diff --git a/google/cloud/bigtable/data/_async/client.py b/google/cloud/bigtable/data/_async/client.py
index a4390bf74..4ed83564a 100644
--- a/google/cloud/bigtable/data/_async/client.py
+++ b/google/cloud/bigtable/data/_async/client.py
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ def get_table(self, instance_id: str, table_id: str, *args, **kwargs) -> TableAs
             table_id: The ID of the table. table_id is combined with the
                 instance_id and the client's project to fully specify the table
             app_profile_id: The app profile to associate with requests.
-                If not set, will use "default".
+                If not set, will use empty string.
                 https://cloud.google.com/bigtable/docs/app-profiles
             default_read_rows_operation_timeout: The default timeout for read rows
                 operations, in seconds. If not set, defaults to 600 seconds (10 minutes)
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ async def execute_query(
                 detected automatically (i.e. the value can be None, an empty list or
                 an empty dict).
             app_profile_id: The app profile to associate with requests.
-                If not set, will use "default".
+                If not set, will use empty string.
                 https://cloud.google.com/bigtable/docs/app-profiles
             operation_timeout: the time budget for the entire operation, in seconds.
                 Failed requests will be retried within the budget.
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ async def execute_query(
 
         instance_name = self._gapic_client.instance_path(self.project, instance_id)
         if app_profile_id is None:
-            app_profile_id = "default"
+            app_profile_id = ""
 
         request_body = {
             "instance_name": instance_name,
@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ def __init__(
             table_id: The ID of the table. table_id is combined with the
                 instance_id and the client's project to fully specify the table
             app_profile_id: The app profile to associate with requests.
-                If not set, will use "default".
+                If not set, will use empty string.
                 https://cloud.google.com/bigtable/docs/app-profiles
             default_read_rows_operation_timeout: The default timeout for read rows
                 operations, in seconds. If not set, defaults to 600 seconds (10 minutes)
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ def __init__(
             self.client.project, instance_id, table_id
         )
         self.app_profile_id = (
-            app_profile_id if app_profile_id is not None else "default"
+            app_profile_id if app_profile_id is not None else ""
         )
 
         self.default_operation_timeout = default_operation_timeout
diff --git a/tests/unit/data/_async/test_client.py b/tests/unit/data/_async/test_client.py
index 57b3c9666..2575db8da 100644
--- a/tests/unit/data/_async/test_client.py
+++ b/tests/unit/data/_async/test_client.py
@@ -1069,7 +1069,7 @@ async def test_table_ctor_defaults(self):
         await CrossSync.yield_to_event_loop()
         assert table.table_id == expected_table_id
         assert table.instance_id == expected_instance_id
-        assert table.app_profile_id == "default"
+        assert table.app_profile_id == ""
         assert table.client is client
         assert table.default_operation_timeout == 60
         assert table.default_read_rows_operation_timeout == 600
@@ -1290,7 +1290,7 @@ async def test_call_metadata(self, include_app_profile, fn_name, fn_args, gapic_
         if include_app_profile:
             assert "app_profile_id=profile" in routing_str
         else:
-            assert "app_profile_id=default" in routing_str
+            assert "app_profile_id=" in routing_str
 
 
 @CrossSync.convert_class(
@@ -2938,7 +2938,7 @@ async def test_read_modify_write_call_defaults(self):
                         kwargs["table_name"]
                         == f"projects/{project}/instances/{instance}/tables/{table_id}"
                     )
-                    assert kwargs["app_profile_id"] == "default"
+                    assert kwargs["app_profile_id"] == ""
                     assert kwargs["row_key"] == row_key.encode()
                     assert kwargs["timeout"] > 1