Could not change default branch

[zen0bit]

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In half of my repos I could not change default branch.

No protection rules added...

I get message:

Without any explanation

[ARUNAGIRINATHAN-K]

If you're seeing the “Could not change default branch” error in some repositories, even without protection rules, here are a few things to check:

• ✅ Branch Exists: Ensure the branch you're trying to set as default has been pushed and is visible in the repo.

• ✅ Admin Access: You need admin rights to change the default branch. This can be restricted in organization-owned repos.

• ✅ Repo Status: Archived or template-based repositories may block branch changes.

• ✅ Inherited Rules: Even if no protection rules are set locally, org-level policies or inherited settings might prevent changes.

• ✅ Try CLI: If the UI fails, you can use GitHub CLI:

  gh repo edit --default-branch <branch-name>

This issue often occurs when the branch hasn’t been pushed yet or when permissions are limited. If none of these apply, refreshing the page or trying again after a few minutes sometimes resolves transient UI glitches.

[zen0bit]

GitHub-CLI worked out

But I want to solve it through GitHub webUI
Not every where i have access to GH-CLI...

[karantaragi07]

Web UI sometimes blocks default branch changes due to org-level rules, GitHub Pages, or required workflows, even if CLI works. You’ll need admin access or help from an org admin to change it through the browser.

[Aqib121201]

That usually happens because something in the repository’s settings or the organization’s policies is blocking the web interface from applying the change, even though the CLI call works. The web UI and the CLI go through slightly different permission checks, so it can fail in the browser while still working through the API.

First, make sure the branch you’re trying to set as default is fully pushed and up to date. Then reload the repository settings page and try again in a private browser window to rule out cached state or browser extensions. If it still fails, open the developer console before clicking “Change default branch” and check for any specific error in the network or console tab GitHub sometimes returns a more detailed message there than what’s shown in the banner.