diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
index 6651f1dd59..ec1c5203ef 100644
--- a/.vscode/settings.json
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -1,34 +1,9 @@
 {
   "npm.packageManager": "pnpm",
   "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
-  "[typescript]": {
-    "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
-    "editor.formatOnSave": true,
-    "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
-      "source.fixAll.eslint": "explicit"
-    }
-  },
-  "[typescriptreact]": {
-    "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
-    "editor.formatOnSave": true,
-    "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
-      "source.fixAll.eslint": "explicit"
-    }
-  },
-  "[javascript]": {
-    "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
-    "editor.formatOnSave": true,
-    "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
-      "source.fixAll.eslint": "explicit"
-    }
-  },
-  "[json]": {
-    "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
-    "editor.formatOnSave": true
-  },
-  "[jsonc]": {
-    "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
-    "editor.formatOnSave": true
+  "editor.formatOnSave": true,
+  "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
+    "source.fixAll.eslint": "explicit"
   },
   "editor.formatOnSaveMode": "file",
   "eslint.rules.customizations": [
@@ -43,12 +18,6 @@
   "typescript.tsdk": "node_modules/typescript/lib",
   // Load .git-blame-ignore-revs file
   "gitlens.advanced.blame.customArguments": ["--ignore-revs-file", ".git-blame-ignore-revs"],
-  "[javascript][typescript][typescriptreact]": {
-    "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
-      "source.fixAll.eslint": "explicit"
-    }
-  },
-  "files.insertFinalNewline": true,
   "jestrunner.jestCommand": "pnpm exec cross-env NODE_OPTIONS=\"--no-deprecation\" node 'node_modules/jest/bin/jest.js'",
   "jestrunner.debugOptions": {
     "runtimeArgs": ["--no-deprecation"]
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-postgres/src/migrations/20250114_010454_initial.ts b/templates/with-vercel-postgres/src/migrations/20250114_010454_initial.ts
index f776e9ec38..323c91fb78 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-postgres/src/migrations/20250114_010454_initial.ts
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-postgres/src/migrations/20250114_010454_initial.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { MigrateUpArgs, MigrateDownArgs, sql } from '@payloadcms/db-vercel-postgres'
 
-export async function up({ db, payload, req }: MigrateUpArgs): Promise<void> {
+export async function up({ db }: MigrateUpArgs): Promise<void> {
   await db.execute(sql`
    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS "users" (
   	"id" serial PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ export async function up({ db, payload, req }: MigrateUpArgs): Promise<void> {
   CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS "payload_migrations_created_at_idx" ON "payload_migrations" USING btree ("created_at");`)
 }
 
-export async function down({ db, payload, req }: MigrateDownArgs): Promise<void> {
+export async function down({ db }: MigrateDownArgs): Promise<void> {
   await db.execute(sql`
    DROP TABLE "users" CASCADE;
   DROP TABLE "media" CASCADE;
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/Footer/RowLabel.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/Footer/RowLabel.tsx
index 57e747495b..a6f949459c 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/Footer/RowLabel.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/Footer/RowLabel.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import { Header } from '@/payload-types'
 import { RowLabelProps, useRowLabel } from '@payloadcms/ui'
 
-export const RowLabel: React.FC<RowLabelProps> = (props) => {
+export const RowLabel: React.FC<RowLabelProps> = () => {
   const data = useRowLabel<NonNullable<Header['navItems']>[number]>()
 
   const label = data?.data?.link?.label
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/Header/RowLabel.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/Header/RowLabel.tsx
index 57e747495b..a6f949459c 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/Header/RowLabel.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/Header/RowLabel.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import { Header } from '@/payload-types'
 import { RowLabelProps, useRowLabel } from '@payloadcms/ui'
 
-export const RowLabel: React.FC<RowLabelProps> = (props) => {
+export const RowLabel: React.FC<RowLabelProps> = () => {
   const data = useRowLabel<NonNullable<Header['navItems']>[number]>()
 
   const label = data?.data?.link?.label
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/next/preview/route.ts b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/next/preview/route.ts
index 80642637c0..0e14ad4777 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/next/preview/route.ts
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/next/preview/route.ts
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ import { getPayload, type PayloadRequest } from 'payload'
 import configPromise from '@payload-config'
 import { CollectionSlug } from 'payload'
 
-const payloadToken = 'payload-token'
-
 export async function GET(
   req: Request & {
     cookies: {
@@ -16,7 +14,6 @@ export async function GET(
   },
 ): Promise<Response> {
   const payload = await getPayload({ config: configPromise })
-  const token = req.cookies.get(payloadToken)?.value
   const { searchParams } = new URL(req.url)
   const path = searchParams.get('path')
   const collection = searchParams.get('collection') as CollectionSlug
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/next/seed/route.ts b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/next/seed/route.ts
index 360a7d7279..326b677ccc 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/next/seed/route.ts
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/next/seed/route.ts
@@ -5,15 +5,7 @@ import { headers } from 'next/headers'
 
 export const maxDuration = 60 // This function can run for a maximum of 60 seconds
 
-export async function POST(
-  req: Request & {
-    cookies: {
-      get: (name: string) => {
-        value: string
-      }
-    }
-  },
-): Promise<Response> {
+export async function POST(): Promise<Response> {
   const payload = await getPayload({ config })
   const requestHeaders = await headers()
 
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/search/page.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/search/page.tsx
index 4c1a451d48..46bf2b1101 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/search/page.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/search/page.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import { CollectionArchive } from '@/components/CollectionArchive'
 import configPromise from '@payload-config'
 import { getPayload } from 'payload'
 import React from 'react'
-import { Post } from '@/payload-types'
 import { Search } from '@/search/Component'
 import PageClient from './page.client'
 import { CardPostData } from '@/components/Card'
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Checkbox/index.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Checkbox/index.tsx
index 541138d16b..0d43f93cfe 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Checkbox/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Checkbox/index.tsx
@@ -12,14 +12,8 @@ import { Width } from '../Width'
 
 export const Checkbox: React.FC<
   CheckboxField & {
-    errors: Partial<
-      FieldErrorsImpl<{
-        [x: string]: any
-      }>
-    >
-    getValues: any
+    errors: Partial<FieldErrorsImpl>
     register: UseFormRegister<FieldValues>
-    setValue: any
   }
 > = ({ name, defaultValue, errors, label, register, required, width }) => {
   const props = register(name, { required: required })
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Component.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Component.tsx
index d5a9df0e2c..7d4d7a15e3 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Component.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Component.tsx
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ export const FormBlock: React.FC<
                 {formFromProps &&
                   formFromProps.fields &&
                   formFromProps.fields?.map((field, index) => {
+                    // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
                     const Field: React.FC<any> = fields?.[field.blockType]
                     if (Field) {
                       return (
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Country/index.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Country/index.tsx
index 8248907cc3..f64e77515a 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Country/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Country/index.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { CountryField } from '@payloadcms/plugin-form-builder/types'
-import type { Control, FieldErrorsImpl, FieldValues } from 'react-hook-form'
+import type { Control, FieldErrorsImpl } from 'react-hook-form'
 
 import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label'
 import {
@@ -18,12 +18,8 @@ import { countryOptions } from './options'
 
 export const Country: React.FC<
   CountryField & {
-    control: Control<FieldValues, any>
-    errors: Partial<
-      FieldErrorsImpl<{
-        [x: string]: any
-      }>
-    >
+    control: Control
+    errors: Partial<FieldErrorsImpl>
   }
 > = ({ name, control, errors, label, required, width }) => {
   return (
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Email/index.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Email/index.tsx
index dc25b04126..6df5112dc5 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Email/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Email/index.tsx
@@ -10,11 +10,7 @@ import { Width } from '../Width'
 
 export const Email: React.FC<
   EmailField & {
-    errors: Partial<
-      FieldErrorsImpl<{
-        [x: string]: any
-      }>
-    >
+    errors: Partial<FieldErrorsImpl>
     register: UseFormRegister<FieldValues>
   }
 > = ({ name, defaultValue, errors, label, register, required, width }) => {
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Number/index.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Number/index.tsx
index 06d3638963..dc33d0f96d 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Number/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Number/index.tsx
@@ -9,11 +9,7 @@ import { Error } from '../Error'
 import { Width } from '../Width'
 export const Number: React.FC<
   TextField & {
-    errors: Partial<
-      FieldErrorsImpl<{
-        [x: string]: any
-      }>
-    >
+    errors: Partial<FieldErrorsImpl>
     register: UseFormRegister<FieldValues>
   }
 > = ({ name, defaultValue, errors, label, register, required, width }) => {
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Select/index.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Select/index.tsx
index dc4dbac673..f6de6346b5 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Select/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Select/index.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { SelectField } from '@payloadcms/plugin-form-builder/types'
-import type { Control, FieldErrorsImpl, FieldValues } from 'react-hook-form'
+import type { Control, FieldErrorsImpl } from 'react-hook-form'
 
 import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label'
 import {
@@ -17,12 +17,8 @@ import { Width } from '../Width'
 
 export const Select: React.FC<
   SelectField & {
-    control: Control<FieldValues, any>
-    errors: Partial<
-      FieldErrorsImpl<{
-        [x: string]: any
-      }>
-    >
+    control: Control
+    errors: Partial<FieldErrorsImpl>
   }
 > = ({ name, control, errors, label, options, required, width }) => {
   return (
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/State/index.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/State/index.tsx
index 10d26eff61..f8215d1e10 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/State/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/State/index.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { StateField } from '@payloadcms/plugin-form-builder/types'
-import type { Control, FieldErrorsImpl, FieldValues } from 'react-hook-form'
+import type { Control, FieldErrorsImpl } from 'react-hook-form'
 
 import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label'
 import {
@@ -18,12 +18,8 @@ import { stateOptions } from './options'
 
 export const State: React.FC<
   StateField & {
-    control: Control<FieldValues, any>
-    errors: Partial<
-      FieldErrorsImpl<{
-        [x: string]: any
-      }>
-    >
+    control: Control
+    errors: Partial<FieldErrorsImpl>
   }
 > = ({ name, control, errors, label, required, width }) => {
   return (
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Text/index.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Text/index.tsx
index 42f04b09da..f70a0fbec8 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Text/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Text/index.tsx
@@ -10,11 +10,7 @@ import { Width } from '../Width'
 
 export const Text: React.FC<
   TextField & {
-    errors: Partial<
-      FieldErrorsImpl<{
-        [x: string]: any
-      }>
-    >
+    errors: Partial<FieldErrorsImpl>
     register: UseFormRegister<FieldValues>
   }
 > = ({ name, defaultValue, errors, label, register, required, width }) => {
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Textarea/index.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Textarea/index.tsx
index 45f0418be9..9c596915e1 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Textarea/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/Form/Textarea/index.tsx
@@ -10,11 +10,7 @@ import { Width } from '../Width'
 
 export const Textarea: React.FC<
   TextField & {
-    errors: Partial<
-      FieldErrorsImpl<{
-        [x: string]: any
-      }>
-    >
+    errors: Partial<FieldErrorsImpl>
     register: UseFormRegister<FieldValues>
     rows?: number
   }
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/RelatedPosts/Component.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/RelatedPosts/Component.tsx
index 214657f5df..8d8c9798b2 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/RelatedPosts/Component.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/RelatedPosts/Component.tsx
@@ -5,11 +5,12 @@ import RichText from '@/components/RichText'
 import type { Post } from '@/payload-types'
 
 import { Card } from '../../components/Card'
+import { SerializedEditorState } from '@payloadcms/richtext-lexical/lexical'
 
 export type RelatedPostsProps = {
   className?: string
   docs?: Post[]
-  introContent?: any
+  introContent?: SerializedEditorState
 }
 
 export const RelatedPosts: React.FC<RelatedPostsProps> = (props) => {
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/RenderBlocks.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/RenderBlocks.tsx
index 459a678815..c84634a64a 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/RenderBlocks.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/blocks/RenderBlocks.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import { cn } from '@/utilities/ui'
 import React, { Fragment } from 'react'
 
 import type { Page } from '@/payload-types'
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/CollectionArchive/index.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/CollectionArchive/index.tsx
index 49adc95839..b0a2a1c493 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/CollectionArchive/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/CollectionArchive/index.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import { cn } from '@/utilities/ui'
 import React from 'react'
 
-import type { Post } from '@/payload-types'
-
 import { Card, CardPostData } from '@/components/Card'
 
 export type Props = {
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/Media/ImageMedia/index.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/Media/ImageMedia/index.tsx
index d60a98ff25..948346ce53 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/Media/ImageMedia/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/Media/ImageMedia/index.tsx
@@ -35,13 +35,7 @@ export const ImageMedia: React.FC<MediaProps> = (props) => {
   let src: StaticImageData | string = srcFromProps || ''
 
   if (!src && resource && typeof resource === 'object') {
-    const {
-      alt: altFromResource,
-      filename: fullFilename,
-      height: fullHeight,
-      url,
-      width: fullWidth,
-    } = resource
+    const { alt: altFromResource, height: fullHeight, url, width: fullWidth } = resource
 
     width = fullWidth!
     height = fullHeight!
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/Media/index.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/Media/index.tsx
index 2714c8a708..a4e2b9d0ef 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/Media/index.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/Media/index.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ export const Media: React.FC<Props> = (props) => {
   const { className, htmlElement = 'div', resource } = props
 
   const isVideo = typeof resource === 'object' && resource?.mimeType?.includes('video')
-  const Tag = (htmlElement as any) || Fragment
+  const Tag = htmlElement || Fragment
 
   return (
     <Tag
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/RichText/nodeFormat.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/RichText/nodeFormat.tsx
index cc2fa2181a..2499896ae6 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/RichText/nodeFormat.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/RichText/nodeFormat.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,6 @@
-// @ts-nocheck
 //This copy-and-pasted from lexical here: https://github.com/facebook/lexical/blob/c2ceee223f46543d12c574e62155e619f9a18a5d/packages/lexical/src/LexicalConstants.ts
 
 import type { ElementFormatType, TextFormatType } from '@payloadcms/richtext-lexical/lexical'
-import type {
-  TextDetailType,
-  TextModeType,
-} from '@payloadcms/richtext-lexical/lexical/nodes/LexicalTextNode'
 
 /**
  * Copyright (c) Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates.
@@ -64,7 +59,6 @@ export const IS_ALIGN_END = 6
 
 // Reconciliation
 export const NON_BREAKING_SPACE = '\u00A0'
-const ZERO_WIDTH_SPACE = '\u200b'
 
 export const DOUBLE_LINE_BREAK = '\n\n'
 
@@ -92,7 +86,7 @@ export const TEXT_TYPE_TO_FORMAT: Record<TextFormatType | string, number> = {
   underline: IS_UNDERLINE,
 }
 
-export const DETAIL_TYPE_TO_DETAIL: Record<TextDetailType | string, number> = {
+export const DETAIL_TYPE_TO_DETAIL: Record<string, number> = {
   directionless: IS_DIRECTIONLESS,
   unmergeable: IS_UNMERGEABLE,
 }
@@ -115,13 +109,13 @@ export const ELEMENT_FORMAT_TO_TYPE: Record<number, ElementFormatType> = {
   [IS_ALIGN_START]: 'start',
 }
 
-export const TEXT_MODE_TO_TYPE: Record<TextModeType, 0 | 1 | 2> = {
+export const TEXT_MODE_TO_TYPE: Record<string, 0 | 1 | 2> = {
   normal: IS_NORMAL,
   segmented: IS_SEGMENTED,
   token: IS_TOKEN,
 }
 
-export const TEXT_TYPE_TO_MODE: Record<number, TextModeType> = {
+export const TEXT_TYPE_TO_MODE: Record<number, string> = {
   [IS_NORMAL]: 'normal',
   [IS_SEGMENTED]: 'segmented',
   [IS_TOKEN]: 'token',
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/RichText/serialize.tsx b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/RichText/serialize.tsx
index b70c45f894..e9991a63bb 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/RichText/serialize.tsx
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/components/RichText/serialize.tsx
@@ -160,7 +160,6 @@ export function serializeLexical({ nodes }: Props): JSX.Element {
                     aria-checked={node.checked ? 'true' : 'false'}
                     className={` ${node.checked ? '' : ''}`}
                     key={index}
-                    // eslint-disable-next-line jsx-a11y/no-noninteractive-element-to-interactive-role
                     role="checkbox"
                     tabIndex={-1}
                     value={node?.value}
@@ -190,7 +189,8 @@ export function serializeLexical({ nodes }: Props): JSX.Element {
                 <CMSLink
                   key={index}
                   newTab={Boolean(fields?.newTab)}
-                  reference={fields.doc as any}
+                  // @ts-expect-error - this should disappear when upgrading to the latest version of Payload
+                  reference={fields.doc}
                   type={fields.linkType === 'internal' ? 'reference' : 'custom'}
                   url={fields.url}
                 >
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/contact-page.ts b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/contact-page.ts
index f17fa373cd..4290f1117c 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/contact-page.ts
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/contact-page.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ export const contact: Partial<Page> = {
     {
       blockType: 'formBlock',
       enableIntro: true,
-      // @ts-ignore
+      // @ts-expect-error this should dissapear when upgrading to the latest version of Payload
       form: '{{CONTACT_FORM_ID}}',
       introContent: {
         root: {
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/home-static.ts b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/home-static.ts
index 91a652dfea..547a6a790f 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/home-static.ts
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/home-static.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import type { Page } from '@/payload-types'
 
 // Used for pre-seeded content so that the homepage is not empty
-// @ts-expect-error
 export const homeStatic: Page = {
   slug: 'home',
   _status: 'published',
@@ -85,4 +84,8 @@ export const homeStatic: Page = {
     title: 'Payload Website Template',
   },
   title: 'Home',
+  id: 0,
+  layout: [],
+  updatedAt: '',
+  createdAt: '',
 }
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/home.ts b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/home.ts
index 09ce6e87cd..d8f7902dc6 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/home.ts
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/home.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export const home: RequiredDataFromCollectionSlug<'pages'> = {
         },
       },
     ],
-    // @ts-ignore
+    // @ts-expect-error - this should disappear when upgrading to the latest version of Payload
     media: '{{IMAGE_1}}',
     richText: {
       root: {
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ export const home: RequiredDataFromCollectionSlug<'pages'> = {
     {
       blockName: 'Media Block',
       blockType: 'mediaBlock',
-      // @ts-ignore
+      // @ts-expect-error - this should disappear when upgrading to the latest version of Payload
       media: '{{IMAGE_2}}',
     },
     {
@@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ export const home: RequiredDataFromCollectionSlug<'pages'> = {
   ],
   meta: {
     description: 'An open-source website built with Payload and Next.js.',
-    // @ts-ignore
+    // @ts-expect-error - this should disappear when upgrading to the latest version of Payload
     image: '{{IMAGE_1}}',
     title: 'Payload Website Template',
   },
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/index.ts b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/index.ts
index 8681da2580..c8ce659b60 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/index.ts
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/endpoints/seed/index.ts
@@ -104,9 +104,6 @@ export const seed = async ({
     technologyCategory,
     newsCategory,
     financeCategory,
-    designCategory,
-    softwareCategory,
-    engineeringCategory,
   ] = await Promise.all([
     payload.create({
       collection: 'users',
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/fields/slug/formatSlug.ts b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/fields/slug/formatSlug.ts
index 004e9f2ede..9129de8932 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/fields/slug/formatSlug.ts
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/fields/slug/formatSlug.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ export const formatSlug = (val: string): string =>
 
 export const formatSlugHook =
   (fallback: string): FieldHook =>
-  ({ data, operation, originalDoc, value }) => {
+  ({ data, operation, value }) => {
     if (typeof value === 'string') {
       return formatSlug(value)
     }
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/fields/slug/index.ts b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/fields/slug/index.ts
index 95416af59c..77feae0e31 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/fields/slug/index.ts
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/fields/slug/index.ts
@@ -23,8 +23,7 @@ export const slugField: Slug = (fieldToUse = 'title', overrides = {}) => {
     ...checkboxOverrides,
   }
 
-  // Expect ts error here because of typescript mismatching Partial<TextField> with TextField
-  // @ts-expect-error
+  // @ts-expect-error - ts mismatch Partial<TextField> with TextField
   const slugField: TextField = {
     name: 'slug',
     type: 'text',
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/migrations/20250114_010510_initial.ts b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/migrations/20250114_010510_initial.ts
index 78ba9f258e..c1a729be25 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/migrations/20250114_010510_initial.ts
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/migrations/20250114_010510_initial.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { MigrateUpArgs, MigrateDownArgs, sql } from '@payloadcms/db-vercel-postgres'
 
-export async function up({ db, payload, req }: MigrateUpArgs): Promise<void> {
+export async function up({ db }: MigrateUpArgs): Promise<void> {
   await db.execute(sql`
    CREATE TYPE "public"."enum_pages_hero_links_link_type" AS ENUM('reference', 'custom');
   CREATE TYPE "public"."enum_pages_hero_links_link_appearance" AS ENUM('default', 'outline');
@@ -1558,7 +1558,7 @@ export async function up({ db, payload, req }: MigrateUpArgs): Promise<void> {
   CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS "footer_rels_posts_id_idx" ON "footer_rels" USING btree ("posts_id");`)
 }
 
-export async function down({ db, payload, req }: MigrateDownArgs): Promise<void> {
+export async function down({ db }: MigrateDownArgs): Promise<void> {
   await db.execute(sql`
    DROP TABLE "pages_hero_links" CASCADE;
   DROP TABLE "pages_blocks_cta_links" CASCADE;
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/search/beforeSync.ts b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/search/beforeSync.ts
index d0c03c83c1..5fc5f128ec 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/search/beforeSync.ts
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/search/beforeSync.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import { BeforeSync, DocToSync } from '@payloadcms/plugin-search/types'
 
-export const beforeSyncWithSearch: BeforeSync = async ({ originalDoc, searchDoc, payload }) => {
+export const beforeSyncWithSearch: BeforeSync = async ({ originalDoc, searchDoc }) => {
   const {
     doc: { relationTo: collection },
   } = searchDoc
 
-  const { slug, id, categories, title, meta, excerpt } = originalDoc
+  const { slug, id, categories, title, meta } = originalDoc
 
   const modifiedDoc: DocToSync = {
     ...searchDoc,
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export const beforeSyncWithSearch: BeforeSync = async ({ originalDoc, searchDoc,
       })
 
       modifiedDoc.categories = mappedCategories
-    } catch (err) {
+    } catch (_err) {
       console.error(
         `Failed. Category not found when syncing collection '${collection}' with id: '${id}' to search.`,
       )
diff --git a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/utilities/deepMerge.ts b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/utilities/deepMerge.ts
index e0e9352c41..62cc18d441 100644
--- a/templates/with-vercel-website/src/utilities/deepMerge.ts
+++ b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/utilities/deepMerge.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/ban-ts-comment
 // @ts-nocheck
 
 /**
@@ -5,8 +6,8 @@
  * @param item
  * @returns {boolean}
  */
-export function isObject(item: unknown): boolean {
-  return item && typeof item === 'object' && !Array.isArray(item)
+export function isObject(item: unknown): item is object {
+  return typeof item === 'object' && !Array.isArray(item)
 }
 
 /**