diff --git a/packages/components/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/components/CHANGELOG.md
index 9a36a4322c74e..9869e752e3381 100644
--- a/packages/components/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/components/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 ### Experimental
 
 -   `DropdownMenu` v2: Tweak styles ([#50967](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/50967), [#51097](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/51097)).
+-   `DropdownMenu` v2: change default placement to match the legacy `DropdownMenu` component  ([#51133](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/51133)).
 -   `DropdownMenu` v2: Render in the default `Popover.Slot` ([#51046](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/51046)).
 
 ## 25.0.0 (2023-05-24)
diff --git a/packages/components/src/dropdown-menu-v2/README.md b/packages/components/src/dropdown-menu-v2/README.md
index c3896f8ca1109..910690280015f 100644
--- a/packages/components/src/dropdown-menu-v2/README.md
+++ b/packages/components/src/dropdown-menu-v2/README.md
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ The distance in pixels from the trigger.
 The preferred alignment against the trigger. May change when collisions occur.
 
 - Required: no
-- Default: `"center"`
+- Default: `"start"`
 
 ##### `alignOffset`: `number`
 
diff --git a/packages/components/src/dropdown-menu-v2/types.ts b/packages/components/src/dropdown-menu-v2/types.ts
index 4b2d5aad71120..4ea3543167025 100644
--- a/packages/components/src/dropdown-menu-v2/types.ts
+++ b/packages/components/src/dropdown-menu-v2/types.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ export type DropdownMenuProps = {
 	 * The preferred alignment against the trigger.
 	 * May change when collisions occur.
 	 *
-	 * @default 'center'
+	 * @default 'start'
 	 */
 	align?: DropdownMenuPrimitive.DropdownMenuContentProps[ 'align' ];
 	/**