diff --git a/redbot/cogs/permissions/permissions.py b/redbot/cogs/permissions/permissions.py
index f0bbd13d8..00854d6f1 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/permissions/permissions.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/permissions/permissions.py
@@ -542,7 +542,8 @@ class Permissions(commands.Cog):
                 continue
             conf = self.config.custom(category)
             for cmd_name, cmd_rules in rules_dict.items():
-                await conf.set_raw(cmd_name, guild_id, value=cmd_rules)
+                cmd_rules = {str(model_id): rule for model_id, rule in cmd_rules.items()}
+                await conf.set_raw(cmd_name, str(guild_id), value=cmd_rules)
                 cmd_obj = getter(cmd_name)
                 if cmd_obj is not None:
                     self._load_rules_for(cmd_obj, {guild_id: cmd_rules})
@@ -651,14 +652,14 @@ class Permissions(commands.Cog):
                 if category in old_rules:
                     for name, rules in old_rules[category].items():
                         these_rules = new_rules.setdefault(name, {})
-                        guild_rules = these_rules.setdefault(guild_id, {})
+                        guild_rules = these_rules.setdefault(str(guild_id), {})
                         # Since allow rules would take precedence if the same model ID
                         # sat in both the allow and deny list, we add the deny entries
                         # first and let any conflicting allow entries overwrite.
                         for model_id in rules.get("deny", []):
-                            guild_rules[model_id] = False
+                            guild_rules[str(model_id)] = False
                         for model_id in rules.get("allow", []):
-                            guild_rules[model_id] = True
+                            guild_rules[str(model_id)] = True
                         if "default" in rules:
                             default = rules["default"]
                             if default == "allow":
@@ -689,7 +690,9 @@ class Permissions(commands.Cog):
         """
         for guild_id, guild_dict in _int_key_map(rule_dict.items()):
             for model_id, rule in _int_key_map(guild_dict.items()):
-                if rule is True:
+                if model_id == "default":
+                    cog_or_command.set_default_rule(rule, guild_id=guild_id)
+                elif rule is True:
                     cog_or_command.allow_for(model_id, guild_id=guild_id)
                 elif rule is False:
                     cog_or_command.deny_to(model_id, guild_id=guild_id)
@@ -724,9 +727,16 @@ class Permissions(commands.Cog):
         rules.
         """
         for guild_id, guild_dict in _int_key_map(rule_dict.items()):
-            for model_id in map(int, guild_dict.keys()):
-                cog_or_command.clear_rule_for(model_id, guild_id)
+            for model_id in guild_dict.keys():
+                if model_id == "default":
+                    cog_or_command.set_default_rule(None, guild_id=guild_id)
+                else:
+                    cog_or_command.clear_rule_for(int(model_id), guild_id=guild_id)
 
 
-def _int_key_map(items_view: ItemsView[str, Any]) -> Iterator[Tuple[int, Any]]:
-    return map(lambda tup: (int(tup[0]), tup[1]), items_view)
+def _int_key_map(items_view: ItemsView[str, Any]) -> Iterator[Tuple[Union[str, int], Any]]:
+    for k, v in items_view:
+        if k == "default":
+            yield k, v
+        else:
+            yield int(k), v
diff --git a/tests/cogs/test_permissions.py b/tests/cogs/test_permissions.py
index 679372732..84e41a49d 100644
--- a/tests/cogs/test_permissions.py
+++ b/tests/cogs/test_permissions.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from redbot.cogs.permissions.permissions import Permissions, GLOBAL
 
 def test_schema_update():
     old = {
-        GLOBAL: {
+        str(GLOBAL): {
             "owner_models": {
                 "cogs": {
                     "Admin": {"allow": [78631113035100160], "deny": [96733288462286848]},
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def test_schema_update():
                 },
             }
         },
-        43733288462286848: {
+        "43733288462286848": {
             "owner_models": {
                 "cogs": {
                     "Admin": {
@@ -43,22 +43,22 @@ def test_schema_update():
     assert new == (
         {
             "Admin": {
-                GLOBAL: {78631113035100160: True, 96733288462286848: False},
-                43733288462286848: {24231113035100160: True, 35533288462286848: False},
+                str(GLOBAL): {"78631113035100160": True, "96733288462286848": False},
+                "43733288462286848": {"24231113035100160": True, "35533288462286848": False},
             },
-            "Audio": {GLOBAL: {133049272517001216: True, "default": False}},
-            "General": {43733288462286848: {133049272517001216: True, "default": False}},
+            "Audio": {str(GLOBAL): {"133049272517001216": True, "default": False}},
+            "General": {"43733288462286848": {"133049272517001216": True, "default": False}},
         },
         {
             "cleanup bot": {
-                GLOBAL: {78631113035100160: True, "default": False},
-                43733288462286848: {17831113035100160: True, "default": True},
+                str(GLOBAL): {"78631113035100160": True, "default": False},
+                "43733288462286848": {"17831113035100160": True, "default": True},
             },
-            "ping": {GLOBAL: {96733288462286848: True, "default": True}},
+            "ping": {str(GLOBAL): {"96733288462286848": True, "default": True}},
             "set adminrole": {
-                43733288462286848: {
-                    87733288462286848: True,
-                    95433288462286848: False,
+                "43733288462286848": {
+                    "87733288462286848": True,
+                    "95433288462286848": False,
                     "default": True,
                 }
             },