diff --git a/api_docs/changelog.md b/api_docs/changelog.md
index 5e6a667f02..2f556d42e2 100644
--- a/api_docs/changelog.md
+++ b/api_docs/changelog.md
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ format used by the Zulip server that they are interacting with.
 
 **Feature level 252**
 
-* `PATCH /realm/profile_fields/{field_id}`: `name`, `hint`, `display_in_profile_summary`
-  and `field_data` fields are now optional during an update. Previously we required
-  the clients to populate the fields in the PATCH request even if there was no
-  change to those fields' values.
+* `PATCH /realm/profile_fields/{field_id}`: `name`, `hint`, `display_in_profile_summary`,
+  `required` and `field_data` fields are now optional during an update. Previously we
+  required the clients to populate the fields in the PATCH request even if there was
+  no change to those fields' values.
 
 **Feature level 251**
 
diff --git a/version.py b/version.py
index af78fb5c16..426847660d 100644
--- a/version.py
+++ b/version.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ DESKTOP_WARNING_VERSION = "5.9.3"
 # Changes should be accompanied by documentation explaining what the
 # new level means in api_docs/changelog.md, as well as "**Changes**"
 # entries in the endpoint's documentation in `zulip.yaml`.
-API_FEATURE_LEVEL = 251
+API_FEATURE_LEVEL = 252
 
 # Bump the minor PROVISION_VERSION to indicate that folks should provision
 # only when going from an old version of the code to a newer version. Bump
diff --git a/zerver/actions/custom_profile_fields.py b/zerver/actions/custom_profile_fields.py
index f3e694c1ff..8bf0242f5a 100644
--- a/zerver/actions/custom_profile_fields.py
+++ b/zerver/actions/custom_profile_fields.py
@@ -105,14 +105,14 @@ def try_update_realm_custom_profile_field(
     hint: Optional[str] = None,
     field_data: Optional[ProfileFieldData] = None,
     display_in_profile_summary: Optional[bool] = None,
-    required: bool = False,
+    required: Optional[bool] = None,
 ) -> None:
     if name is not None:
         field.name = name
     if hint is not None:
         field.hint = hint
-
-    field.required = required
+    if required is not None:
+        field.required = required
     if display_in_profile_summary is not None:
         field.display_in_profile_summary = display_in_profile_summary
 
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_custom_profile_data.py b/zerver/tests/test_custom_profile_data.py
index e5a3e08716..0afcff6de3 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_custom_profile_data.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_custom_profile_data.py
@@ -528,8 +528,7 @@ class UpdateCustomProfileFieldTest(CustomProfileFieldTestCase):
             },
         )
         self.assert_json_success(result)
-
-        field = CustomProfileField.objects.get(id=field.id, realm=realm)
+        field.refresh_from_db()
         self.assertEqual(CustomProfileField.objects.count(), self.original_count)
         self.assertEqual(field.name, "New phone number")
         self.assertEqual(field.hint, "New contact number")
@@ -537,6 +536,18 @@ class UpdateCustomProfileFieldTest(CustomProfileFieldTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(field.display_in_profile_summary, True)
         self.assertEqual(field.required, True)
 
+        # Not sending required should not set it to false.
+        result = self.client_patch(
+            f"/json/realm/profile_fields/{field.id}",
+            info={
+                "hint": "New hint",
+            },
+        )
+        self.assert_json_success(result)
+        field.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(field.hint, "New hint")
+        self.assertEqual(field.required, True)
+
         result = self.client_patch(
             f"/json/realm/profile_fields/{field.id}",
             info={"name": "Name ", "display_in_profile_summary": "true"},
diff --git a/zerver/views/custom_profile_fields.py b/zerver/views/custom_profile_fields.py
index 364af2cb92..498f648296 100644
--- a/zerver/views/custom_profile_fields.py
+++ b/zerver/views/custom_profile_fields.py
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ def update_realm_custom_profile_field(
     field_data: Optional[ProfileFieldData] = REQ(
         default=None, json_validator=check_profile_field_data
     ),
-    required: bool = REQ(default=False, json_validator=check_bool),
+    required: Optional[bool] = REQ(default=None, json_validator=check_bool),
     display_in_profile_summary: Optional[bool] = REQ(default=None, json_validator=check_bool),
 ) -> HttpResponse:
     realm = user_profile.realm