diff --git a/.changeset/lazy-deers-dance.md b/.changeset/lazy-deers-dance.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..80adcbaa14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/lazy-deers-dance.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/frontend-plugin-api': minor
+---
+
+**BREAKING**: Removed deprecated variant of `createExtensionDataRef` where the ID is passed directly.
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/report.api.md b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/report.api.md
index 52d0276952..f18826785a 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/report.api.md
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/report.api.md
@@ -610,11 +610,6 @@ export type CreateExtensionBlueprintOptions<
   dataRefs?: TDataRefs;
 } & VerifyExtensionFactoryOutput<UOutput, UFactoryOutput>;
 
-// @public @deprecated (undocumented)
-export function createExtensionDataRef<TData>(
-  id: string,
-): ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData, string>;
-
 // @public (undocumented)
 export function createExtensionDataRef<TData>(): {
   with<TId extends string>(options: {
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.test.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.test.ts
index 4b652298f1..b5acf78384 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.test.ts
@@ -29,15 +29,6 @@ describe('createExtensionDataRef', () => {
     expect(String(refOptional)).toBe('ExtensionDataRef{id=foo,optional=true}');
   });
 
-  it('can be created and read in the deprecated way', () => {
-    const ref = createExtensionDataRef('foo');
-    expect(ref.id).toBe('foo');
-    expect(String(ref)).toBe('ExtensionDataRef{id=foo,optional=false}');
-    const refOptional = ref.optional();
-    expect(refOptional.id).toBe('foo');
-    expect(String(refOptional)).toBe('ExtensionDataRef{id=foo,optional=true}');
-  });
-
   it('can be used to encapsulate a value', () => {
     const ref = createExtensionDataRef<string>().with({ id: 'foo' });
     const val: ExtensionDataValue<string, 'foo'> = ref('hello');
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.ts
index 80413c1688..94acb192a8 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.ts
@@ -60,26 +60,12 @@ export interface ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<
   (t: TData): ExtensionDataValue<TData, TId>;
 }
 
-/**
- * @public
- * @deprecated Use the following form instead: `createExtensionDataRef<Type>().with({ id: 'core.foo' })`
- */
-export function createExtensionDataRef<TData>(
-  id: string,
-): ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData, string>;
 /** @public */
 export function createExtensionDataRef<TData>(): {
   with<TId extends string>(options: {
     id: TId;
   }): ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData, TId>;
-};
-export function createExtensionDataRef<TData>(id?: string):
-  | ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData, string>
-  | {
-      with<TId extends string>(options: {
-        id: TId;
-      }): ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData, TId>;
-    } {
+} {
   const createRef = <TId extends string>(refId: TId) =>
     Object.assign(
       (value: TData): ExtensionDataValue<TData, TId> => ({
@@ -103,9 +89,6 @@ export function createExtensionDataRef<TData>(id?: string):
         },
       } as ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData, TId, { optional?: true }>,
     );
-  if (id) {
-    return createRef(id);
-  }
   return {
     with<TId extends string>(options: { id: TId }) {
       return createRef(options.id);