diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index dcfa68efd8e1..d209a68a412c 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -20,3 +20,4 @@ libpeerconnection.log
 npm-debug.log
 /tmp/
 /scripts/bower/bower-*
+.vscode
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/content/guide/$location.ngdoc b/docs/content/guide/$location.ngdoc
index d2d1074df64f..9d8481b34e51 100644
--- a/docs/content/guide/$location.ngdoc
+++ b/docs/content/guide/$location.ngdoc
@@ -99,11 +99,11 @@ To configure the `$location` service, retrieve the
 
 - **hashPrefix(prefix)**: {string}<br />
   prefix used for Hashbang URLs (used in Hashbang mode or in legacy browser in Html5 mode)<br />
-  default: `""`
+  default: `"!"`
 
 ### Example configuration
 ```js
-$locationProvider.html5Mode(true).hashPrefix('!');
+$locationProvider.html5Mode(true).hashPrefix('*');
 ```
 
 ## Getter and setter methods
diff --git a/src/ng/location.js b/src/ng/location.js
index 3c91549b53b4..655f8784f414 100644
--- a/src/ng/location.js
+++ b/src/ng/location.js
@@ -701,7 +701,7 @@ function locationGetterSetter(property, preprocess) {
  * Use the `$locationProvider` to configure how the application deep linking paths are stored.
  */
 function $LocationProvider() {
-  var hashPrefix = '',
+  var hashPrefix = '!',
       html5Mode = {
         enabled: false,
         requireBase: true,
@@ -712,6 +712,7 @@ function $LocationProvider() {
    * @ngdoc method
    * @name $locationProvider#hashPrefix
    * @description
+   * The default value for the prefix is `'!'`.
    * @param {string=} prefix Prefix for hash part (containing path and search)
    * @returns {*} current value if used as getter or itself (chaining) if used as setter
    */
diff --git a/test/ng/browserSpecs.js b/test/ng/browserSpecs.js
index 35f45cce6fdf..6630a6383b59 100755
--- a/test/ng/browserSpecs.js
+++ b/test/ng/browserSpecs.js
@@ -755,9 +755,9 @@ describe('browser', function() {
           $rootScope.$apply(function() {
             $location.path('/initialPath');
           });
-          expect(fakeWindow.location.href).toBe('http://server/#/initialPath');
+          expect(fakeWindow.location.href).toBe('http://server/#!/initialPath');
 
-          fakeWindow.location.href = 'http://server/#/someTestHash';
+          fakeWindow.location.href = 'http://server/#!/someTestHash';
 
           $rootScope.$digest();
 
@@ -774,9 +774,9 @@ describe('browser', function() {
           $rootScope.$apply(function() {
             $location.path('/initialPath');
           });
-          expect(fakeWindow.location.href).toBe('http://server/#/initialPath');
+          expect(fakeWindow.location.href).toBe('http://server/#!/initialPath');
 
-          fakeWindow.location.href = 'http://server/#/someTestHash';
+          fakeWindow.location.href = 'http://server/#!/someTestHash';
 
           $rootScope.$digest();
 
@@ -793,9 +793,9 @@ describe('browser', function() {
           $rootScope.$apply(function() {
             $location.path('/initialPath');
           });
-          expect(fakeWindow.location.href).toBe('http://server/#/initialPath');
+          expect(fakeWindow.location.href).toBe('http://server/#!/initialPath');
 
-          fakeWindow.location.href = 'http://server/#/someTestHash';
+          fakeWindow.location.href = 'http://server/#!/someTestHash';
 
           $rootScope.$digest();
 
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ describe('browser', function() {
         $rootScope.$digest();
 
         // from $location for rewriting the initial url into a hash url
-        expect(browser.url).toHaveBeenCalledWith('http://server/#/some/deep/path', true);
+        expect(browser.url).toHaveBeenCalledWith('http://server/#!/some/deep/path', true);
         expect(changeUrlCount).toBe(1);
       });
 
diff --git a/test/ng/locationSpec.js b/test/ng/locationSpec.js
index 07efc1bbe776..6048ac7fc4cb 100644
--- a/test/ng/locationSpec.js
+++ b/test/ng/locationSpec.js
@@ -13,6 +13,28 @@ describe('$location', function() {
   });
 
 
+  describe('defaults', function() {
+    it('should have hashPrefix of "!"', function() {
+      initService({});
+      inject(
+        initBrowser({ url: 'http://host.com/base/index.html', basePath: '/base/index.html' }),
+        function($location) {
+          $location.path('/a/b/c');
+          expect($location.absUrl()).toEqual('http://host.com/base/index.html#!/a/b/c');
+        });
+    });
+
+    it('should not be html5 mode', function() {
+      initService({});
+      inject(
+        initBrowser({ url: 'http://host.com/base/index.html', basePath: '/base/index.html' }),
+        function($location) {
+          $location.path('/a/b/c');
+          expect($location.absUrl()).toContain('#!');
+        });
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('File Protocol', function() {
     /* global urlParsingNode: true */
     var urlParsingNodePlaceholder;
@@ -676,10 +698,10 @@ describe('$location', function() {
                 $location.path('/').replace();
             }
           });
-          expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/base/#/home');
+          expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/base/#!/home');
           $rootScope.$digest();
           expect(handlerCalled).toEqual(true);
-          expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/base/#/');
+          expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/base/#!/');
         }
       );
     });
@@ -716,7 +738,7 @@ describe('$location', function() {
 
           $rootScope.$digest();
 
-          expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/app/#/Home');
+          expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/app/#!/Home');
           expect($location.path()).toEqual('/Home');
           expect($browserUrl).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
         });
@@ -732,10 +754,10 @@ describe('$location', function() {
 
           $rootScope.$digest();
 
-          expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/app/#/');
+          expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/app/#!/');
           expect($location.path()).toEqual('/');
           expect($browserUrl).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-          expect($browserUrl.calls.argsFor(0)).toEqual(['http://server/app/#/', false, null]);
+          expect($browserUrl.calls.argsFor(0)).toEqual(['http://server/app/#!/', false, null]);
         });
       });
 
@@ -748,10 +770,10 @@ describe('$location', function() {
           updatePathOnLocationChangeSuccessTo('/Home');
           $rootScope.$digest();
 
-          expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/app/#/Home');
+          expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/app/#!/Home');
           expect($location.path()).toEqual('/Home');
           expect($browserUrl).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-          expect($browserUrl.calls.argsFor(0)).toEqual(['http://server/app/#/Home', false, null]);
+          expect($browserUrl.calls.argsFor(0)).toEqual(['http://server/app/#!/Home', false, null]);
         });
       });
 
@@ -764,7 +786,7 @@ describe('$location', function() {
           updatePathOnLocationChangeSuccessTo('/');
           $rootScope.$digest();
 
-          expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/app/#/');
+          expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/app/#!/');
           expect($location.path()).toEqual('/');
           expect($browserUrl).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
         });
@@ -1822,17 +1844,17 @@ describe('$location', function() {
         // we need to do this otherwise we can't simulate events
         $document.find('body').append($rootElement);
 
-        var element = $compile('<a href="#/view1">v1</a><a href="#/view2">v2</a>')($rootScope);
+        var element = $compile('<a href="#!/view1">v1</a><a href="#!/view2">v2</a>')($rootScope);
         $rootElement.append(element);
         var av1 = $rootElement.find('a').eq(0);
         var av2 = $rootElement.find('a').eq(1);
 
 
         browserTrigger(av1, 'click');
-        expect($browser.url()).toEqual(base + '#/view1');
+        expect($browser.url()).toEqual(base + '#!/view1');
 
         browserTrigger(av2, 'click');
-        expect($browser.url()).toEqual(base + '#/view2');
+        expect($browser.url()).toEqual(base + '#!/view2');
 
         $rootElement.remove();
       });
@@ -1844,27 +1866,27 @@ describe('$location', function() {
       var base;
       module(function($locationProvider) {
         return function($browser) {
-          window.location.hash = '!someHash';
+          window.location.hash = '!!someHash';
           $browser.url(base = window.location.href);
           base = base.split('#')[0];
-          $locationProvider.hashPrefix('!');
+          $locationProvider.hashPrefix('!!');
         };
       });
       inject(function($rootScope, $compile, $browser, $rootElement, $document, $location) {
         // we need to do this otherwise we can't simulate events
         $document.find('body').append($rootElement);
 
-        var element = $compile('<a href="#!/view1">v1</a><a href="#!/view2">v2</a>')($rootScope);
+        var element = $compile('<a href="#!!/view1">v1</a><a href="#!!/view2">v2</a>')($rootScope);
         $rootElement.append(element);
         var av1 = $rootElement.find('a').eq(0);
         var av2 = $rootElement.find('a').eq(1);
 
 
         browserTrigger(av1, 'click');
-        expect($browser.url()).toEqual(base + '#!/view1');
+        expect($browser.url()).toEqual(base + '#!!/view1');
 
         browserTrigger(av2, 'click');
-        expect($browser.url()).toEqual(base + '#!/view2');
+        expect($browser.url()).toEqual(base + '#!!/view2');
       });
     });
 
@@ -1992,11 +2014,11 @@ describe('$location', function() {
       $rootScope.$apply();
 
       expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/somePath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/somePath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
       expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#/somePath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/#/somePath']);
+          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#!/somePath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/#!/somePath']);
       expect($location.url()).toEqual('/somePath');
-      expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#/somePath');
+      expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#!/somePath');
     }));
 
 
@@ -2021,7 +2043,7 @@ describe('$location', function() {
       $rootScope.$apply();
 
       expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/somePath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/somePath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
       expect($log.info.logs[1]).toBeUndefined();
       expect($location.url()).toEqual('');
       expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/');
@@ -2031,7 +2053,7 @@ describe('$location', function() {
       inject(function($location, $browser, $rootScope, $log) {
         $rootScope.$on('$locationChangeStart', function(event, newUrl, oldUrl) {
           $log.info('before', newUrl, oldUrl, $browser.url());
-          if (newUrl === 'http://server/#/somePath') {
+          if (newUrl === 'http://server/#!/somePath') {
             $location.url('/redirectPath');
           }
         });
@@ -2043,15 +2065,15 @@ describe('$location', function() {
         $rootScope.$apply();
 
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/somePath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/somePath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/redirectPath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/redirectPath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#/redirectPath', 'http://server/',
-                  'http://server/#/redirectPath']);
+          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#!/redirectPath', 'http://server/',
+                  'http://server/#!/redirectPath']);
 
         expect($location.url()).toEqual('/redirectPath');
-        expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#/redirectPath');
+        expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#!/redirectPath');
       })
     );
 
@@ -2059,7 +2081,7 @@ describe('$location', function() {
       inject(function($location, $browser, $rootScope, $log) {
         $rootScope.$on('$locationChangeStart', function(event, newUrl, oldUrl) {
           $log.info('before', newUrl, oldUrl, $browser.url());
-          if (newUrl === 'http://server/#/somePath') {
+          if (newUrl === 'http://server/#!/somePath') {
             event.preventDefault();
             $location.url('/redirectPath');
           }
@@ -2072,15 +2094,15 @@ describe('$location', function() {
         $rootScope.$apply();
 
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/somePath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/somePath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/redirectPath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/redirectPath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#/redirectPath', 'http://server/',
-                  'http://server/#/redirectPath']);
+          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#!/redirectPath', 'http://server/',
+                  'http://server/#!/redirectPath']);
 
         expect($location.url()).toEqual('/redirectPath');
-        expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#/redirectPath');
+        expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#!/redirectPath');
       })
     );
 
@@ -2088,9 +2110,9 @@ describe('$location', function() {
       inject(function($location, $browser, $rootScope, $log) {
         $rootScope.$on('$locationChangeStart', function(event, newUrl, oldUrl) {
           $log.info('before', newUrl, oldUrl, $browser.url());
-          if (newUrl === 'http://server/#/somePath') {
+          if (newUrl === 'http://server/#!/somePath') {
             $location.url('/redirectPath');
-          } else if (newUrl === 'http://server/#/redirectPath') {
+          } else if (newUrl === 'http://server/#!/redirectPath') {
             $location.url('/redirectPath2');
           }
         });
@@ -2102,17 +2124,17 @@ describe('$location', function() {
         $rootScope.$apply();
 
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/somePath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/somePath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/redirectPath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/redirectPath', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/redirectPath2', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/redirectPath2', 'http://server/', 'http://server/']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#/redirectPath2', 'http://server/',
-                  'http://server/#/redirectPath2']);
+          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#!/redirectPath2', 'http://server/',
+                  'http://server/#!/redirectPath2']);
 
         expect($location.url()).toEqual('/redirectPath2');
-        expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#/redirectPath2');
+        expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#!/redirectPath2');
       })
     );
 
@@ -2131,13 +2153,13 @@ describe('$location', function() {
         });
 
 
-        $browser.url('http://server/#/somePath');
+        $browser.url('http://server/#!/somePath');
         $browser.poll();
 
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['start', 'http://server/#/somePath', 'http://server/']);
+          toEqual(['start', 'http://server/#!/somePath', 'http://server/']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#/somePath', 'http://server/']);
+          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#!/somePath', 'http://server/']);
       })
     );
 
@@ -2146,7 +2168,7 @@ describe('$location', function() {
         $location.url('/somepath');
         $rootScope.$apply();
 
-        expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#/somepath');
+        expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#!/somepath');
         expect($location.url()).toEqual('/somepath');
 
         $rootScope.$on('$locationChangeStart', function(event, newUrl, oldUrl) {
@@ -2160,9 +2182,9 @@ describe('$location', function() {
         $browser.poll();
 
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['start', 'http://server/', 'http://server/#/somepath']);
+          toEqual(['start', 'http://server/', 'http://server/#!/somepath']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/', 'http://server/#/somepath']);
+          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/', 'http://server/#!/somepath']);
       })
     );
 
@@ -2170,7 +2192,7 @@ describe('$location', function() {
       inject(function($location, $browser, $rootScope, $log) {
         $rootScope.$on('$locationChangeStart', function(event, newUrl, oldUrl) {
           $log.info('before', newUrl, oldUrl, $browser.url());
-          if (newUrl === 'http://server/#/somePath') {
+          if (newUrl === 'http://server/#!/somePath') {
             $location.url('/redirectPath');
           }
         });
@@ -2178,21 +2200,21 @@ describe('$location', function() {
           $log.info('after', newUrl, oldUrl, $browser.url());
         });
 
-        $browser.url('http://server/#/somePath');
+        $browser.url('http://server/#!/somePath');
         $browser.poll();
 
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/somePath', 'http://server/',
-                  'http://server/#/somePath']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/somePath', 'http://server/',
+                  'http://server/#!/somePath']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/redirectPath', 'http://server/#/somePath',
-                  'http://server/#/somePath']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/redirectPath', 'http://server/#!/somePath',
+                  'http://server/#!/somePath']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#/redirectPath', 'http://server/#/somePath',
-                  'http://server/#/redirectPath']);
+          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#!/redirectPath', 'http://server/#!/somePath',
+                  'http://server/#!/redirectPath']);
 
         expect($location.url()).toEqual('/redirectPath');
-        expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#/redirectPath');
+        expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#!/redirectPath');
       })
     );
 
@@ -2200,7 +2222,7 @@ describe('$location', function() {
       inject(function($location, $browser, $rootScope, $log) {
         $rootScope.$on('$locationChangeStart', function(event, newUrl, oldUrl) {
           $log.info('before', newUrl, oldUrl, $browser.url());
-          if (newUrl === 'http://server/#/somePath') {
+          if (newUrl === 'http://server/#!/somePath') {
             event.preventDefault();
             $location.url('/redirectPath');
           }
@@ -2209,28 +2231,28 @@ describe('$location', function() {
           $log.info('after', newUrl, oldUrl, $browser.url());
         });
 
-        $browser.url('http://server/#/somePath');
+        $browser.url('http://server/#!/somePath');
         $browser.poll();
 
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/somePath', 'http://server/',
-                  'http://server/#/somePath']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/somePath', 'http://server/',
+                  'http://server/#!/somePath']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#/redirectPath', 'http://server/#/somePath',
-                  'http://server/#/somePath']);
+          toEqual(['before', 'http://server/#!/redirectPath', 'http://server/#!/somePath',
+                  'http://server/#!/somePath']);
         expect($log.info.logs.shift()).
-          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#/redirectPath', 'http://server/#/somePath',
-                  'http://server/#/redirectPath']);
+          toEqual(['after', 'http://server/#!/redirectPath', 'http://server/#!/somePath',
+                  'http://server/#!/redirectPath']);
 
         expect($location.url()).toEqual('/redirectPath');
-        expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#/redirectPath');
+        expect($browser.url()).toEqual('http://server/#!/redirectPath');
       })
     );
 
     it('should listen on click events on href and prevent browser default in hashbang mode', function() {
       module(function() {
         return function($rootElement, $compile, $rootScope) {
-          $rootElement.html('<a href="http://server/#/somePath">link</a>');
+          $rootElement.html('<a href="http://server/#!/somePath">link</a>');
           $compile($rootElement)($rootScope);
           jqLite(document.body).append($rootElement);
         };
@@ -2310,7 +2332,7 @@ describe('$location', function() {
         });
 
         // change through $browser
-        $browser.url(base + '#/myNewPath');
+        $browser.url(base + '#!/myNewPath');
         $browser.poll();
 
         expect(log).toEqual(['/myNewPath', '/', '/myNewPath']);
diff --git a/test/ngRoute/routeSpec.js b/test/ngRoute/routeSpec.js
index 9efc0b070d04..dc247a4788ea 100644
--- a/test/ngRoute/routeSpec.js
+++ b/test/ngRoute/routeSpec.js
@@ -1073,7 +1073,7 @@ describe('$route', function() {
 
         expect($location.path()).toEqual('/bar/id3');
         expect($browserUrl.calls.mostRecent().args)
-            .toEqual(['http://server/#/bar/id3?extra=eId', true, null]);
+            .toEqual(['http://server/#!/bar/id3?extra=eId', true, null]);
       });
     });
   });