diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_check.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_check.go
index dcf7f27df..fc460e39e 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_check.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_check.go
@@ -245,17 +245,12 @@ func runCheck(ctx context.Context, opts CheckOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, args
 
 	errorsFound := false
 	suggestIndexRebuild := false
-	suggestLegacyIndexRebuild := false
 	mixedFound := false
 	for _, hint := range hints {
 		switch hint.(type) {
 		case *checker.ErrDuplicatePacks:
 			term.Print(hint.Error())
 			suggestIndexRebuild = true
-		case *checker.ErrOldIndexFormat:
-			printer.E("error: %v\n", hint)
-			suggestLegacyIndexRebuild = true
-			errorsFound = true
 		case *checker.ErrMixedPack:
 			term.Print(hint.Error())
 			mixedFound = true
@@ -268,9 +263,6 @@ func runCheck(ctx context.Context, opts CheckOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, args
 	if suggestIndexRebuild {
 		term.Print("Duplicate packs are non-critical, you can run `restic repair index' to correct this.\n")
 	}
-	if suggestLegacyIndexRebuild {
-		printer.E("error: Found indexes using the legacy format, you must run `restic repair index' to correct this.\n")
-	}
 	if mixedFound {
 		term.Print("Mixed packs with tree and data blobs are non-critical, you can run `restic prune` to correct this.\n")
 	}
@@ -304,9 +296,6 @@ func runCheck(ctx context.Context, opts CheckOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, args
 				errorsFound = true
 				printer.E("%v\n", err)
 			}
-		} else if err == checker.ErrLegacyLayout {
-			errorsFound = true
-			printer.E("error: repository still uses the S3 legacy layout\nYou must run `restic migrate s3legacy` to correct this.\n")
 		} else {
 			errorsFound = true
 			printer.E("%v\n", err)
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_debug.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_debug.go
index b92192492..4ce17f899 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_debug.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_debug.go
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ func printPacks(ctx context.Context, repo *repository.Repository, wr io.Writer)
 }
 
 func dumpIndexes(ctx context.Context, repo restic.ListerLoaderUnpacked, wr io.Writer) error {
-	return index.ForAllIndexes(ctx, repo, repo, func(id restic.ID, idx *index.Index, oldFormat bool, err error) error {
+	return index.ForAllIndexes(ctx, repo, repo, func(id restic.ID, idx *index.Index, err error) error {
 		Printf("index_id: %v\n", id)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_list.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_list.go
index 1a4791e31..f6c07d66f 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_list.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_list.go
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func runList(ctx context.Context, gopts GlobalOptions, args []string) error {
 	case "locks":
 		t = restic.LockFile
 	case "blobs":
-		return index.ForAllIndexes(ctx, repo, repo, func(_ restic.ID, idx *index.Index, _ bool, err error) error {
+		return index.ForAllIndexes(ctx, repo, repo, func(_ restic.ID, idx *index.Index, err error) error {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_restore_integration_test.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_restore_integration_test.go
index b0543850b..42cd1f87d 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_restore_integration_test.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_restore_integration_test.go
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/feature"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
 	rtest "github.com/restic/restic/internal/test"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/ui/termstatus"
@@ -403,36 +402,21 @@ func TestRestoreNoMetadataOnIgnoredIntermediateDirs(t *testing.T) {
 		"meta data of intermediate directory hasn't been restore")
 }
 
-func TestRestoreLocalLayout(t *testing.T) {
-	defer feature.TestSetFlag(t, feature.Flag, feature.DeprecateS3LegacyLayout, false)()
+func TestRestoreDefaultLayout(t *testing.T) {
 	env, cleanup := withTestEnvironment(t)
 	defer cleanup()
 
-	var tests = []struct {
-		filename string
-		layout   string
-	}{
-		{"repo-layout-default.tar.gz", ""},
-		{"repo-layout-s3legacy.tar.gz", ""},
-		{"repo-layout-default.tar.gz", "default"},
-		{"repo-layout-s3legacy.tar.gz", "s3legacy"},
-	}
+	datafile := filepath.Join("..", "..", "internal", "backend", "testdata", "repo-layout-default.tar.gz")
 
-	for _, test := range tests {
-		datafile := filepath.Join("..", "..", "internal", "backend", "testdata", test.filename)
+	rtest.SetupTarTestFixture(t, env.base, datafile)
 
-		rtest.SetupTarTestFixture(t, env.base, datafile)
+	// check the repo
+	testRunCheck(t, env.gopts)
 
-		env.gopts.extended["local.layout"] = test.layout
+	// restore latest snapshot
+	target := filepath.Join(env.base, "restore")
+	testRunRestoreLatest(t, env.gopts, target, nil, nil)
 
-		// check the repo
-		testRunCheck(t, env.gopts)
-
-		// restore latest snapshot
-		target := filepath.Join(env.base, "restore")
-		testRunRestoreLatest(t, env.gopts, target, nil, nil)
-
-		rtest.RemoveAll(t, filepath.Join(env.base, "repo"))
-		rtest.RemoveAll(t, target)
-	}
+	rtest.RemoveAll(t, filepath.Join(env.base, "repo"))
+	rtest.RemoveAll(t, target)
 }
diff --git a/doc/design.rst b/doc/design.rst
index c974e997a..62b7e9bf9 100644
--- a/doc/design.rst
+++ b/doc/design.rst
@@ -119,16 +119,11 @@ A local repository can be initialized with the ``restic init`` command, e.g.:
 
     $ restic -r /tmp/restic-repo init
 
-The local and sftp backends will auto-detect and accept all layouts described
-in the following sections, so that remote repositories mounted locally e.g. via
-fuse can be accessed. The layout auto-detection can be overridden by specifying
-the option ``-o local.layout=default``, valid values are ``default`` and
-``s3legacy``. The option for the sftp backend is named ``sftp.layout``, for the
-s3 backend ``s3.layout``.
-
 S3 Legacy Layout (deprecated)
 -----------------------------
 
+Restic 0.17 is the last version that supports the legacy layout.
+
 Unfortunately during development the Amazon S3 backend uses slightly different
 paths (directory names use singular instead of plural for ``key``,
 ``lock``, and ``snapshot`` files), and the pack files are stored directly below
@@ -152,8 +147,6 @@ the ``data`` directory. The S3 Legacy repository layout looks like this:
     /snapshot
      └── 22a5af1bdc6e616f8a29579458c49627e01b32210d09adb288d1ecda7c5711ec
 
-Restic 0.17 is the last version that supports the legacy layout.
-
 Pack Format
 ===========
 
diff --git a/internal/backend/azure/azure.go b/internal/backend/azure/azure.go
index 737cf0e14..e09593fd6 100644
--- a/internal/backend/azure/azure.go
+++ b/internal/backend/azure/azure.go
@@ -125,13 +125,10 @@ func open(cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (*Backend, error) {
 	}
 
 	be := &Backend{
-		container:   client,
-		cfg:         cfg,
-		connections: cfg.Connections,
-		Layout: &layout.DefaultLayout{
-			Path: cfg.Prefix,
-			Join: path.Join,
-		},
+		container:    client,
+		cfg:          cfg,
+		connections:  cfg.Connections,
+		Layout:       layout.NewDefaultLayout(cfg.Prefix, path.Join),
 		listMaxItems: defaultListMaxItems,
 	}
 
@@ -191,11 +188,6 @@ func (be *Backend) IsPermanentError(err error) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-// Join combines path components with slashes.
-func (be *Backend) Join(p ...string) string {
-	return path.Join(p...)
-}
-
 func (be *Backend) Connections() uint {
 	return be.connections
 }
diff --git a/internal/backend/b2/b2.go b/internal/backend/b2/b2.go
index 9717cdd0e..3ef2bcbe3 100644
--- a/internal/backend/b2/b2.go
+++ b/internal/backend/b2/b2.go
@@ -107,13 +107,10 @@ func Open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (backend.Backen
 	}
 
 	be := &b2Backend{
-		client: client,
-		bucket: bucket,
-		cfg:    cfg,
-		Layout: &layout.DefaultLayout{
-			Join: path.Join,
-			Path: cfg.Prefix,
-		},
+		client:       client,
+		bucket:       bucket,
+		cfg:          cfg,
+		Layout:       layout.NewDefaultLayout(cfg.Prefix, path.Join),
 		listMaxItems: defaultListMaxItems,
 		canDelete:    true,
 	}
@@ -143,13 +140,10 @@ func Create(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (backend.Back
 	}
 
 	be := &b2Backend{
-		client: client,
-		bucket: bucket,
-		cfg:    cfg,
-		Layout: &layout.DefaultLayout{
-			Join: path.Join,
-			Path: cfg.Prefix,
-		},
+		client:       client,
+		bucket:       bucket,
+		cfg:          cfg,
+		Layout:       layout.NewDefaultLayout(cfg.Prefix, path.Join),
 		listMaxItems: defaultListMaxItems,
 	}
 	return be, nil
diff --git a/internal/backend/gs/gs.go b/internal/backend/gs/gs.go
index 0af226f5d..ad50f194b 100644
--- a/internal/backend/gs/gs.go
+++ b/internal/backend/gs/gs.go
@@ -105,17 +105,14 @@ func open(cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (*Backend, error) {
 	}
 
 	be := &Backend{
-		gcsClient:   gcsClient,
-		projectID:   cfg.ProjectID,
-		connections: cfg.Connections,
-		bucketName:  cfg.Bucket,
-		region:      cfg.Region,
-		bucket:      gcsClient.Bucket(cfg.Bucket),
-		prefix:      cfg.Prefix,
-		Layout: &layout.DefaultLayout{
-			Path: cfg.Prefix,
-			Join: path.Join,
-		},
+		gcsClient:    gcsClient,
+		projectID:    cfg.ProjectID,
+		connections:  cfg.Connections,
+		bucketName:   cfg.Bucket,
+		region:       cfg.Region,
+		bucket:       gcsClient.Bucket(cfg.Bucket),
+		prefix:       cfg.Prefix,
+		Layout:       layout.NewDefaultLayout(cfg.Prefix, path.Join),
 		listMaxItems: defaultListMaxItems,
 	}
 
@@ -189,11 +186,6 @@ func (be *Backend) IsPermanentError(err error) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-// Join combines path components with slashes.
-func (be *Backend) Join(p ...string) string {
-	return path.Join(p...)
-}
-
 func (be *Backend) Connections() uint {
 	return be.connections
 }
diff --git a/internal/backend/layout/layout.go b/internal/backend/layout/layout.go
index 052fd66ca..cd69efc34 100644
--- a/internal/backend/layout/layout.go
+++ b/internal/backend/layout/layout.go
@@ -1,18 +1,7 @@
 package layout
 
 import (
-	"context"
-	"fmt"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"regexp"
-
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/feature"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/fs"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
 )
 
 // Layout computes paths for file name storage.
@@ -23,159 +12,3 @@ type Layout interface {
 	Paths() []string
 	Name() string
 }
-
-// Filesystem is the abstraction of a file system used for a backend.
-type Filesystem interface {
-	Join(...string) string
-	ReadDir(context.Context, string) ([]os.FileInfo, error)
-	IsNotExist(error) bool
-}
-
-// ensure statically that *LocalFilesystem implements Filesystem.
-var _ Filesystem = &LocalFilesystem{}
-
-// LocalFilesystem implements Filesystem in a local path.
-type LocalFilesystem struct {
-}
-
-// ReadDir returns all entries of a directory.
-func (l *LocalFilesystem) ReadDir(_ context.Context, dir string) ([]os.FileInfo, error) {
-	f, err := fs.Open(dir)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	entries, err := f.Readdir(-1)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Readdir")
-	}
-
-	err = f.Close()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Close")
-	}
-
-	return entries, nil
-}
-
-// Join combines several path components to one.
-func (l *LocalFilesystem) Join(paths ...string) string {
-	return filepath.Join(paths...)
-}
-
-// IsNotExist returns true for errors that are caused by not existing files.
-func (l *LocalFilesystem) IsNotExist(err error) bool {
-	return os.IsNotExist(err)
-}
-
-var backendFilenameLength = len(restic.ID{}) * 2
-var backendFilename = regexp.MustCompile(fmt.Sprintf("^[a-fA-F0-9]{%d}$", backendFilenameLength))
-
-func hasBackendFile(ctx context.Context, fs Filesystem, dir string) (bool, error) {
-	entries, err := fs.ReadDir(ctx, dir)
-	if err != nil && fs.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return false, nil
-	}
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, errors.Wrap(err, "ReadDir")
-	}
-
-	for _, e := range entries {
-		if backendFilename.MatchString(e.Name()) {
-			return true, nil
-		}
-	}
-
-	return false, nil
-}
-
-// ErrLayoutDetectionFailed is returned by DetectLayout() when the layout
-// cannot be detected automatically.
-var ErrLayoutDetectionFailed = errors.New("auto-detecting the filesystem layout failed")
-
-var ErrLegacyLayoutFound = errors.New("detected legacy S3 layout. Use `RESTIC_FEATURES=deprecate-s3-legacy-layout=false restic migrate s3_layout` to migrate your repository")
-
-// DetectLayout tries to find out which layout is used in a local (or sftp)
-// filesystem at the given path. If repo is nil, an instance of LocalFilesystem
-// is used.
-func DetectLayout(ctx context.Context, repo Filesystem, dir string) (Layout, error) {
-	debug.Log("detect layout at %v", dir)
-	if repo == nil {
-		repo = &LocalFilesystem{}
-	}
-
-	// key file in the "keys" dir (DefaultLayout)
-	foundKeysFile, err := hasBackendFile(ctx, repo, repo.Join(dir, defaultLayoutPaths[backend.KeyFile]))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	// key file in the "key" dir (S3LegacyLayout)
-	foundKeyFile, err := hasBackendFile(ctx, repo, repo.Join(dir, s3LayoutPaths[backend.KeyFile]))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	if foundKeysFile && !foundKeyFile {
-		debug.Log("found default layout at %v", dir)
-		return &DefaultLayout{
-			Path: dir,
-			Join: repo.Join,
-		}, nil
-	}
-
-	if foundKeyFile && !foundKeysFile {
-		if feature.Flag.Enabled(feature.DeprecateS3LegacyLayout) {
-			return nil, ErrLegacyLayoutFound
-		}
-
-		debug.Log("found s3 layout at %v", dir)
-		return &S3LegacyLayout{
-			Path: dir,
-			Join: repo.Join,
-		}, nil
-	}
-
-	debug.Log("layout detection failed")
-	return nil, ErrLayoutDetectionFailed
-}
-
-// ParseLayout parses the config string and returns a Layout. When layout is
-// the empty string, DetectLayout is used. If that fails, defaultLayout is used.
-func ParseLayout(ctx context.Context, repo Filesystem, layout, defaultLayout, path string) (l Layout, err error) {
-	debug.Log("parse layout string %q for backend at %v", layout, path)
-	switch layout {
-	case "default":
-		l = &DefaultLayout{
-			Path: path,
-			Join: repo.Join,
-		}
-	case "s3legacy":
-		if feature.Flag.Enabled(feature.DeprecateS3LegacyLayout) {
-			return nil, ErrLegacyLayoutFound
-		}
-
-		l = &S3LegacyLayout{
-			Path: path,
-			Join: repo.Join,
-		}
-	case "":
-		l, err = DetectLayout(ctx, repo, path)
-
-		// use the default layout if auto detection failed
-		if errors.Is(err, ErrLayoutDetectionFailed) && defaultLayout != "" {
-			debug.Log("error: %v, use default layout %v", err, defaultLayout)
-			return ParseLayout(ctx, repo, defaultLayout, "", path)
-		}
-
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		debug.Log("layout detected: %v", l)
-	default:
-		return nil, errors.Errorf("unknown backend layout string %q, may be one of: default, s3legacy", layout)
-	}
-
-	return l, nil
-}
diff --git a/internal/backend/layout/layout_default.go b/internal/backend/layout/layout_default.go
index 9a8419f10..d2c4634d3 100644
--- a/internal/backend/layout/layout_default.go
+++ b/internal/backend/layout/layout_default.go
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ import (
 // subdirs, two characters each (taken from the first two characters of the
 // file name).
 type DefaultLayout struct {
-	Path string
-	Join func(...string) string
+	path string
+	join func(...string) string
 }
 
 var defaultLayoutPaths = map[backend.FileType]string{
@@ -23,6 +23,13 @@ var defaultLayoutPaths = map[backend.FileType]string{
 	backend.KeyFile:      "keys",
 }
 
+func NewDefaultLayout(path string, join func(...string) string) *DefaultLayout {
+	return &DefaultLayout{
+		path: path,
+		join: join,
+	}
+}
+
 func (l *DefaultLayout) String() string {
 	return "<DefaultLayout>"
 }
@@ -37,32 +44,32 @@ func (l *DefaultLayout) Dirname(h backend.Handle) string {
 	p := defaultLayoutPaths[h.Type]
 
 	if h.Type == backend.PackFile && len(h.Name) > 2 {
-		p = l.Join(p, h.Name[:2]) + "/"
+		p = l.join(p, h.Name[:2]) + "/"
 	}
 
-	return l.Join(l.Path, p) + "/"
+	return l.join(l.path, p) + "/"
 }
 
 // Filename returns a path to a file, including its name.
 func (l *DefaultLayout) Filename(h backend.Handle) string {
 	name := h.Name
 	if h.Type == backend.ConfigFile {
-		return l.Join(l.Path, "config")
+		return l.join(l.path, "config")
 	}
 
-	return l.Join(l.Dirname(h), name)
+	return l.join(l.Dirname(h), name)
 }
 
 // Paths returns all directory names needed for a repo.
 func (l *DefaultLayout) Paths() (dirs []string) {
 	for _, p := range defaultLayoutPaths {
-		dirs = append(dirs, l.Join(l.Path, p))
+		dirs = append(dirs, l.join(l.path, p))
 	}
 
 	// also add subdirs
 	for i := 0; i < 256; i++ {
 		subdir := hex.EncodeToString([]byte{byte(i)})
-		dirs = append(dirs, l.Join(l.Path, defaultLayoutPaths[backend.PackFile], subdir))
+		dirs = append(dirs, l.join(l.path, defaultLayoutPaths[backend.PackFile], subdir))
 	}
 
 	return dirs
@@ -74,6 +81,6 @@ func (l *DefaultLayout) Basedir(t backend.FileType) (dirname string, subdirs boo
 		subdirs = true
 	}
 
-	dirname = l.Join(l.Path, defaultLayoutPaths[t])
+	dirname = l.join(l.path, defaultLayoutPaths[t])
 	return
 }
diff --git a/internal/backend/layout/layout_rest.go b/internal/backend/layout/layout_rest.go
index 822dd4a7e..78fc6c826 100644
--- a/internal/backend/layout/layout_rest.go
+++ b/internal/backend/layout/layout_rest.go
@@ -1,18 +1,24 @@
 package layout
 
 import (
+	"path"
+
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
 )
 
 // RESTLayout implements the default layout for the REST protocol.
 type RESTLayout struct {
-	URL  string
-	Path string
-	Join func(...string) string
+	url string
 }
 
 var restLayoutPaths = defaultLayoutPaths
 
+func NewRESTLayout(url string) *RESTLayout {
+	return &RESTLayout{
+		url: url,
+	}
+}
+
 func (l *RESTLayout) String() string {
 	return "<RESTLayout>"
 }
@@ -25,10 +31,10 @@ func (l *RESTLayout) Name() string {
 // Dirname returns the directory path for a given file type and name.
 func (l *RESTLayout) Dirname(h backend.Handle) string {
 	if h.Type == backend.ConfigFile {
-		return l.URL + l.Join(l.Path, "/")
+		return l.url + "/"
 	}
 
-	return l.URL + l.Join(l.Path, "/", restLayoutPaths[h.Type]) + "/"
+	return l.url + path.Join("/", restLayoutPaths[h.Type]) + "/"
 }
 
 // Filename returns a path to a file, including its name.
@@ -39,18 +45,18 @@ func (l *RESTLayout) Filename(h backend.Handle) string {
 		name = "config"
 	}
 
-	return l.URL + l.Join(l.Path, "/", restLayoutPaths[h.Type], name)
+	return l.url + path.Join("/", restLayoutPaths[h.Type], name)
 }
 
 // Paths returns all directory names
 func (l *RESTLayout) Paths() (dirs []string) {
 	for _, p := range restLayoutPaths {
-		dirs = append(dirs, l.URL+l.Join(l.Path, p))
+		dirs = append(dirs, l.url+path.Join("/", p))
 	}
 	return dirs
 }
 
 // Basedir returns the base dir name for files of type t.
 func (l *RESTLayout) Basedir(t backend.FileType) (dirname string, subdirs bool) {
-	return l.URL + l.Join(l.Path, restLayoutPaths[t]), false
+	return l.url + path.Join("/", restLayoutPaths[t]), false
 }
diff --git a/internal/backend/layout/layout_s3legacy.go b/internal/backend/layout/layout_s3legacy.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 8b90789d8..000000000
--- a/internal/backend/layout/layout_s3legacy.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,79 +0,0 @@
-package layout
-
-import (
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
-)
-
-// S3LegacyLayout implements the old layout used for s3 cloud storage backends, as
-// described in the Design document.
-type S3LegacyLayout struct {
-	URL  string
-	Path string
-	Join func(...string) string
-}
-
-var s3LayoutPaths = map[backend.FileType]string{
-	backend.PackFile:     "data",
-	backend.SnapshotFile: "snapshot",
-	backend.IndexFile:    "index",
-	backend.LockFile:     "lock",
-	backend.KeyFile:      "key",
-}
-
-func (l *S3LegacyLayout) String() string {
-	return "<S3LegacyLayout>"
-}
-
-// Name returns the name for this layout.
-func (l *S3LegacyLayout) Name() string {
-	return "s3legacy"
-}
-
-// join calls Join with the first empty elements removed.
-func (l *S3LegacyLayout) join(url string, items ...string) string {
-	for len(items) > 0 && items[0] == "" {
-		items = items[1:]
-	}
-
-	path := l.Join(items...)
-	if path == "" || path[0] != '/' {
-		if url != "" && url[len(url)-1] != '/' {
-			url += "/"
-		}
-	}
-
-	return url + path
-}
-
-// Dirname returns the directory path for a given file type and name.
-func (l *S3LegacyLayout) Dirname(h backend.Handle) string {
-	if h.Type == backend.ConfigFile {
-		return l.URL + l.Join(l.Path, "/")
-	}
-
-	return l.join(l.URL, l.Path, s3LayoutPaths[h.Type]) + "/"
-}
-
-// Filename returns a path to a file, including its name.
-func (l *S3LegacyLayout) Filename(h backend.Handle) string {
-	name := h.Name
-
-	if h.Type == backend.ConfigFile {
-		name = "config"
-	}
-
-	return l.join(l.URL, l.Path, s3LayoutPaths[h.Type], name)
-}
-
-// Paths returns all directory names
-func (l *S3LegacyLayout) Paths() (dirs []string) {
-	for _, p := range s3LayoutPaths {
-		dirs = append(dirs, l.Join(l.Path, p))
-	}
-	return dirs
-}
-
-// Basedir returns the base dir name for type t.
-func (l *S3LegacyLayout) Basedir(t backend.FileType) (dirname string, subdirs bool) {
-	return l.Join(l.Path, s3LayoutPaths[t]), false
-}
diff --git a/internal/backend/layout/layout_test.go b/internal/backend/layout/layout_test.go
index 55a0749c9..af5105c20 100644
--- a/internal/backend/layout/layout_test.go
+++ b/internal/backend/layout/layout_test.go
@@ -1,16 +1,15 @@
 package layout
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"reflect"
 	"sort"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/feature"
 	rtest "github.com/restic/restic/internal/test"
 )
 
@@ -99,8 +98,8 @@ func TestDefaultLayout(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("Paths", func(t *testing.T) {
 		l := &DefaultLayout{
-			Path: tempdir,
-			Join: filepath.Join,
+			path: tempdir,
+			join: filepath.Join,
 		}
 
 		dirs := l.Paths()
@@ -128,8 +127,8 @@ func TestDefaultLayout(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%v/%v", test.Type, test.Handle.Name), func(t *testing.T) {
 			l := &DefaultLayout{
-				Path: test.path,
-				Join: test.join,
+				path: test.path,
+				join: test.join,
 			}
 
 			filename := l.Filename(test.Handle)
@@ -141,7 +140,7 @@ func TestDefaultLayout(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRESTLayout(t *testing.T) {
-	path := rtest.TempDir(t)
+	url := `https://hostname.foo`
 
 	var tests = []struct {
 		backend.Handle
@@ -149,44 +148,43 @@ func TestRESTLayout(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{
 			backend.Handle{Type: backend.PackFile, Name: "0123456"},
-			filepath.Join(path, "data", "0123456"),
+			strings.Join([]string{url, "data", "0123456"}, "/"),
 		},
 		{
 			backend.Handle{Type: backend.ConfigFile, Name: "CFG"},
-			filepath.Join(path, "config"),
+			strings.Join([]string{url, "config"}, "/"),
 		},
 		{
 			backend.Handle{Type: backend.SnapshotFile, Name: "123456"},
-			filepath.Join(path, "snapshots", "123456"),
+			strings.Join([]string{url, "snapshots", "123456"}, "/"),
 		},
 		{
 			backend.Handle{Type: backend.IndexFile, Name: "123456"},
-			filepath.Join(path, "index", "123456"),
+			strings.Join([]string{url, "index", "123456"}, "/"),
 		},
 		{
 			backend.Handle{Type: backend.LockFile, Name: "123456"},
-			filepath.Join(path, "locks", "123456"),
+			strings.Join([]string{url, "locks", "123456"}, "/"),
 		},
 		{
 			backend.Handle{Type: backend.KeyFile, Name: "123456"},
-			filepath.Join(path, "keys", "123456"),
+			strings.Join([]string{url, "keys", "123456"}, "/"),
 		},
 	}
 
 	l := &RESTLayout{
-		Path: path,
-		Join: filepath.Join,
+		url: url,
 	}
 
 	t.Run("Paths", func(t *testing.T) {
 		dirs := l.Paths()
 
 		want := []string{
-			filepath.Join(path, "data"),
-			filepath.Join(path, "snapshots"),
-			filepath.Join(path, "index"),
-			filepath.Join(path, "locks"),
-			filepath.Join(path, "keys"),
+			strings.Join([]string{url, "data"}, "/"),
+			strings.Join([]string{url, "snapshots"}, "/"),
+			strings.Join([]string{url, "index"}, "/"),
+			strings.Join([]string{url, "locks"}, "/"),
+			strings.Join([]string{url, "keys"}, "/"),
 		}
 
 		sort.Strings(want)
@@ -215,59 +213,23 @@ func TestRESTLayoutURLs(t *testing.T) {
 		dir string
 	}{
 		{
-			&RESTLayout{URL: "https://hostname.foo", Path: "", Join: path.Join},
+			&RESTLayout{url: "https://hostname.foo"},
 			backend.Handle{Type: backend.PackFile, Name: "foobar"},
 			"https://hostname.foo/data/foobar",
 			"https://hostname.foo/data/",
 		},
 		{
-			&RESTLayout{URL: "https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo", Path: "/", Join: path.Join},
+			&RESTLayout{url: "https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo"},
 			backend.Handle{Type: backend.LockFile, Name: "foobar"},
 			"https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo/locks/foobar",
 			"https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo/locks/",
 		},
 		{
-			&RESTLayout{URL: "https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo", Path: "/", Join: path.Join},
+			&RESTLayout{url: "https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo"},
 			backend.Handle{Type: backend.ConfigFile, Name: "foobar"},
 			"https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo/config",
 			"https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo/",
 		},
-		{
-			&S3LegacyLayout{URL: "https://hostname.foo", Path: "/", Join: path.Join},
-			backend.Handle{Type: backend.PackFile, Name: "foobar"},
-			"https://hostname.foo/data/foobar",
-			"https://hostname.foo/data/",
-		},
-		{
-			&S3LegacyLayout{URL: "https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo", Path: "", Join: path.Join},
-			backend.Handle{Type: backend.LockFile, Name: "foobar"},
-			"https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo/lock/foobar",
-			"https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo/lock/",
-		},
-		{
-			&S3LegacyLayout{URL: "https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo", Path: "/", Join: path.Join},
-			backend.Handle{Type: backend.ConfigFile, Name: "foobar"},
-			"https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo/config",
-			"https://hostname.foo:1234/prefix/repo/",
-		},
-		{
-			&S3LegacyLayout{URL: "", Path: "", Join: path.Join},
-			backend.Handle{Type: backend.PackFile, Name: "foobar"},
-			"data/foobar",
-			"data/",
-		},
-		{
-			&S3LegacyLayout{URL: "", Path: "", Join: path.Join},
-			backend.Handle{Type: backend.LockFile, Name: "foobar"},
-			"lock/foobar",
-			"lock/",
-		},
-		{
-			&S3LegacyLayout{URL: "", Path: "/", Join: path.Join},
-			backend.Handle{Type: backend.ConfigFile, Name: "foobar"},
-			"/config",
-			"/",
-		},
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
@@ -284,165 +246,3 @@ func TestRESTLayoutURLs(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
-
-func TestS3LegacyLayout(t *testing.T) {
-	path := rtest.TempDir(t)
-
-	var tests = []struct {
-		backend.Handle
-		filename string
-	}{
-		{
-			backend.Handle{Type: backend.PackFile, Name: "0123456"},
-			filepath.Join(path, "data", "0123456"),
-		},
-		{
-			backend.Handle{Type: backend.ConfigFile, Name: "CFG"},
-			filepath.Join(path, "config"),
-		},
-		{
-			backend.Handle{Type: backend.SnapshotFile, Name: "123456"},
-			filepath.Join(path, "snapshot", "123456"),
-		},
-		{
-			backend.Handle{Type: backend.IndexFile, Name: "123456"},
-			filepath.Join(path, "index", "123456"),
-		},
-		{
-			backend.Handle{Type: backend.LockFile, Name: "123456"},
-			filepath.Join(path, "lock", "123456"),
-		},
-		{
-			backend.Handle{Type: backend.KeyFile, Name: "123456"},
-			filepath.Join(path, "key", "123456"),
-		},
-	}
-
-	l := &S3LegacyLayout{
-		Path: path,
-		Join: filepath.Join,
-	}
-
-	t.Run("Paths", func(t *testing.T) {
-		dirs := l.Paths()
-
-		want := []string{
-			filepath.Join(path, "data"),
-			filepath.Join(path, "snapshot"),
-			filepath.Join(path, "index"),
-			filepath.Join(path, "lock"),
-			filepath.Join(path, "key"),
-		}
-
-		sort.Strings(want)
-		sort.Strings(dirs)
-
-		if !reflect.DeepEqual(dirs, want) {
-			t.Fatalf("wrong paths returned, want:\n  %v\ngot:\n  %v", want, dirs)
-		}
-	})
-
-	for _, test := range tests {
-		t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%v/%v", test.Type, test.Handle.Name), func(t *testing.T) {
-			filename := l.Filename(test.Handle)
-			if filename != test.filename {
-				t.Fatalf("wrong filename, want %v, got %v", test.filename, filename)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestDetectLayout(t *testing.T) {
-	defer feature.TestSetFlag(t, feature.Flag, feature.DeprecateS3LegacyLayout, false)()
-	path := rtest.TempDir(t)
-
-	var tests = []struct {
-		filename string
-		want     string
-	}{
-		{"repo-layout-default.tar.gz", "*layout.DefaultLayout"},
-		{"repo-layout-s3legacy.tar.gz", "*layout.S3LegacyLayout"},
-	}
-
-	var fs = &LocalFilesystem{}
-	for _, test := range tests {
-		for _, fs := range []Filesystem{fs, nil} {
-			t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%v/fs-%T", test.filename, fs), func(t *testing.T) {
-				rtest.SetupTarTestFixture(t, path, filepath.Join("../testdata", test.filename))
-
-				layout, err := DetectLayout(context.TODO(), fs, filepath.Join(path, "repo"))
-				if err != nil {
-					t.Fatal(err)
-				}
-
-				if layout == nil {
-					t.Fatal("wanted some layout, but detect returned nil")
-				}
-
-				layoutName := fmt.Sprintf("%T", layout)
-				if layoutName != test.want {
-					t.Fatalf("want layout %v, got %v", test.want, layoutName)
-				}
-
-				rtest.RemoveAll(t, filepath.Join(path, "repo"))
-			})
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func TestParseLayout(t *testing.T) {
-	defer feature.TestSetFlag(t, feature.Flag, feature.DeprecateS3LegacyLayout, false)()
-	path := rtest.TempDir(t)
-
-	var tests = []struct {
-		layoutName        string
-		defaultLayoutName string
-		want              string
-	}{
-		{"default", "", "*layout.DefaultLayout"},
-		{"s3legacy", "", "*layout.S3LegacyLayout"},
-		{"", "", "*layout.DefaultLayout"},
-	}
-
-	rtest.SetupTarTestFixture(t, path, filepath.Join("..", "testdata", "repo-layout-default.tar.gz"))
-
-	for _, test := range tests {
-		t.Run(test.layoutName, func(t *testing.T) {
-			layout, err := ParseLayout(context.TODO(), &LocalFilesystem{}, test.layoutName, test.defaultLayoutName, filepath.Join(path, "repo"))
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-
-			if layout == nil {
-				t.Fatal("wanted some layout, but detect returned nil")
-			}
-
-			// test that the functions work (and don't panic)
-			_ = layout.Dirname(backend.Handle{Type: backend.PackFile})
-			_ = layout.Filename(backend.Handle{Type: backend.PackFile, Name: "1234"})
-			_ = layout.Paths()
-
-			layoutName := fmt.Sprintf("%T", layout)
-			if layoutName != test.want {
-				t.Fatalf("want layout %v, got %v", test.want, layoutName)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestParseLayoutInvalid(t *testing.T) {
-	path := rtest.TempDir(t)
-
-	var invalidNames = []string{
-		"foo", "bar", "local",
-	}
-
-	for _, name := range invalidNames {
-		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			layout, err := ParseLayout(context.TODO(), nil, name, "", path)
-			if err == nil {
-				t.Fatalf("expected error not found for layout name %v, layout is %v", name, layout)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
diff --git a/internal/backend/local/config.go b/internal/backend/local/config.go
index e08f05550..782f132d0 100644
--- a/internal/backend/local/config.go
+++ b/internal/backend/local/config.go
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 // Config holds all information needed to open a local repository.
 type Config struct {
-	Path   string
-	Layout string `option:"layout" help:"use this backend directory layout (default: auto-detect) (deprecated)"`
+	Path string
 
 	Connections uint `option:"connections" help:"set a limit for the number of concurrent operations (default: 2)"`
 }
diff --git a/internal/backend/local/layout_test.go b/internal/backend/local/layout_test.go
index 00c91376a..cac89e552 100644
--- a/internal/backend/local/layout_test.go
+++ b/internal/backend/local/layout_test.go
@@ -6,30 +6,22 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/feature"
 	rtest "github.com/restic/restic/internal/test"
 )
 
 func TestLayout(t *testing.T) {
-	defer feature.TestSetFlag(t, feature.Flag, feature.DeprecateS3LegacyLayout, false)()
 	path := rtest.TempDir(t)
 
 	var tests = []struct {
 		filename        string
-		layout          string
 		failureExpected bool
 		packfiles       map[string]bool
 	}{
-		{"repo-layout-default.tar.gz", "", false, map[string]bool{
+		{"repo-layout-default.tar.gz", false, map[string]bool{
 			"aa464e9fd598fe4202492ee317ffa728e82fa83a1de1a61996e5bd2d6651646c": false,
 			"fc919a3b421850f6fa66ad22ebcf91e433e79ffef25becf8aef7c7b1eca91683": false,
 			"c089d62788da14f8b7cbf77188305c0874906f0b73d3fce5a8869050e8d0c0e1": false,
 		}},
-		{"repo-layout-s3legacy.tar.gz", "", false, map[string]bool{
-			"fc919a3b421850f6fa66ad22ebcf91e433e79ffef25becf8aef7c7b1eca91683": false,
-			"c089d62788da14f8b7cbf77188305c0874906f0b73d3fce5a8869050e8d0c0e1": false,
-			"aa464e9fd598fe4202492ee317ffa728e82fa83a1de1a61996e5bd2d6651646c": false,
-		}},
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
@@ -39,7 +31,6 @@ func TestLayout(t *testing.T) {
 			repo := filepath.Join(path, "repo")
 			be, err := Open(context.TODO(), Config{
 				Path:        repo,
-				Layout:      test.layout,
 				Connections: 2,
 			})
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/backend/local/local.go b/internal/backend/local/local.go
index f041d608a..8985ef4c4 100644
--- a/internal/backend/local/local.go
+++ b/internal/backend/local/local.go
@@ -37,13 +37,8 @@ func NewFactory() location.Factory {
 	return location.NewLimitedBackendFactory("local", ParseConfig, location.NoPassword, limiter.WrapBackendConstructor(Create), limiter.WrapBackendConstructor(Open))
 }
 
-const defaultLayout = "default"
-
-func open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
-	l, err := layout.ParseLayout(ctx, &layout.LocalFilesystem{}, cfg.Layout, defaultLayout, cfg.Path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
+func open(cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
+	l := layout.NewDefaultLayout(cfg.Path, filepath.Join)
 
 	fi, err := fs.Stat(l.Filename(backend.Handle{Type: backend.ConfigFile}))
 	m := util.DeriveModesFromFileInfo(fi, err)
@@ -57,17 +52,17 @@ func open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
 }
 
 // Open opens the local backend as specified by config.
-func Open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
-	debug.Log("open local backend at %v (layout %q)", cfg.Path, cfg.Layout)
-	return open(ctx, cfg)
+func Open(_ context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
+	debug.Log("open local backend at %v", cfg.Path)
+	return open(cfg)
 }
 
 // Create creates all the necessary files and directories for a new local
 // backend at dir. Afterwards a new config blob should be created.
-func Create(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
-	debug.Log("create local backend at %v (layout %q)", cfg.Path, cfg.Layout)
+func Create(_ context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
+	debug.Log("create local backend at %v", cfg.Path)
 
-	be, err := open(ctx, cfg)
+	be, err := open(cfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/backend/rest/rest.go b/internal/backend/rest/rest.go
index d0a08175b..7bdedff39 100644
--- a/internal/backend/rest/rest.go
+++ b/internal/backend/rest/rest.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
-	"path"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ func Open(_ context.Context, cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (*Backend, error)
 	be := &Backend{
 		url:         cfg.URL,
 		client:      http.Client{Transport: rt},
-		Layout:      &layout.RESTLayout{URL: url, Join: path.Join},
+		Layout:      layout.NewRESTLayout(url),
 		connections: cfg.Connections,
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/backend/s3/s3.go b/internal/backend/s3/s3.go
index 019f8471b..2176d289d 100644
--- a/internal/backend/s3/s3.go
+++ b/internal/backend/s3/s3.go
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/layout"
@@ -37,9 +36,7 @@ func NewFactory() location.Factory {
 	return location.NewHTTPBackendFactory("s3", ParseConfig, location.NoPassword, Create, Open)
 }
 
-const defaultLayout = "default"
-
-func open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (*Backend, error) {
+func open(cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (*Backend, error) {
 	debug.Log("open, config %#v", cfg)
 
 	if cfg.KeyID == "" && cfg.Secret.String() != "" {
@@ -83,15 +80,9 @@ func open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (*Backend, erro
 	be := &Backend{
 		client: client,
 		cfg:    cfg,
+		Layout: layout.NewDefaultLayout(cfg.Prefix, path.Join),
 	}
 
-	l, err := layout.ParseLayout(ctx, be, cfg.Layout, defaultLayout, cfg.Prefix)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	be.Layout = l
-
 	return be, nil
 }
 
@@ -194,14 +185,14 @@ func getCredentials(cfg Config, tr http.RoundTripper) (*credentials.Credentials,
 
 // Open opens the S3 backend at bucket and region. The bucket is created if it
 // does not exist yet.
-func Open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (backend.Backend, error) {
-	return open(ctx, cfg, rt)
+func Open(_ context.Context, cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (backend.Backend, error) {
+	return open(cfg, rt)
 }
 
 // Create opens the S3 backend at bucket and region and creates the bucket if
 // it does not exist yet.
 func Create(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (backend.Backend, error) {
-	be, err := open(ctx, cfg, rt)
+	be, err := open(cfg, rt)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "open")
 	}
@@ -257,78 +248,6 @@ func (be *Backend) IsPermanentError(err error) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-// Join combines path components with slashes.
-func (be *Backend) Join(p ...string) string {
-	return path.Join(p...)
-}
-
-type fileInfo struct {
-	name    string
-	size    int64
-	mode    os.FileMode
-	modTime time.Time
-	isDir   bool
-}
-
-func (fi *fileInfo) Name() string       { return fi.name }    // base name of the file
-func (fi *fileInfo) Size() int64        { return fi.size }    // length in bytes for regular files; system-dependent for others
-func (fi *fileInfo) Mode() os.FileMode  { return fi.mode }    // file mode bits
-func (fi *fileInfo) ModTime() time.Time { return fi.modTime } // modification time
-func (fi *fileInfo) IsDir() bool        { return fi.isDir }   // abbreviation for Mode().IsDir()
-func (fi *fileInfo) Sys() interface{}   { return nil }        // underlying data source (can return nil)
-
-// ReadDir returns the entries for a directory.
-func (be *Backend) ReadDir(ctx context.Context, dir string) (list []os.FileInfo, err error) {
-	debug.Log("ReadDir(%v)", dir)
-
-	// make sure dir ends with a slash
-	if dir[len(dir)-1] != '/' {
-		dir += "/"
-	}
-
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
-	defer cancel()
-
-	debug.Log("using ListObjectsV1(%v)", be.cfg.ListObjectsV1)
-
-	for obj := range be.client.ListObjects(ctx, be.cfg.Bucket, minio.ListObjectsOptions{
-		Prefix:    dir,
-		Recursive: false,
-		UseV1:     be.cfg.ListObjectsV1,
-	}) {
-		if obj.Err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
-		if obj.Key == "" {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		name := strings.TrimPrefix(obj.Key, dir)
-		// Sometimes s3 returns an entry for the dir itself. Ignore it.
-		if name == "" {
-			continue
-		}
-		entry := &fileInfo{
-			name:    name,
-			size:    obj.Size,
-			modTime: obj.LastModified,
-		}
-
-		if name[len(name)-1] == '/' {
-			entry.isDir = true
-			entry.mode = os.ModeDir | 0755
-			entry.name = name[:len(name)-1]
-		} else {
-			entry.mode = 0644
-		}
-
-		list = append(list, entry)
-	}
-
-	return list, nil
-}
-
 func (be *Backend) Connections() uint {
 	return be.cfg.Connections
 }
@@ -526,40 +445,3 @@ func (be *Backend) Delete(ctx context.Context) error {
 
 // Close does nothing
 func (be *Backend) Close() error { return nil }
-
-// Rename moves a file based on the new layout l.
-func (be *Backend) Rename(ctx context.Context, h backend.Handle, l layout.Layout) error {
-	debug.Log("Rename %v to %v", h, l)
-	oldname := be.Filename(h)
-	newname := l.Filename(h)
-
-	if oldname == newname {
-		debug.Log("  %v is already renamed", newname)
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	debug.Log("  %v -> %v", oldname, newname)
-
-	src := minio.CopySrcOptions{
-		Bucket: be.cfg.Bucket,
-		Object: oldname,
-	}
-
-	dst := minio.CopyDestOptions{
-		Bucket: be.cfg.Bucket,
-		Object: newname,
-	}
-
-	_, err := be.client.CopyObject(ctx, dst, src)
-	if err != nil && be.IsNotExist(err) {
-		debug.Log("copy failed: %v, seems to already have been renamed", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	if err != nil {
-		debug.Log("copy failed: %v", err)
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return be.client.RemoveObject(ctx, be.cfg.Bucket, oldname, minio.RemoveObjectOptions{})
-}
diff --git a/internal/backend/sftp/config.go b/internal/backend/sftp/config.go
index aa8ac7bff..daefbf441 100644
--- a/internal/backend/sftp/config.go
+++ b/internal/backend/sftp/config.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 type Config struct {
 	User, Host, Port, Path string
 
-	Layout  string `option:"layout"  help:"use this backend directory layout (default: auto-detect) (deprecated)"`
 	Command string `option:"command" help:"specify command to create sftp connection"`
 	Args    string `option:"args"    help:"specify arguments for ssh"`
 
diff --git a/internal/backend/sftp/layout_test.go b/internal/backend/sftp/layout_test.go
index 8bb7eac01..9e143d4fd 100644
--- a/internal/backend/sftp/layout_test.go
+++ b/internal/backend/sftp/layout_test.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/sftp"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/feature"
 	rtest "github.com/restic/restic/internal/test"
 )
 
@@ -17,25 +16,18 @@ func TestLayout(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Skip("sftp server binary not available")
 	}
 
-	defer feature.TestSetFlag(t, feature.Flag, feature.DeprecateS3LegacyLayout, false)()
 	path := rtest.TempDir(t)
 
 	var tests = []struct {
 		filename        string
-		layout          string
 		failureExpected bool
 		packfiles       map[string]bool
 	}{
-		{"repo-layout-default.tar.gz", "", false, map[string]bool{
+		{"repo-layout-default.tar.gz", false, map[string]bool{
 			"aa464e9fd598fe4202492ee317ffa728e82fa83a1de1a61996e5bd2d6651646c": false,
 			"fc919a3b421850f6fa66ad22ebcf91e433e79ffef25becf8aef7c7b1eca91683": false,
 			"c089d62788da14f8b7cbf77188305c0874906f0b73d3fce5a8869050e8d0c0e1": false,
 		}},
-		{"repo-layout-s3legacy.tar.gz", "", false, map[string]bool{
-			"fc919a3b421850f6fa66ad22ebcf91e433e79ffef25becf8aef7c7b1eca91683": false,
-			"c089d62788da14f8b7cbf77188305c0874906f0b73d3fce5a8869050e8d0c0e1": false,
-			"aa464e9fd598fe4202492ee317ffa728e82fa83a1de1a61996e5bd2d6651646c": false,
-		}},
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
@@ -46,7 +38,6 @@ func TestLayout(t *testing.T) {
 			be, err := sftp.Open(context.TODO(), sftp.Config{
 				Command:     fmt.Sprintf("%q -e", sftpServer),
 				Path:        repo,
-				Layout:      test.layout,
 				Connections: 5,
 			})
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/backend/sftp/sftp.go b/internal/backend/sftp/sftp.go
index d766591b7..0ecf7ae62 100644
--- a/internal/backend/sftp/sftp.go
+++ b/internal/backend/sftp/sftp.go
@@ -50,8 +50,6 @@ func NewFactory() location.Factory {
 	return location.NewLimitedBackendFactory("sftp", ParseConfig, location.NoPassword, limiter.WrapBackendConstructor(Create), limiter.WrapBackendConstructor(Open))
 }
 
-const defaultLayout = "default"
-
 func startClient(cfg Config) (*SFTP, error) {
 	program, args, err := buildSSHCommand(cfg)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -121,7 +119,13 @@ func startClient(cfg Config) (*SFTP, error) {
 	}
 
 	_, posixRename := client.HasExtension("posix-rename@openssh.com")
-	return &SFTP{c: client, cmd: cmd, result: ch, posixRename: posixRename}, nil
+	return &SFTP{
+		c:           client,
+		cmd:         cmd,
+		result:      ch,
+		posixRename: posixRename,
+		Layout:      layout.NewDefaultLayout(cfg.Path, path.Join),
+	}, nil
 }
 
 // clientError returns an error if the client has exited. Otherwise, nil is
@@ -139,7 +143,7 @@ func (r *SFTP) clientError() error {
 
 // Open opens an sftp backend as described by the config by running
 // "ssh" with the appropriate arguments (or cfg.Command, if set).
-func Open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*SFTP, error) {
+func Open(_ context.Context, cfg Config) (*SFTP, error) {
 	debug.Log("open backend with config %#v", cfg)
 
 	sftp, err := startClient(cfg)
@@ -148,18 +152,10 @@ func Open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*SFTP, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return open(ctx, sftp, cfg)
+	return open(sftp, cfg)
 }
 
-func open(ctx context.Context, sftp *SFTP, cfg Config) (*SFTP, error) {
-	var err error
-	sftp.Layout, err = layout.ParseLayout(ctx, sftp, cfg.Layout, defaultLayout, cfg.Path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	debug.Log("layout: %v\n", sftp.Layout)
-
+func open(sftp *SFTP, cfg Config) (*SFTP, error) {
 	fi, err := sftp.c.Stat(sftp.Layout.Filename(backend.Handle{Type: backend.ConfigFile}))
 	m := util.DeriveModesFromFileInfo(fi, err)
 	debug.Log("using (%03O file, %03O dir) permissions", m.File, m.Dir)
@@ -195,21 +191,6 @@ func (r *SFTP) mkdirAllDataSubdirs(ctx context.Context, nconn uint) error {
 	return g.Wait()
 }
 
-// Join combines path components with slashes (according to the sftp spec).
-func (r *SFTP) Join(p ...string) string {
-	return path.Join(p...)
-}
-
-// ReadDir returns the entries for a directory.
-func (r *SFTP) ReadDir(_ context.Context, dir string) ([]os.FileInfo, error) {
-	fi, err := r.c.ReadDir(dir)
-
-	// sftp client does not specify dir name on error, so add it here
-	err = errors.Wrapf(err, "(%v)", dir)
-
-	return fi, err
-}
-
 // IsNotExist returns true if the error is caused by a not existing file.
 func (r *SFTP) IsNotExist(err error) bool {
 	return errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist)
@@ -266,11 +247,6 @@ func Create(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*SFTP, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	sftp.Layout, err = layout.ParseLayout(ctx, sftp, cfg.Layout, defaultLayout, cfg.Path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	sftp.Modes = util.DefaultModes
 
 	// test if config file already exists
@@ -285,7 +261,7 @@ func Create(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*SFTP, error) {
 	}
 
 	// repurpose existing connection
-	return open(ctx, sftp, cfg)
+	return open(sftp, cfg)
 }
 
 func (r *SFTP) Connections() uint {
@@ -302,12 +278,6 @@ func (r *SFTP) HasAtomicReplace() bool {
 	return r.posixRename
 }
 
-// Join joins the given paths and cleans them afterwards. This always uses
-// forward slashes, which is required by sftp.
-func Join(parts ...string) string {
-	return path.Clean(path.Join(parts...))
-}
-
 // tempSuffix generates a random string suffix that should be sufficiently long
 // to avoid accidental conflicts
 func tempSuffix() string {
@@ -572,9 +542,9 @@ func (r *SFTP) Close() error {
 }
 
 func (r *SFTP) deleteRecursive(ctx context.Context, name string) error {
-	entries, err := r.ReadDir(ctx, name)
+	entries, err := r.c.ReadDir(name)
 	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "ReadDir")
+		return errors.Wrapf(err, "ReadDir(%v)", name)
 	}
 
 	for _, fi := range entries {
@@ -582,7 +552,7 @@ func (r *SFTP) deleteRecursive(ctx context.Context, name string) error {
 			return ctx.Err()
 		}
 
-		itemName := r.Join(name, fi.Name())
+		itemName := path.Join(name, fi.Name())
 		if fi.IsDir() {
 			err := r.deleteRecursive(ctx, itemName)
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/backend/swift/swift.go b/internal/backend/swift/swift.go
index e6412d0bf..dfa2055cd 100644
--- a/internal/backend/swift/swift.go
+++ b/internal/backend/swift/swift.go
@@ -72,10 +72,7 @@ func Open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (backend.Backen
 		connections: cfg.Connections,
 		container:   cfg.Container,
 		prefix:      cfg.Prefix,
-		Layout: &layout.DefaultLayout{
-			Path: cfg.Prefix,
-			Join: path.Join,
-		},
+		Layout:      layout.NewDefaultLayout(cfg.Prefix, path.Join),
 	}
 
 	// Authenticate if needed
diff --git a/internal/backend/testdata/repo-layout-s3legacy.tar.gz b/internal/backend/testdata/repo-layout-s3legacy.tar.gz
deleted file mode 100644
index 2b7d852cc..000000000
Binary files a/internal/backend/testdata/repo-layout-s3legacy.tar.gz and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/internal/checker/checker.go b/internal/checker/checker.go
index 031e13807..76bb15f63 100644
--- a/internal/checker/checker.go
+++ b/internal/checker/checker.go
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/klauspost/compress/zstd"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/s3"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/repository"
@@ -53,9 +51,6 @@ func New(repo restic.Repository, trackUnused bool) *Checker {
 	return c
 }
 
-// ErrLegacyLayout is returned when the repository uses the S3 legacy layout.
-var ErrLegacyLayout = errors.New("repository uses S3 legacy layout")
-
 // ErrDuplicatePacks is returned when a pack is found in more than one index.
 type ErrDuplicatePacks struct {
 	PackID  restic.ID
@@ -75,16 +70,6 @@ func (e *ErrMixedPack) Error() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("pack %v contains a mix of tree and data blobs", e.PackID.Str())
 }
 
-// ErrOldIndexFormat is returned when an index with the old format is
-// found.
-type ErrOldIndexFormat struct {
-	restic.ID
-}
-
-func (err *ErrOldIndexFormat) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("index %v has old format", err.ID)
-}
-
 func (c *Checker) LoadSnapshots(ctx context.Context) error {
 	var err error
 	c.snapshots, err = restic.MemorizeList(ctx, c.repo, restic.SnapshotFile)
@@ -112,14 +97,8 @@ func (c *Checker) LoadIndex(ctx context.Context, p *progress.Counter) (hints []e
 	debug.Log("Start")
 
 	packToIndex := make(map[restic.ID]restic.IDSet)
-	err := c.masterIndex.Load(ctx, c.repo, p, func(id restic.ID, idx *index.Index, oldFormat bool, err error) error {
+	err := c.masterIndex.Load(ctx, c.repo, p, func(id restic.ID, idx *index.Index, err error) error {
 		debug.Log("process index %v, err %v", id, err)
-
-		if oldFormat {
-			debug.Log("index %v has old format", id)
-			hints = append(hints, &ErrOldIndexFormat{id})
-		}
-
 		err = errors.Wrapf(err, "error loading index %v", id)
 
 		if err != nil {
@@ -193,23 +172,11 @@ func (e *PackError) Error() string {
 	return "pack " + e.ID.String() + ": " + e.Err.Error()
 }
 
-func isS3Legacy(b backend.Backend) bool {
-	be := backend.AsBackend[*s3.Backend](b)
-	return be != nil && be.Layout.Name() == "s3legacy"
-}
-
 // Packs checks that all packs referenced in the index are still available and
 // there are no packs that aren't in an index. errChan is closed after all
 // packs have been checked.
 func (c *Checker) Packs(ctx context.Context, errChan chan<- error) {
 	defer close(errChan)
-
-	if r, ok := c.repo.(*repository.Repository); ok {
-		if isS3Legacy(repository.AsS3Backend(r)) {
-			errChan <- ErrLegacyLayout
-		}
-	}
-
 	debug.Log("checking for %d packs", len(c.packs))
 
 	debug.Log("listing repository packs")
diff --git a/internal/feature/registry.go b/internal/feature/registry.go
index 6b8f6b397..7fe7da965 100644
--- a/internal/feature/registry.go
+++ b/internal/feature/registry.go
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ var Flag = New()
 // flag names are written in kebab-case
 const (
 	BackendErrorRedesign    FlagName = "backend-error-redesign"
-	DeprecateLegacyIndex    FlagName = "deprecate-legacy-index"
-	DeprecateS3LegacyLayout FlagName = "deprecate-s3-legacy-layout"
 	DeviceIDForHardlinks    FlagName = "device-id-for-hardlinks"
 	ExplicitS3AnonymousAuth FlagName = "explicit-s3-anonymous-auth"
 	SafeForgetKeepTags      FlagName = "safe-forget-keep-tags"
@@ -16,8 +14,6 @@ const (
 func init() {
 	Flag.SetFlags(map[FlagName]FlagDesc{
 		BackendErrorRedesign:    {Type: Beta, Description: "enforce timeouts for stuck HTTP requests and use new backend error handling design."},
-		DeprecateLegacyIndex:    {Type: Beta, Description: "disable support for index format used by restic 0.1.0. Use `restic repair index` to update the index if necessary."},
-		DeprecateS3LegacyLayout: {Type: Beta, Description: "disable support for S3 legacy layout used up to restic 0.7.0. Use `RESTIC_FEATURES=deprecate-s3-legacy-layout=false restic migrate s3_layout` to migrate your S3 repository if necessary."},
 		DeviceIDForHardlinks:    {Type: Alpha, Description: "store deviceID only for hardlinks to reduce metadata changes for example when using btrfs subvolumes. Will be removed in a future restic version after repository format 3 is available"},
 		ExplicitS3AnonymousAuth: {Type: Beta, Description: "forbid anonymous S3 authentication unless `-o s3.unsafe-anonymous-auth=true` is set"},
 		SafeForgetKeepTags:      {Type: Beta, Description: "prevent deleting all snapshots if the tag passed to `forget --keep-tags tagname` does not exist"},
diff --git a/internal/migrations/s3_layout.go b/internal/migrations/s3_layout.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 8b994b8fc..000000000
--- a/internal/migrations/s3_layout.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,123 +0,0 @@
-package migrations
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"fmt"
-	"os"
-	"path"
-
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/layout"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/s3"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/repository"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
-)
-
-func init() {
-	register(&S3Layout{})
-}
-
-// S3Layout migrates a repository on an S3 backend from the "s3legacy" to the
-// "default" layout.
-type S3Layout struct{}
-
-// Check tests whether the migration can be applied.
-func (m *S3Layout) Check(_ context.Context, repo restic.Repository) (bool, string, error) {
-	be := repository.AsS3Backend(repo.(*repository.Repository))
-	if be == nil {
-		debug.Log("backend is not s3")
-		return false, "backend is not s3", nil
-	}
-
-	if be.Layout.Name() != "s3legacy" {
-		debug.Log("layout is not s3legacy")
-		return false, "not using the legacy s3 layout", nil
-	}
-
-	return true, "", nil
-}
-
-func (m *S3Layout) RepoCheck() bool {
-	return false
-}
-
-func retry(max int, fail func(err error), f func() error) error {
-	var err error
-	for i := 0; i < max; i++ {
-		err = f()
-		if err == nil {
-			return nil
-		}
-		if fail != nil {
-			fail(err)
-		}
-	}
-	return err
-}
-
-// maxErrors for retrying renames on s3.
-const maxErrors = 20
-
-func (m *S3Layout) moveFiles(ctx context.Context, be *s3.Backend, l layout.Layout, t restic.FileType) error {
-	printErr := func(err error) {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "renaming file returned error: %v\n", err)
-	}
-
-	return be.List(ctx, t, func(fi backend.FileInfo) error {
-		h := backend.Handle{Type: t, Name: fi.Name}
-		debug.Log("move %v", h)
-
-		return retry(maxErrors, printErr, func() error {
-			return be.Rename(ctx, h, l)
-		})
-	})
-}
-
-// Apply runs the migration.
-func (m *S3Layout) Apply(ctx context.Context, repo restic.Repository) error {
-	be := repository.AsS3Backend(repo.(*repository.Repository))
-	if be == nil {
-		debug.Log("backend is not s3")
-		return errors.New("backend is not s3")
-	}
-
-	oldLayout := &layout.S3LegacyLayout{
-		Path: be.Path(),
-		Join: path.Join,
-	}
-
-	newLayout := &layout.DefaultLayout{
-		Path: be.Path(),
-		Join: path.Join,
-	}
-
-	be.Layout = oldLayout
-
-	for _, t := range []restic.FileType{
-		restic.SnapshotFile,
-		restic.PackFile,
-		restic.KeyFile,
-		restic.LockFile,
-	} {
-		err := m.moveFiles(ctx, be, newLayout, t)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-
-	be.Layout = newLayout
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-// Name returns the name for this migration.
-func (m *S3Layout) Name() string {
-	return "s3_layout"
-}
-
-// Desc returns a short description what the migration does.
-func (m *S3Layout) Desc() string {
-	return "move files from 's3legacy' to the 'default' repository layout"
-}
diff --git a/internal/repository/index/index.go b/internal/repository/index/index.go
index 36ac2560f..14e4543bd 100644
--- a/internal/repository/index/index.go
+++ b/internal/repository/index/index.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
-	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"math"
 	"sync"
@@ -12,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/crypto"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/feature"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
@@ -489,34 +487,15 @@ func (idx *Index) merge(idx2 *Index) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// isErrOldIndex returns true if the error may be caused by an old index
-// format.
-func isErrOldIndex(err error) bool {
-	e, ok := err.(*json.UnmarshalTypeError)
-	return ok && e.Value == "array"
-}
-
 // DecodeIndex unserializes an index from buf.
-func DecodeIndex(buf []byte, id restic.ID) (idx *Index, oldFormat bool, err error) {
+func DecodeIndex(buf []byte, id restic.ID) (idx *Index, err error) {
 	debug.Log("Start decoding index")
 	idxJSON := &jsonIndex{}
 
 	err = json.Unmarshal(buf, idxJSON)
 	if err != nil {
 		debug.Log("Error %v", err)
-
-		if isErrOldIndex(err) {
-			if feature.Flag.Enabled(feature.DeprecateLegacyIndex) {
-				return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("index seems to use the legacy format. update it using `restic repair index`")
-			}
-
-			debug.Log("index is probably old format, trying that")
-			idx, err = decodeOldIndex(buf)
-			idx.ids = append(idx.ids, id)
-			return idx, err == nil, err
-		}
-
-		return nil, false, errors.Wrap(err, "DecodeIndex")
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "DecodeIndex")
 	}
 
 	idx = NewIndex()
@@ -537,38 +516,6 @@ func DecodeIndex(buf []byte, id restic.ID) (idx *Index, oldFormat bool, err erro
 	idx.ids = append(idx.ids, id)
 	idx.final = true
 
-	debug.Log("done")
-	return idx, false, nil
-}
-
-// DecodeOldIndex loads and unserializes an index in the old format from rd.
-func decodeOldIndex(buf []byte) (idx *Index, err error) {
-	debug.Log("Start decoding old index")
-	list := []*packJSON{}
-
-	err = json.Unmarshal(buf, &list)
-	if err != nil {
-		debug.Log("Error %#v", err)
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "Decode")
-	}
-
-	idx = NewIndex()
-	for _, pack := range list {
-		packID := idx.addToPacks(pack.ID)
-
-		for _, blob := range pack.Blobs {
-			idx.store(packID, restic.Blob{
-				BlobHandle: restic.BlobHandle{
-					Type: blob.Type,
-					ID:   blob.ID},
-				Offset: blob.Offset,
-				Length: blob.Length,
-				// no compressed length in the old index format
-			})
-		}
-	}
-	idx.final = true
-
 	debug.Log("done")
 	return idx, nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/repository/index/index_parallel.go b/internal/repository/index/index_parallel.go
index 3d5621a2d..fda5123d3 100644
--- a/internal/repository/index/index_parallel.go
+++ b/internal/repository/index/index_parallel.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 // It is guaranteed that the function is not run concurrently. If the callback
 // returns an error, this function is cancelled and also returns that error.
 func ForAllIndexes(ctx context.Context, lister restic.Lister, repo restic.LoaderUnpacked,
-	fn func(id restic.ID, index *Index, oldFormat bool, err error) error) error {
+	fn func(id restic.ID, index *Index, err error) error) error {
 
 	// decoding an index can take quite some time such that this can be both CPU- or IO-bound
 	// as the whole index is kept in memory anyways, a few workers too much don't matter
@@ -22,15 +22,14 @@ func ForAllIndexes(ctx context.Context, lister restic.Lister, repo restic.Loader
 	return restic.ParallelList(ctx, lister, restic.IndexFile, workerCount, func(ctx context.Context, id restic.ID, _ int64) error {
 		var err error
 		var idx *Index
-		oldFormat := false
 
 		buf, err := repo.LoadUnpacked(ctx, restic.IndexFile, id)
 		if err == nil {
-			idx, oldFormat, err = DecodeIndex(buf, id)
+			idx, err = DecodeIndex(buf, id)
 		}
 
 		m.Lock()
 		defer m.Unlock()
-		return fn(id, idx, oldFormat, err)
+		return fn(id, idx, err)
 	})
 }
diff --git a/internal/repository/index/index_parallel_test.go b/internal/repository/index/index_parallel_test.go
index 38dafb507..96f1c2a6a 100644
--- a/internal/repository/index/index_parallel_test.go
+++ b/internal/repository/index/index_parallel_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func TestRepositoryForAllIndexes(t *testing.T) {
 	// check that all expected indexes are loaded without errors
 	indexIDs := restic.NewIDSet()
 	var indexErr error
-	rtest.OK(t, index.ForAllIndexes(context.TODO(), repo, repo, func(id restic.ID, index *index.Index, oldFormat bool, err error) error {
+	rtest.OK(t, index.ForAllIndexes(context.TODO(), repo, repo, func(id restic.ID, index *index.Index, err error) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			indexErr = err
 		}
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func TestRepositoryForAllIndexes(t *testing.T) {
 	// must failed with the returned error
 	iterErr := errors.New("error to pass upwards")
 
-	err := index.ForAllIndexes(context.TODO(), repo, repo, func(id restic.ID, index *index.Index, oldFormat bool, err error) error {
+	err := index.ForAllIndexes(context.TODO(), repo, repo, func(id restic.ID, index *index.Index, err error) error {
 		return iterErr
 	})
 
diff --git a/internal/repository/index/index_test.go b/internal/repository/index/index_test.go
index bf752d3d3..93803603d 100644
--- a/internal/repository/index/index_test.go
+++ b/internal/repository/index/index_test.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/feature"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/repository/index"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
 	rtest "github.com/restic/restic/internal/test"
@@ -53,11 +52,9 @@ func TestIndexSerialize(t *testing.T) {
 	rtest.OK(t, err)
 
 	idx2ID := restic.NewRandomID()
-	idx2, oldFormat, err := index.DecodeIndex(wr.Bytes(), idx2ID)
+	idx2, err := index.DecodeIndex(wr.Bytes(), idx2ID)
 	rtest.OK(t, err)
-	rtest.Assert(t, idx2 != nil,
-		"nil returned for decoded index")
-	rtest.Assert(t, !oldFormat, "new index format recognized as old format")
+	rtest.Assert(t, idx2 != nil, "nil returned for decoded index")
 	indexID, err := idx2.IDs()
 	rtest.OK(t, err)
 	rtest.Equals(t, indexID, restic.IDs{idx2ID})
@@ -123,13 +120,10 @@ func TestIndexSerialize(t *testing.T) {
 	rtest.OK(t, err)
 	rtest.Equals(t, restic.IDs{id}, ids)
 
-	idx3, oldFormat, err := index.DecodeIndex(wr3.Bytes(), id)
+	idx3, err := index.DecodeIndex(wr3.Bytes(), id)
 	rtest.OK(t, err)
-	rtest.Assert(t, idx3 != nil,
-		"nil returned for decoded index")
-	rtest.Assert(t, idx3.Final(),
-		"decoded index is not final")
-	rtest.Assert(t, !oldFormat, "new index format recognized as old format")
+	rtest.Assert(t, idx3 != nil, "nil returned for decoded index")
+	rtest.Assert(t, idx3.Final(), "decoded index is not final")
 
 	// all new blobs must be in the index
 	for _, testBlob := range newtests {
@@ -246,31 +240,6 @@ var docExampleV2 = []byte(`
   }
 `)
 
-var docOldExample = []byte(`
-[ {
-  "id": "73d04e6125cf3c28a299cc2f3cca3b78ceac396e4fcf9575e34536b26782413c",
-  "blobs": [
-	{
-	  "id": "3ec79977ef0cf5de7b08cd12b874cd0f62bbaf7f07f3497a5b1bbcc8cb39b1ce",
-	  "type": "data",
-	  "offset": 0,
-	  "length": 38
-	},{
-	  "id": "9ccb846e60d90d4eb915848add7aa7ea1e4bbabfc60e573db9f7bfb2789afbae",
-	  "type": "tree",
-	  "offset": 38,
-	  "length": 112
-	},
-	{
-	  "id": "d3dc577b4ffd38cc4b32122cabf8655a0223ed22edfd93b353dc0c3f2b0fdf66",
-	  "type": "data",
-	  "offset": 150,
-	  "length": 123
-	}
-  ]
-} ]
-`)
-
 var exampleTests = []struct {
 	id, packID         restic.ID
 	tpe                restic.BlobType
@@ -312,9 +281,8 @@ func TestIndexUnserialize(t *testing.T) {
 		{docExampleV1, 1},
 		{docExampleV2, 2},
 	} {
-		idx, oldFormat, err := index.DecodeIndex(task.idxBytes, restic.NewRandomID())
+		idx, err := index.DecodeIndex(task.idxBytes, restic.NewRandomID())
 		rtest.OK(t, err)
-		rtest.Assert(t, !oldFormat, "new index format recognized as old format")
 
 		for _, test := range exampleTests {
 			list := idx.Lookup(restic.BlobHandle{ID: test.id, Type: test.tpe}, nil)
@@ -387,7 +355,7 @@ func BenchmarkDecodeIndex(b *testing.B) {
 	b.ResetTimer()
 
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		_, _, err := index.DecodeIndex(benchmarkIndexJSON, id)
+		_, err := index.DecodeIndex(benchmarkIndexJSON, id)
 		rtest.OK(b, err)
 	}
 }
@@ -400,7 +368,7 @@ func BenchmarkDecodeIndexParallel(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.RunParallel(func(pb *testing.PB) {
 		for pb.Next() {
-			_, _, err := index.DecodeIndex(benchmarkIndexJSON, id)
+			_, err := index.DecodeIndex(benchmarkIndexJSON, id)
 			rtest.OK(b, err)
 		}
 	})
@@ -426,27 +394,6 @@ func BenchmarkEncodeIndex(b *testing.B) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestIndexUnserializeOld(t *testing.T) {
-	defer feature.TestSetFlag(t, feature.Flag, feature.DeprecateLegacyIndex, false)()
-
-	idx, oldFormat, err := index.DecodeIndex(docOldExample, restic.NewRandomID())
-	rtest.OK(t, err)
-	rtest.Assert(t, oldFormat, "old index format recognized as new format")
-
-	for _, test := range exampleTests {
-		list := idx.Lookup(restic.BlobHandle{ID: test.id, Type: test.tpe}, nil)
-		if len(list) != 1 {
-			t.Errorf("expected one result for blob %v, got %v: %v", test.id.Str(), len(list), list)
-		}
-		blob := list[0]
-
-		rtest.Equals(t, test.packID, blob.PackID)
-		rtest.Equals(t, test.tpe, blob.Type)
-		rtest.Equals(t, test.offset, blob.Offset)
-		rtest.Equals(t, test.length, blob.Length)
-	}
-}
-
 func TestIndexPacks(t *testing.T) {
 	idx := index.NewIndex()
 	packs := restic.NewIDSet()
diff --git a/internal/repository/index/master_index.go b/internal/repository/index/master_index.go
index 9b5c4f9f8..2600fe350 100644
--- a/internal/repository/index/master_index.go
+++ b/internal/repository/index/master_index.go
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ func (mi *MasterIndex) MergeFinalIndexes() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (mi *MasterIndex) Load(ctx context.Context, r restic.ListerLoaderUnpacked, p *progress.Counter, cb func(id restic.ID, idx *Index, oldFormat bool, err error) error) error {
+func (mi *MasterIndex) Load(ctx context.Context, r restic.ListerLoaderUnpacked, p *progress.Counter, cb func(id restic.ID, idx *Index, err error) error) error {
 	indexList, err := restic.MemorizeList(ctx, r, restic.IndexFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -284,12 +284,12 @@ func (mi *MasterIndex) Load(ctx context.Context, r restic.ListerLoaderUnpacked,
 		defer p.Done()
 	}
 
-	err = ForAllIndexes(ctx, indexList, r, func(id restic.ID, idx *Index, oldFormat bool, err error) error {
+	err = ForAllIndexes(ctx, indexList, r, func(id restic.ID, idx *Index, err error) error {
 		if p != nil {
 			p.Add(1)
 		}
 		if cb != nil {
-			err = cb(id, idx, oldFormat, err)
+			err = cb(id, idx, err)
 		}
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -365,8 +365,7 @@ func (mi *MasterIndex) Rewrite(ctx context.Context, repo restic.Unpacked, exclud
 
 	var rewriteWg sync.WaitGroup
 	type rewriteTask struct {
-		idx       *Index
-		oldFormat bool
+		idx *Index
 	}
 	rewriteCh := make(chan rewriteTask)
 	loader := func() error {
@@ -376,13 +375,13 @@ func (mi *MasterIndex) Rewrite(ctx context.Context, repo restic.Unpacked, exclud
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("LoadUnpacked(%v): %w", id.Str(), err)
 			}
-			idx, oldFormat, err := DecodeIndex(buf, id)
+			idx, err := DecodeIndex(buf, id)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
 			select {
-			case rewriteCh <- rewriteTask{idx, oldFormat}:
+			case rewriteCh <- rewriteTask{idx}:
 			case <-wgCtx.Done():
 				return wgCtx.Err()
 			}
@@ -411,8 +410,8 @@ func (mi *MasterIndex) Rewrite(ctx context.Context, repo restic.Unpacked, exclud
 		defer close(saveCh)
 		newIndex := NewIndex()
 		for task := range rewriteCh {
-			// always rewrite indexes using the old format, that include a pack that must be removed or that are not full
-			if !task.oldFormat && len(task.idx.Packs().Intersect(excludePacks)) == 0 && IndexFull(task.idx) {
+			// always rewrite indexes that include a pack that must be removed or that are not full
+			if len(task.idx.Packs().Intersect(excludePacks)) == 0 && IndexFull(task.idx) {
 				// make sure that each pack is only stored exactly once in the index
 				excludePacks.Merge(task.idx.Packs())
 				// index is already up to date
diff --git a/internal/repository/repair_index.go b/internal/repository/repair_index.go
index 770809254..bff7ec5da 100644
--- a/internal/repository/repair_index.go
+++ b/internal/repository/repair_index.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func RepairIndex(ctx context.Context, repo *Repository, opts RepairIndexOptions,
 	} else {
 		printer.P("loading indexes...\n")
 		mi := index.NewMasterIndex()
-		err := index.ForAllIndexes(ctx, repo, repo, func(id restic.ID, idx *index.Index, _ bool, err error) error {
+		err := index.ForAllIndexes(ctx, repo, repo, func(id restic.ID, idx *index.Index, err error) error {
 			if err != nil {
 				printer.E("removing invalid index %v: %v\n", id, err)
 				obsoleteIndexes = append(obsoleteIndexes, id)
diff --git a/internal/repository/repository_test.go b/internal/repository/repository_test.go
index ea21ea3f3..3467a9cfa 100644
--- a/internal/repository/repository_test.go
+++ b/internal/repository/repository_test.go
@@ -4,10 +4,8 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"crypto/sha256"
-	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"math/rand"
-	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -261,11 +259,7 @@ func loadIndex(ctx context.Context, repo restic.LoaderUnpacked, id restic.ID) (*
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	idx, oldFormat, err := index.DecodeIndex(buf, id)
-	if oldFormat {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "index %v has old format\n", id.Str())
-	}
-	return idx, err
+	return index.DecodeIndex(buf, id)
 }
 
 func TestRepositoryLoadUnpackedBroken(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/repository/s3_backend.go b/internal/repository/s3_backend.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 4c77c69a2..000000000
--- a/internal/repository/s3_backend.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-package repository
-
-import (
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/s3"
-)
-
-// AsS3Backend extracts the S3 backend from a repository
-// TODO remove me once restic 0.17 was released
-func AsS3Backend(repo *Repository) *s3.Backend {
-	return backend.AsBackend[*s3.Backend](repo.be)
-}