diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/internal/SQLConf.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/internal/SQLConf.scala
index ce3f94618edeb..12d06d0f14d11 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/internal/SQLConf.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/internal/SQLConf.scala
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ object SQLConf {
   val DEFAULT_DATA_SOURCE_NAME = buildConf("spark.sql.sources.default")
     .doc("The default data source to use in input/output.")
     .stringConf
-    .createWithDefault("parquet")
+    .createWithDefault("json")
 
   val CONVERT_CTAS = buildConf("spark.sql.hive.convertCTAS")
     .internal()