diff --git a/crates/uv-settings/src/settings.rs b/crates/uv-settings/src/settings.rs
index 350e32d5d69f..f9c532f85518 100644
--- a/crates/uv-settings/src/settings.rs
+++ b/crates/uv-settings/src/settings.rs
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ pub struct ResolverInstallerOptions {
     /// preferring older versions that are compatible with a wider range of supported Python
     /// versions or platforms.
     #[option(
-        default = "\"fewest\"",
+        default = "\"requires-python\"",
         value_type = "str",
         example = r#"
             fork-strategy = "fewest"
@@ -1099,7 +1099,7 @@ pub struct PipOptions {
     /// preferring older versions that are compatible with a wider range of supported Python
     /// versions or platforms.
     #[option(
-        default = "\"fewest\"",
+        default = "\"requires-python\"",
         value_type = "str",
         example = r#"
             fork-strategy = "fewest"
diff --git a/docs/reference/settings.md b/docs/reference/settings.md
index 59b4865992ff..8d9fed140c83 100644
--- a/docs/reference/settings.md
+++ b/docs/reference/settings.md
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ Under `fewest`, uv will minimize the number of selected versions for each packag
 preferring older versions that are compatible with a wider range of supported Python
 versions or platforms.
 
-**Default value**: `"fewest"`
+**Default value**: `"requires-python"`
 
 **Possible values**:
 
@@ -2158,7 +2158,7 @@ Under `fewest`, uv will minimize the number of selected versions for each packag
 preferring older versions that are compatible with a wider range of supported Python
 versions or platforms.
 
-**Default value**: `"fewest"`
+**Default value**: `"requires-python"`
 
 **Possible values**: