diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index d35929858..4801e53ca 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -6,6 +6,5 @@
 .settings/
 /build/
 packages
-/.packages
 pubspec.lock
 /bin/pub.dart.snapshot
diff --git a/lib/src/entrypoint.dart b/lib/src/entrypoint.dart
index 6853d428a..8d6dd67c2 100644
--- a/lib/src/entrypoint.dart
+++ b/lib/src/entrypoint.dart
@@ -194,13 +194,6 @@ class Entrypoint {
   /// store these in the global cache.
   String? get _configRoot => isCached ? globalDir : rootDir;
 
-  /// The path to the entrypoint's ".packages" file.
-  ///
-  /// This file is being slowly deprecated in favor of
-  /// `.dart_tool/package_config.json`. Pub will still create it, but will
-  /// not require it or make use of it within pub.
-  String get packagesFile => p.normalize(p.join(_configRoot!, '.packages'));
-
   /// The path to the entrypoint's ".dart_tool/package_config.json" file
   /// relative to the current working directory .
   late String packageConfigPath = p.relative(
@@ -295,7 +288,7 @@ class Entrypoint {
 
   Entrypoint? _example;
 
-  /// Writes .packages and .dart_tool/package_config.json
+  /// Writes the .dart_tool/package_config.json file
   Future<void> writePackageConfigFile() async {
     final entrypointName = isGlobal ? null : root.name;
     ensureDir(p.dirname(packageConfigPath));
@@ -664,8 +657,8 @@ To update `$lockFilePath` run `$topLevelProgram pub get`$suffix without
   /// Whether `.dart_tool/package_config.json` file exists and if it's
   /// up-to-date relative to the lockfile and the pubspec.
   ///
-  /// A `.packages` file is not required. But if it exists it is checked for
-  /// consistency with the pubspec.lock.
+  /// A `.dart_tool/package_config.json` file is not required.
+  /// But if it exists it is checked for consistency with the `pubspec.lock`.
   bool _isUpToDate({bool checkForSdkUpdate = false}) {
     if (isCached) return true;
     final pubspecStat = tryStatFile(pubspecPath);
diff --git a/lib/src/lock_file.dart b/lib/src/lock_file.dart
index c055b2fd3..ebf04730e 100644
--- a/lib/src/lock_file.dart
+++ b/lib/src/lock_file.dart
@@ -356,8 +356,6 @@ class LockFile {
   /// Returns the contents of the `.dart_tool/package_config` file generated
   /// from this lockfile.
   ///
-  /// This file will replace the `.packages` file.
-  ///
   /// If [entrypoint] is passed, an accompanying [entrypointSdkConstraint]
   /// should be given, these identify the current package in which this file is
   /// written. Passing `null` as [entrypointSdkConstraint] is correct if the
diff --git a/test/add/common/add_test.dart b/test/add/common/add_test.dart
index 09fccb001..4bca49925 100644
--- a/test/add/common/add_test.dart
+++ b/test/add/common/add_test.dart
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
@@ -142,7 +141,6 @@ void main() {
       await d.dir(appPath, [
         d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
         d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-        d.nothing('.packages'),
       ]).validate();
     });
 
@@ -455,7 +453,6 @@ environment:
           d.pubspec({'name': 'myapp', 'dependencies': {}}),
           d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
           d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-          d.nothing('.packages'),
         ]).validate();
       });
 
@@ -488,7 +485,6 @@ environment:
           }),
           d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
           d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-          d.nothing('.packages'),
         ]).validate();
       });
 
@@ -529,7 +525,6 @@ environment:
           }),
           d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
           d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-          d.nothing('.packages'),
         ]).validate();
       });
 
@@ -570,7 +565,6 @@ environment:
           }),
           d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
           d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-          d.nothing('.packages'),
         ]).validate();
       });
     });
@@ -892,7 +886,6 @@ environment:
           }),
           d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
           d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-          d.nothing('.packages'),
         ]).validate();
       });
 
@@ -933,7 +926,6 @@ environment:
           }),
           d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
           d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-          d.nothing('.packages'),
         ]).validate();
       });
 
@@ -975,7 +967,6 @@ environment:
           }),
           d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
           d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-          d.nothing('.packages'),
         ]).validate();
       });
     });
@@ -1011,7 +1002,6 @@ environment:
         }),
         d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
         d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-        d.nothing('.packages'),
       ]).validate();
     });
   });
diff --git a/test/add/common/invalid_options.dart b/test/add/common/invalid_options.dart
index 784b842de..b97044c46 100644
--- a/test/add/common/invalid_options.dart
+++ b/test/add/common/invalid_options.dart
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
@@ -71,7 +70,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
@@ -111,7 +109,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/add/common/version_constraint_test.dart b/test/add/common/version_constraint_test.dart
index b0bc2d425..6441a703d 100644
--- a/test/add/common/version_constraint_test.dart
+++ b/test/add/common/version_constraint_test.dart
@@ -131,10 +131,8 @@ void main() {
 
       await d.appDir(dependencies: {}).validate();
       await d.dir(appPath, [
-        // The lockfile should not be created.
         d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-        // The ".packages" file should not have been created.
-        d.nothing('.packages'),
+        d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       ]).validate();
     });
 
@@ -156,10 +154,8 @@ void main() {
 
       await d.appDir(dependencies: {'bar': '2.0.3'}).validate();
       await d.dir(appPath, [
-        // The lockfile should not be created.
         d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-        // The ".packages" file should not have been created.
-        d.nothing('.packages'),
+        d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       ]).validate();
     });
   });
diff --git a/test/add/git/git_test.dart b/test/add/git/git_test.dart
index fc1f9a0a6..833dd0f24 100644
--- a/test/add/git/git_test.dart
+++ b/test/add/git/git_test.dart
@@ -130,7 +130,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
@@ -150,7 +149,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
@@ -169,7 +167,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
diff --git a/test/add/git/ref_test.dart b/test/add/git/ref_test.dart
index e0ba11ff3..2e182fd37 100644
--- a/test/add/git/ref_test.dart
+++ b/test/add/git/ref_test.dart
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/add/hosted/non_default_pub_server_test.dart b/test/add/hosted/non_default_pub_server_test.dart
index b31552f2f..e58ea3d99 100644
--- a/test/add/hosted/non_default_pub_server_test.dart
+++ b/test/add/hosted/non_default_pub_server_test.dart
@@ -134,7 +134,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
diff --git a/test/add/path/absolute_path_test.dart b/test/add/path/absolute_path_test.dart
index adb44c85e..23cfa0258 100644
--- a/test/add/path/absolute_path_test.dart
+++ b/test/add/path/absolute_path_test.dart
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
@@ -96,7 +95,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
@@ -118,7 +116,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
diff --git a/test/add/path/relative_path_test.dart b/test/add/path/relative_path_test.dart
index e7c4a8eb4..5a3dcaa6c 100644
--- a/test/add/path/relative_path_test.dart
+++ b/test/add/path/relative_path_test.dart
@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
@@ -131,7 +130,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
diff --git a/test/add/sdk/sdk_test.dart b/test/add/sdk/sdk_test.dart
index c70471f06..0372f1535 100644
--- a/test/add/sdk/sdk_test.dart
+++ b/test/add/sdk/sdk_test.dart
@@ -113,7 +113,6 @@ void main() {
     await d.dir(appPath, [
       d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/descriptor/package_config.dart b/test/descriptor/package_config.dart
index 2b644c28c..99b687fc8 100644
--- a/test/descriptor/package_config.dart
+++ b/test/descriptor/package_config.dart
@@ -29,10 +29,9 @@ class PackageConfigFileDescriptor extends Descriptor {
     );
   }
 
-  /// Describes a `.packages` file with the given dependencies.
-  ///
-  /// [dependencies] maps package names to strings describing where the packages
-  /// are located on disk.
+  /// Describes a `.dart_tools/package_config.json` file
+  /// with the given list of package configurations and
+  /// generated with specified version.
   PackageConfigFileDescriptor(this._packages, this._generatorVersion)
       : super('.dart_tool/package_config.json');
 
diff --git a/test/get/dry_run_does_not_apply_changes_test.dart b/test/get/dry_run_does_not_apply_changes_test.dart
index a223335b7..1571e8b32 100644
--- a/test/get/dry_run_does_not_apply_changes_test.dart
+++ b/test/get/dry_run_does_not_apply_changes_test.dart
@@ -22,12 +22,8 @@ void main() {
     );
 
     await d.dir(appPath, [
-      // The lockfile should not be created.
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      // The "packages" directory should not have been generated.
-      d.nothing('packages'),
-      // The ".packages" file should not have been created.
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
+      d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/get/package_name_test.dart b/test/get/package_name_test.dart
index a56a3f28a..967221412 100644
--- a/test/get/package_name_test.dart
+++ b/test/get/package_name_test.dart
@@ -20,12 +20,8 @@ void main() {
     );
 
     await d.dir(appPath, [
-      // The lockfile should not be created.
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      // The "packages" directory should not have been generated.
-      d.nothing('packages'),
-      // The ".packages" file should not have been created.
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
+      d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
@@ -40,12 +36,8 @@ void main() {
     );
 
     await d.dir(appPath, [
-      // The lockfile should not be created.
       d.nothing('pubspec.lock'),
-      // The "packages" directory should not have been generated.
-      d.nothing('packages'),
-      // The ".packages" file should not have been created.
-      d.nothing('.packages'),
+      d.nothing('.dart_tool/package_config.json'),
     ]).validate();
   });
 
diff --git a/test/pub_get_and_upgrade_test.dart b/test/pub_get_and_upgrade_test.dart
index 0d2602b52..5000cac1f 100644
--- a/test/pub_get_and_upgrade_test.dart
+++ b/test/pub_get_and_upgrade_test.dart
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ void main() {
       });
     });
 
-    test('adds itself to the .packages file', () async {
+    test('adds itself to the .dart_tool/package_config.json file', () async {
       // The package should use the name in the pubspec, not the name of the
       // directory.
       await d.dir(appPath, [