diff --git a/api_docs/changelog.md b/api_docs/changelog.md
index e992ca1286..3c56b2b801 100644
--- a/api_docs/changelog.md
+++ b/api_docs/changelog.md
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ format used by the Zulip server that they are interacting with.
 
 ## Changes in Zulip 7.0
 
+**Feature level 165**
+* [`PATCH /user_groups/{user_group_id}`](/api/update-user-group): The
+  `name` and `description` parameters are now optional.
+
 **Feature level 164**
 
 * [`POST /register`](/api/register-queue): Added the
diff --git a/version.py b/version.py
index 822d0ac35b..b1e57cac2c 100644
--- a/version.py
+++ b/version.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ DESKTOP_WARNING_VERSION = "5.4.3"
 # 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 = 164
+API_FEATURE_LEVEL = 165
 
 # 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/openapi/zulip.yaml b/zerver/openapi/zulip.yaml
index 3afd363a04..f71507efcc 100644
--- a/zerver/openapi/zulip.yaml
+++ b/zerver/openapi/zulip.yaml
@@ -15061,18 +15061,22 @@ paths:
           in: query
           description: |
             The new name of the group.
+
+            **Changes**: Before Zulip 7.0 (feature level 165), this was
+            a required field.
           schema:
             type: string
           example: marketing team
-          required: true
         - name: description
           in: query
           description: |
             The new description of the group.
+
+            **Changes**: Before Zulip 7.0 (feature level 165), this was
+            a required field.
           schema:
             type: string
           example: The marketing team.
-          required: true
       responses:
         "200":
           $ref: "#/components/responses/SimpleSuccess"
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_user_groups.py b/zerver/tests/test_user_groups.py
index 8499d86536..ae72234d0b 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_user_groups.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_user_groups.py
@@ -283,6 +283,11 @@ class UserGroupAPITestCase(UserGroupTestCase):
         result = self.client_patch(f"/json/user_groups/{user_group.id}", info={})
         self.assert_json_error(result, "No new data supplied")
 
+        # Test when only one of name or description is supplied.
+        params = {"name": "help team"}
+        result = self.client_patch(f"/json/user_groups/{user_group.id}", info=params)
+        self.assert_json_success(result)
+
         # Test when invalid user group is supplied
         params = {"name": "help"}
         result = self.client_patch("/json/user_groups/1111", info=params)
diff --git a/zerver/views/user_groups.py b/zerver/views/user_groups.py
index fb4d567101..3d76efce5f 100644
--- a/zerver/views/user_groups.py
+++ b/zerver/views/user_groups.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from typing import Sequence
+from typing import Optional, Sequence
 
 from django.http import HttpRequest, HttpResponse
 from django.utils.translation import gettext as _
@@ -62,18 +62,18 @@ def edit_user_group(
     request: HttpRequest,
     user_profile: UserProfile,
     user_group_id: int = REQ(json_validator=check_int, path_only=True),
-    name: str = REQ(default=""),
-    description: str = REQ(default=""),
+    name: Optional[str] = REQ(default=None),
+    description: Optional[str] = REQ(default=None),
 ) -> HttpResponse:
-    if not (name or description):
+    if name is None and description is None:
         raise JsonableError(_("No new data supplied"))
 
     user_group = access_user_group_by_id(user_group_id, user_profile)
 
-    if name != user_group.name:
+    if name is not None and name != user_group.name:
         do_update_user_group_name(user_group, name, acting_user=user_profile)
 
-    if description != user_group.description:
+    if description is not None and description != user_group.description:
         do_update_user_group_description(user_group, description, acting_user=user_profile)
 
     return json_success(request)