diff --git a/nf_core/module-template/environment.yml b/nf_core/module-template/environment.yml
index dcf510affb..f234f85422 100644
--- a/nf_core/module-template/environment.yml
+++ b/nf_core/module-template/environment.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,5 @@ name: "{{ component_name_underscore }}"
 channels:
   - conda-forge
   - bioconda
-  - defaults
 dependencies:
   - "{{ bioconda if bioconda else 'YOUR-TOOL-HERE' }}"
diff --git a/nf_core/pipeline-template/modules/nf-core/fastqc/environment.yml b/nf_core/pipeline-template/modules/nf-core/fastqc/environment.yml
index 1787b38a9a..0d5be45f26 100644
--- a/nf_core/pipeline-template/modules/nf-core/fastqc/environment.yml
+++ b/nf_core/pipeline-template/modules/nf-core/fastqc/environment.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,5 @@ name: fastqc
 channels:
   - conda-forge
   - bioconda
-  - defaults
 dependencies:
   - bioconda::fastqc=0.12.1
diff --git a/nf_core/pipeline-template/modules/nf-core/multiqc/environment.yml b/nf_core/pipeline-template/modules/nf-core/multiqc/environment.yml
index ca39fb67e2..329ddb4870 100644
--- a/nf_core/pipeline-template/modules/nf-core/multiqc/environment.yml
+++ b/nf_core/pipeline-template/modules/nf-core/multiqc/environment.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,5 @@ name: multiqc
 channels:
   - conda-forge
   - bioconda
-  - defaults
 dependencies:
   - bioconda::multiqc=1.21
diff --git a/nf_core/pipeline-template/nextflow.config b/nf_core/pipeline-template/nextflow.config
index 2e6a56b001..6202aa8319 100644
--- a/nf_core/pipeline-template/nextflow.config
+++ b/nf_core/pipeline-template/nextflow.config
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ profiles {
         podman.enabled          = false
         shifter.enabled         = false
         charliecloud.enabled    = false
-        conda.channels          = ['conda-forge', 'bioconda', 'defaults']
+        conda.channels          = ['conda-forge', 'bioconda']
         apptainer.enabled       = false
     }
     mamba {
diff --git a/nf_core/pipeline-template/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline/main.nf b/nf_core/pipeline-template/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline/main.nf
index ac31f28f66..e770d91b97 100644
--- a/nf_core/pipeline-template/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline/main.nf
+++ b/nf_core/pipeline-template/subworkflows/nf-core/utils_nextflow_pipeline/main.nf
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def checkCondaChannels() {
 
     // Check that all channels are present
     // This channel list is ordered by required channel priority.
-    def required_channels_in_order = ['conda-forge', 'bioconda', 'defaults']
+    def required_channels_in_order = ['conda-forge', 'bioconda']
     def channels_missing = ((required_channels_in_order as Set) - (channels as Set)) as Boolean
 
     // Check that they are in the right order
diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
index 85f4e3c548..48288be817 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ def test_load_pipeline_config(self):
     # def test_load_conda_env(self):
     #     """Load the pipeline Conda environment.yml file"""
     #     self.pipeline_obj._load_conda_environment()
-    #     assert self.pipeline_obj.conda_config["channels"] == ["conda-forge", "bioconda", "defaults"]
+    #     assert self.pipeline_obj.conda_config["channels"] == ["conda-forge", "bioconda"]
 
     def test_list_files_git(self):
         """Test listing pipeline files using `git ls`"""