Provided is a method for manufacturing an optical fiber preform using a combustion burner. The method includes at least one of: a step α of, when a mode is changed from a deposition mode to a non-deposition mode, changing a gas discharged from a combustion gas port of the burner from a combustion gas to a purge gas, while maintaining a pilot light and a flow rate of a supporting gas from supporting gas discharge nozzles of the burner so that the nozzle tip does not glow; and a step β of, when the mode is changed from the non-deposition mode to the deposition mode, changing a gas discharged from the combustion gas port from a purge gas to a combustion gas, while maintaining a pilot light and the flow rate of the supporting gas so that the nozzle tip does not glow.