diff --git a/custom/conf/app.example.ini b/custom/conf/app.example.ini
index df49851311883..4b5c2b1022725 100644
--- a/custom/conf/app.example.ini
+++ b/custom/conf/app.example.ini
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ PATH =
 ;DISABLE_STARS = false
 ;;
 ;; The default branch name of new repositories
-;DEFAULT_BRANCH = master
+;DEFAULT_BRANCH = main
 ;;
 ;; Allow adoption of unadopted repositories
 ;ALLOW_ADOPTION_OF_UNADOPTED_REPOSITORIES = false
diff --git a/docs/content/doc/advanced/config-cheat-sheet.en-us.md b/docs/content/doc/advanced/config-cheat-sheet.en-us.md
index 967cd42381062..9d70269bf2fd4 100644
--- a/docs/content/doc/advanced/config-cheat-sheet.en-us.md
+++ b/docs/content/doc/advanced/config-cheat-sheet.en-us.md
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Values containing `#` or `;` must be quoted using `` ` `` or `"""`.
 - `PREFIX_ARCHIVE_FILES`: **true**: Prefix archive files by placing them in a directory named after the repository.
 - `DISABLE_MIGRATIONS`: **false**: Disable migrating feature.
 - `DISABLE_STARS`: **false**: Disable stars feature.
-- `DEFAULT_BRANCH`: **master**: Default branch name of all repositories.
+- `DEFAULT_BRANCH`: **main**: Default branch name of all repositories.
 - `ALLOW_ADOPTION_OF_UNADOPTED_REPOSITORIES`: **false**: Allow non-admin users to adopt unadopted repositories
 - `ALLOW_DELETION_OF_UNADOPTED_REPOSITORIES`: **false**: Allow non-admin users to delete unadopted repositories
 
diff --git a/integrations/integration_test.go b/integrations/integration_test.go
index e7ceb33e96bff..8d2bfe9383f9c 100644
--- a/integrations/integration_test.go
+++ b/integrations/integration_test.go
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ func initIntegrationTest() {
 
 	setting.SetCustomPathAndConf("", "", "")
 	setting.LoadForTest()
+	setting.Repository.DefaultBranch = "master" // many test code still assume that default branch is called "master"
 	_ = util.RemoveAll(models.LocalCopyPath())
 	git.CheckLFSVersion()
 	setting.InitDBConfig()
diff --git a/models/unittest/testdb.go b/models/unittest/testdb.go
index b6924d4706808..4f1bd63f29a70 100644
--- a/models/unittest/testdb.go
+++ b/models/unittest/testdb.go
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ func MainTest(m *testing.M, pathToGiteaRoot string, fixtureFiles ...string) {
 	setting.SSH.Port = 3000
 	setting.SSH.Domain = "try.gitea.io"
 	setting.Database.UseSQLite3 = true
+	setting.Repository.DefaultBranch = "master" // many test code still assume that default branch is called "master"
 	repoRootPath, err := os.MkdirTemp(os.TempDir(), "repos")
 	if err != nil {
 		fatalTestError("TempDir: %v\n", err)
diff --git a/modules/setting/repository.go b/modules/setting/repository.go
index f4a2f4ad66a82..96b37f6980a01 100644
--- a/modules/setting/repository.go
+++ b/modules/setting/repository.go
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ var (
 		PrefixArchiveFiles:                      true,
 		DisableMigrations:                       false,
 		DisableStars:                            false,
-		DefaultBranch:                           "master",
+		DefaultBranch:                           "main",
 
 		// Repository editor settings
 		Editor: struct {