99573150faaf 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/types.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/triggers_actions_ui/public/types.ts
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ export interface ActionParamsProps<TParams> {
   errors: IErrorObject;
   messageVariables?: ActionVariable[];
   defaultMessage?: string;
+  useDefaultMessage?: boolean;
   actionConnector?: ActionConnector;
   isLoading?: boolean;
   isDisabled?: boolean;