diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_check.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_check.go
index e8596ae33..fc460e39e 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_check.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_check.go
@@ -296,9 +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_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/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..3f73a941d 100644
--- a/internal/backend/layout/layout_default.go
+++ b/internal/backend/layout/layout_default.go
@@ -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>"
 }
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..de5ae7d69 100644
--- a/internal/backend/layout/layout_test.go
+++ b/internal/backend/layout/layout_test.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package layout
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -10,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/feature"
 	rtest "github.com/restic/restic/internal/test"
 )
 
@@ -232,42 +230,6 @@ func TestRESTLayoutURLs(t *testing.T) {
 			"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..ff7e3d35d 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
-	}
+	l := layout.NewDefaultLayout(cfg.Path, filepath.Join)
 
 	fi, err := fs.Stat(l.Filename(backend.Handle{Type: backend.ConfigFile}))
 	m := util.DeriveModesFromFileInfo(fi, err)
@@ -58,14 +53,14 @@ 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)
+	debug.Log("open local backend at %v", cfg.Path)
 	return open(ctx, 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)
+	debug.Log("create local backend at %v", cfg.Path)
 
 	be, err := open(ctx, cfg)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/backend/s3/s3.go b/internal/backend/s3/s3.go
index 019f8471b..5ef952891 100644
--- a/internal/backend/s3/s3.go
+++ b/internal/backend/s3/s3.go
@@ -37,8 +37,6 @@ 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) {
 	debug.Log("open, config %#v", cfg)
 
@@ -83,15 +81,9 @@ 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
 }
 
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..8ac6781e9 100644
--- a/internal/backend/sftp/sftp.go
+++ b/internal/backend/sftp/sftp.go
@@ -121,7 +121,13 @@ 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
@@ -152,14 +158,6 @@ func Open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*SFTP, error) {
 }
 
 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)
-
 	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)
@@ -195,11 +193,6 @@ 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)
@@ -266,11 +259,6 @@ 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
@@ -582,7 +570,7 @@ 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/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 e0c1766d7..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
@@ -177,23 +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 8bdb5480e..7fe7da965 100644
--- a/internal/feature/registry.go
+++ b/internal/feature/registry.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ var Flag = New()
 // flag names are written in kebab-case
 const (
 	BackendErrorRedesign    FlagName = "backend-error-redesign"
-	DeprecateS3LegacyLayout FlagName = "deprecate-s3-legacy-layout"
 	DeviceIDForHardlinks    FlagName = "device-id-for-hardlinks"
 	ExplicitS3AnonymousAuth FlagName = "explicit-s3-anonymous-auth"
 	SafeForgetKeepTags      FlagName = "safe-forget-keep-tags"
@@ -15,7 +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."},
-		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/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)
-}