diff --git a/.eslintignore b/.eslintignore
index fa111f770..e7b742877 100644
--- a/.eslintignore
+++ b/.eslintignore
@@ -10,3 +10,4 @@
 **/temp
 playwright.config.ts
 jest.config.js
+test/live-preview/next-app
diff --git a/test/_community/int.spec.ts b/test/_community/int.spec.ts
index 62b341b31..ae28bceb8 100644
--- a/test/_community/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/_community/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/types.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { devUser } from '../credentials.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import { postsSlug } from './collections/Posts/index.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 
@@ -18,9 +17,8 @@ describe('_Community Tests', () => {
   // Boilerplate test setup/teardown
   // --__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
+    const initialized = await initPayloadInt(configPromise)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = initialized)
 
     const data = await restClient
       .POST('/users/login', {
diff --git a/test/access-control/int.spec.ts b/test/access-control/int.spec.ts
index 33a6668d0..27af91dc1 100644
--- a/test/access-control/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/access-control/int.spec.ts
@@ -2,10 +2,8 @@ import type { Payload, PayloadRequest } from '../../packages/payload/src/types/i
 import type { Post, RelyOnRequestHeader, Restricted } from './payload-types.js'
 
 import { Forbidden } from '../../packages/payload/src/errors/index.js'
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
-import configPromise from './config.js'
-import { requestHeaders } from './config.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
+import configPromise, { requestHeaders } from './config.js'
 import {
   firstArrayText,
   hiddenAccessSlug,
@@ -25,8 +23,7 @@ describe('Access Control', () => {
   let restricted: Restricted
 
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   beforeEach(async () => {
@@ -43,7 +40,7 @@ describe('Access Control', () => {
 
   afterAll(async () => {
     if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
-      await payload.db.destroy(payload)
+      await payload.db.destroy()
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/test/access-control/payload-types.ts b/test/access-control/payload-types.ts
index aca75e670..f4f3b367d 100644
--- a/test/access-control/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/access-control/payload-types.ts
@@ -159,7 +159,3 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string
   createdAt: string
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/admin/payload-types.ts b/test/admin/payload-types.ts
index 56013ecc0..900a35e23 100644
--- a/test/admin/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/admin/payload-types.ts
@@ -192,7 +192,3 @@ export interface GroupGlobalsTwo {
   updatedAt?: string | null
   createdAt?: string | null
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/array-update/int.spec.ts b/test/array-update/int.spec.ts
index 6019ecbe5..3c3a1dc67 100644
--- a/test/array-update/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/array-update/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 import { arraySlug } from './shared.js'
 
@@ -9,13 +8,12 @@ let payload: Payload
 
 describe('array-update', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
     if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
-      await payload.db.destroy(payload)
+      await payload.db.destroy()
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/test/auth/int.spec.ts b/test/auth/int.spec.ts
index 7a0b6f98e..a59ef4441 100644
--- a/test/auth/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/auth/int.spec.ts
@@ -2,11 +2,10 @@ import jwtDecode from 'jwt-decode'
 
 import type { User } from '../../packages/payload/src/auth/index.js'
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { devUser } from '../credentials.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 import { namedSaveToJWTValue, saveToJWTKey, slug } from './shared.js'
 
@@ -17,9 +16,7 @@ const { email, password } = devUser
 
 describe('Auth', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/auth/payload-types.ts b/test/auth/payload-types.ts
index 8a6c58177..19ce576c7 100644
--- a/test/auth/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/auth/payload-types.ts
@@ -118,15 +118,3 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string
   createdAt: string
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes {
-    collections: {
-      users: User
-      'api-keys': ApiKey
-      'public-users': PublicUser
-      'payload-preferences': PayloadPreference
-      'payload-migrations': PayloadMigration
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/test/collections-graphql/int.spec.ts b/test/collections-graphql/int.spec.ts
index 8279c0754..cf2fe2bb8 100644
--- a/test/collections-graphql/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/collections-graphql/int.spec.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type { Post } from './payload-types.js'
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { mapAsync } from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/mapAsync.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import { idToString } from '../helpers/idToString.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise, { errorOnHookSlug, pointSlug, relationSlug, slug } from './config.js'
@@ -15,6 +16,8 @@ let payload: Payload
 
 describe('collections-graphql', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
+
     const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
     payload = await getPayload({ config })
     restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
diff --git a/test/config/int.spec.ts b/test/config/int.spec.ts
index 9c68a05dc..9a1619172 100644
--- a/test/config/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/config/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,14 @@
 import type { BlockField } from '../../packages/payload/src/fields/config/types.js'
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 
 let payload: Payload
 
 describe('Config', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/config/payload-types.ts b/test/config/payload-types.ts
index 4e9ad79ea..152468abc 100644
--- a/test/config/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/config/payload-types.ts
@@ -77,7 +77,3 @@ export interface MyGlobal {
   updatedAt?: string | null
   createdAt?: string | null
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/custom-graphql/int.spec.ts b/test/custom-graphql/int.spec.ts
index 6536bf981..eb2df1543 100644
--- a/test/custom-graphql/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/custom-graphql/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 
 let restClient: NextRESTClient
@@ -10,9 +9,7 @@ let payload: Payload
 
 describe('Custom GraphQL', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/custom-graphql/payload-types.ts b/test/custom-graphql/payload-types.ts
index 4cb8bec5f..203c39bc8 100644
--- a/test/custom-graphql/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/custom-graphql/payload-types.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,3 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string
   createdAt: string
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/database/int.spec.ts b/test/database/int.spec.ts
index 253b21fbe..1a4b7a9a3 100644
--- a/test/database/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/database/int.spec.ts
@@ -8,12 +8,11 @@ import type { TypeWithID } from '../../packages/payload/src/collections/config/t
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import type { PayloadRequest } from '../../packages/payload/src/types/index.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { commitTransaction } from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/commitTransaction.js'
 import { initTransaction } from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/initTransaction.js'
 import { devUser } from '../credentials.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import removeFiles from '../helpers/removeFiles.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 
 const filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
@@ -27,8 +26,7 @@ process.env.PAYLOAD_CONFIG_PATH = path.join(dirname, 'config.ts')
 
 describe('database', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
     payload.db.migrationDir = path.join(dirname, './migrations')
 
     const loginResult = await payload.login({
diff --git a/test/database/payload-types.ts b/test/database/payload-types.ts
index d166628f7..54eca4cd7 100644
--- a/test/database/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/database/payload-types.ts
@@ -84,7 +84,3 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string
   createdAt: string
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/dataloader/int.spec.ts b/test/dataloader/int.spec.ts
index cd2da5a32..c3259b7d1 100644
--- a/test/dataloader/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/dataloader/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { devUser } from '../credentials.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise, { postDoc } from './config.js'
 
 let restClient: NextRESTClient
@@ -12,9 +11,7 @@ let token: string
 
 describe('dataloader', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
 
     const loginResult = await payload.login({
       collection: 'users',
diff --git a/test/endpoints/int.spec.ts b/test/endpoints/int.spec.ts
index f40908a63..444ac9532 100644
--- a/test/endpoints/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/endpoints/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-import { type Payload, getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
+
+import { type Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 import {
   applicationEndpoint,
@@ -17,9 +18,7 @@ let restClient: NextRESTClient
 
 describe('Endpoints', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(config)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/field-error-states/payload-types.ts b/test/field-error-states/payload-types.ts
index ac77db362..8332a3442 100644
--- a/test/field-error-states/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/field-error-states/payload-types.ts
@@ -219,7 +219,3 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string
   createdAt: string
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/fields-relationship/payload-types.ts b/test/fields-relationship/payload-types.ts
index 7fe51f10b..98eb0bda9 100644
--- a/test/fields-relationship/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/fields-relationship/payload-types.ts
@@ -165,7 +165,3 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string
   createdAt: string
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/fields/int.spec.ts b/test/fields/int.spec.ts
index 091978bc2..df780d3a4 100644
--- a/test/fields/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/fields/int.spec.ts
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@ import type { IndexDirection, IndexOptions } from 'mongoose'
 import type { MongooseAdapter } from '../../packages/db-mongodb/src/index.js'
 import type { PaginatedDocs } from '../../packages/payload/src/database/types.js'
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import type { GroupField, RichTextField } from './payload-types.js'
 
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { devUser } from '../credentials.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { isMongoose } from '../helpers/isMongoose.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import { arrayDefaultValue } from './collections/Array/index.js'
@@ -39,12 +39,12 @@ import {
 let restClient: NextRESTClient
 let user: any
 let payload: Payload
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 
 describe('Fields', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
+
     await restClient.login({
       slug: 'users',
       credentials: devUser,
diff --git a/test/fields/payload-types.ts b/test/fields/payload-types.ts
index b08932e83..3db518685 100644
--- a/test/fields/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/fields/payload-types.ts
@@ -1254,7 +1254,3 @@ export interface LexicalBlocksRadioButtonsBlock {
   blockName?: string | null
   blockType: 'radioButtons'
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/globals/int.spec.ts b/test/globals/int.spec.ts
index 6a5162942..d0965a743 100644
--- a/test/globals/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/globals/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise, {
   accessControlSlug,
   arraySlug,
@@ -17,9 +16,7 @@ let restClient: NextRESTClient
 
 describe('globals', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(config)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/helpers/configHelpers.ts b/test/helpers/configHelpers.ts
index d242757a7..6460f3dd7 100644
--- a/test/helpers/configHelpers.ts
+++ b/test/helpers/configHelpers.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 import { promises as _promises } from 'fs'
 import { createServer } from 'http'
 import nextImport from 'next'
-import { startMemoryDB } from 'test/startMemoryDB.js'
 import { parse } from 'url'
 
 import type { SanitizedConfig } from '../../packages/payload/src/config/types.js'
-import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 
 import { getPayloadHMR } from '../../packages/next/src/utilities/getPayloadHMR.js'
+import { type Payload, getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import wait from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/wait.js'
+import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import { createTestHooks } from '../testHooks.js'
+import { NextRESTClient } from './NextRESTClient.js'
 
 type Args = {
   config: Promise<SanitizedConfig>
diff --git a/test/helpers/initPayloadInt.ts b/test/helpers/initPayloadInt.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..03bdde53b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/helpers/initPayloadInt.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import type { SanitizedConfig } from '../../packages/payload/src/config/types.js'
+
+import { type Payload, getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { NextRESTClient } from './NextRESTClient.js'
+
+/**
+ * Initialize Payload configured for integration tests
+ */
+export async function initPayloadInt(
+  configPromise: Promise<SanitizedConfig>,
+): Promise<{ config: SanitizedConfig; payload: Payload; restClient: NextRESTClient }> {
+  const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
+  const payload = await getPayload({ config })
+  const restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
+
+  return { config, payload, restClient }
+}
diff --git a/test/hooks/int.spec.ts b/test/hooks/int.spec.ts
index efc71cea9..908414a44 100644
--- a/test/hooks/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/hooks/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import type { NestedAfterReadHook } from './payload-types.js'
 
 import { AuthenticationError } from '../../packages/payload/src/errors/index.js'
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { devUser, regularUser } from '../credentials.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import { afterOperationSlug } from './collections/AfterOperation/index.js'
 import { chainingHooksSlug } from './collections/ChainingHooks/index.js'
 import { contextHooksSlug } from './collections/ContextHooks/index.js'
@@ -26,9 +25,7 @@ let payload: Payload
 
 describe('Hooks', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/jest.setup.ts b/test/jest.setup.ts
index 16fa08366..b1904cacd 100644
--- a/test/jest.setup.ts
+++ b/test/jest.setup.ts
@@ -8,12 +8,6 @@ beforeAll(async () => {
 process.env.PAYLOAD_DISABLE_ADMIN = 'true'
 process.env.PAYLOAD_DROP_DATABASE = 'true'
 
-if (process.env.PAYLOAD_DATABASE) {
-  console.log('\n\nUsing database:', process.env.PAYLOAD_DATABASE)
-} else {
-  console.log('\n\nNo database specified, using default')
-}
-
 process.env.PAYLOAD_PUBLIC_CLOUD_STORAGE_ADAPTER = 's3'
 
 afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/live-preview/int.spec.ts b/test/live-preview/int.spec.ts
index a6acf9e02..21d4d1cae 100644
--- a/test/live-preview/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/live-preview/int.spec.ts
@@ -2,16 +2,14 @@ import path from 'path'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import type { Media, Page, Post, Tenant } from './payload-types.js'
 
 import { handleMessage } from '../../packages/live-preview/src/handleMessage.js'
 import { mergeData } from '../../packages/live-preview/src/mergeData.js'
 import { traverseRichText } from '../../packages/live-preview/src/traverseRichText.js'
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import getFileByPath from '../../packages/payload/src/uploads/getFileByPath.js'
 import { fieldSchemaToJSON } from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/fieldSchemaToJSON.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import { Pages } from './collections/Pages.js'
 import { postsSlug } from './collections/Posts.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
@@ -25,6 +23,8 @@ const schemaJSON = fieldSchemaToJSON(Pages.fields)
 let payload: Payload
 let restClient: NextRESTClient
 
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
+
 function collectionPopulationRequestHandler({ endpoint }: { endpoint: string }) {
   return restClient.GET(`/${endpoint}`)
 }
@@ -37,9 +37,7 @@ describe('Collections - Live Preview', () => {
   let media: Media
 
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
 
     tenant = await payload.create({
       collection: tenantsSlug,
diff --git a/test/live-preview/next-app/.eslintrc.json b/test/live-preview/next-app/.eslintrc.json
deleted file mode 100644
index bffb357a7..000000000
--- a/test/live-preview/next-app/.eslintrc.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "extends": "next/core-web-vitals"
-}
diff --git a/test/live-preview/next-app/payload-types.ts b/test/live-preview/next-app/payload-types.ts
index e9f4006b3..928aaec5a 100644
--- a/test/live-preview/next-app/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/live-preview/next-app/payload-types.ts
@@ -457,7 +457,3 @@ export interface Footer {
   updatedAt?: string | null
   createdAt?: string | null
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/live-preview/payload-types.ts b/test/live-preview/payload-types.ts
index e9f4006b3..928aaec5a 100644
--- a/test/live-preview/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/live-preview/payload-types.ts
@@ -457,7 +457,3 @@ export interface Footer {
   updatedAt?: string | null
   createdAt?: string | null
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/localization/int.spec.ts b/test/localization/int.spec.ts
index ce42f4b19..bf55cc565 100644
--- a/test/localization/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/localization/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import type { Where } from '../../packages/payload/src/types/index.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import type { LocalizedPost, WithLocalizedRelationship } from './payload-types.js'
 
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { englishLocale } from '../globals/config.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { idToString } from '../helpers/idToString.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import { arrayCollectionSlug } from './collections/Array/index.js'
 import { nestedToArrayAndBlockCollectionSlug } from './collections/NestedToArrayAndBlock/index.js'
@@ -36,9 +37,7 @@ describe('Localization', () => {
   let postWithLocalizedData: LocalizedPost
 
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
 
     // @ts-expect-error Force typing
     post1 = await payload.create({
@@ -912,8 +911,6 @@ describe('Localization', () => {
       })
 
       // should return the value of the fallback locale
-      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/ban-ts-comment
-      // @ts-expect-error
       expect(updatedSpanishDoc.items[0].text).toStrictEqual(englishTitle)
     })
   })
diff --git a/test/localization/payload-types.ts b/test/localization/payload-types.ts
index 6abfdb95a..6a0b2546d 100644
--- a/test/localization/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/localization/payload-types.ts
@@ -180,7 +180,3 @@ export interface GlobalArray {
   updatedAt?: string | null
   createdAt?: string | null
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/plugin-cloud-storage/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-cloud-storage/int.spec.ts
index d7084f9a9..14f2b1a10 100644
--- a/test/plugin-cloud-storage/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-cloud-storage/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
-/* eslint-disable jest/require-top-level-describe */
 import * as AWS from '@aws-sdk/client-s3'
 import path from 'path'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { describeIfInCIOrHasLocalstack } from '../helpers.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 
 const filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
@@ -17,8 +15,7 @@ let payload: Payload
 
 describe('@payloadcms/plugin-cloud-storage', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/plugin-cloud/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-cloud/int.spec.ts
index e55a30ee5..a750d45cf 100644
--- a/test/plugin-cloud/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-cloud/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 
 let payload: Payload
 
 describe('@payloadcms/plugin-cloud', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/plugin-form-builder/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-form-builder/int.spec.ts
index 3261a642a..a55f303c9 100644
--- a/test/plugin-form-builder/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-form-builder/int.spec.ts
@@ -2,10 +2,9 @@ import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import type { Form } from './payload-types.js'
 
 import { ValidationError } from '../../packages/payload/src/errors/index.js'
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { serializeLexical } from '../../packages/plugin-form-builder/src/utilities/lexical/serializeLexical.js'
 import { serializeSlate } from '../../packages/plugin-form-builder/src/utilities/slate/serializeSlate.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 import { formSubmissionsSlug, formsSlug } from './shared.js'
 
@@ -14,8 +13,7 @@ let form: Form
 
 describe('@payloadcms/plugin-form-builder', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
 
     const formConfig: Omit<Form, 'createdAt' | 'id' | 'updatedAt'> = {
       confirmationMessage: [
diff --git a/test/plugin-form-builder/payload-types.ts b/test/plugin-form-builder/payload-types.ts
index 7846b556f..1a6ac44ab 100644
--- a/test/plugin-form-builder/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-form-builder/payload-types.ts
@@ -251,7 +251,3 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string
   createdAt: string
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/plugin-nested-docs/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-nested-docs/int.spec.ts
index 12cfe6e22..94e4184d2 100644
--- a/test/plugin-nested-docs/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-nested-docs/int.spec.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import type {
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 
@@ -12,8 +13,7 @@ let payload: Payload
 
 describe('@payloadcms/plugin-nested-docs', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/plugin-nested-docs/payload-types.ts b/test/plugin-nested-docs/payload-types.ts
index 20f313859..45e4a32d9 100644
--- a/test/plugin-nested-docs/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-nested-docs/payload-types.ts
@@ -72,7 +72,3 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string
   createdAt: string
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/plugin-redirects/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-redirects/int.spec.ts
index 2d51ac363..4f294daee 100644
--- a/test/plugin-redirects/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-redirects/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import type { Page } from './payload-types.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 import { pagesSlug } from './shared.js'
 
@@ -11,8 +10,7 @@ let page: Page
 
 describe('@payloadcms/plugin-redirects', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
 
     page = await payload.create({
       collection: 'pages',
diff --git a/test/plugin-redirects/payload-types.ts b/test/plugin-redirects/payload-types.ts
index 9c4350ab2..b81b330ce 100644
--- a/test/plugin-redirects/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-redirects/payload-types.ts
@@ -77,7 +77,3 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string
   createdAt: string
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/plugin-search/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-search/int.spec.ts
index ae1f65954..3e35441c7 100644
--- a/test/plugin-search/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-search/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,14 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import wait from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/wait.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 
 let payload: Payload
 
 describe('@payloadcms/plugin-search', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/plugin-sentry/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-sentry/int.spec.ts
index a251d157e..40fc016ab 100644
--- a/test/plugin-sentry/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-sentry/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 
 let payload: Payload
 
 describe('@payloadcms/plugin-sentry', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/plugin-sentry/payload-types.ts b/test/plugin-sentry/payload-types.ts
index 1ad4070ea..871f679df 100644
--- a/test/plugin-sentry/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-sentry/payload-types.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,3 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string
   createdAt: string
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
-}
diff --git a/test/plugin-seo/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-seo/int.spec.ts
index 6cbcc55de..6a4ce548a 100644
--- a/test/plugin-seo/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-seo/int.spec.ts
@@ -3,10 +3,9 @@ import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import getFileByPath from '../../packages/payload/src/uploads/getFileByPath.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import removeFiles from '../helpers/removeFiles.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 import { mediaSlug } from './shared.js'
 
@@ -22,9 +21,7 @@ describe('@payloadcms/plugin-seo', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
     const uploadsDir = path.resolve(dirname, './media')
     removeFiles(path.normalize(uploadsDir))
-
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
 
     // Create image
     const filePath = path.resolve(dirname, './image-1.jpg')
diff --git a/test/plugin-seo/payload-types.ts b/test/plugin-seo/payload-types.ts
index 0f2c9681c..2aa451c11 100644
--- a/test/plugin-seo/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-seo/payload-types.ts
@@ -85,15 +85,3 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string
   createdAt: string
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes {
-    collections: {
-      users: User
-      pages: Page
-      media: Media
-      'payload-preferences': PayloadPreference
-      'payload-migrations': PayloadMigration
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/test/plugin-stripe/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-stripe/int.spec.ts
index b5051b962..4b733738f 100644
--- a/test/plugin-stripe/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-stripe/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 
 let payload: Payload
 
 describe('Stripe Plugin', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/plugins/int.spec.ts b/test/plugins/int.spec.ts
index 032c17006..7f0deddcc 100644
--- a/test/plugins/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugins/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise, { pagesSlug } from './config.js'
 
 let payload: Payload
 
 describe('Collections - Plugins', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
+    ;({ payload } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
   })
 
   afterAll(async () => {
diff --git a/test/relationships/int.spec.ts b/test/relationships/int.spec.ts
index 24271989e..c1a84d02c 100644
--- a/test/relationships/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/relationships/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { randomBytes } from 'crypto'
 
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import type {
   ChainedRelation,
   CustomIdNumberRelation,
@@ -10,9 +11,7 @@ import type {
   Relation,
 } from './payload-types.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 import {
   chainedRelSlug,
@@ -33,9 +32,8 @@ type EasierChained = { id: string; relation: EasierChained }
 
 describe('Relationships', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
+
     await restClient.login({ slug: usersSlug })
   })
 
diff --git a/test/testHooks.ts b/test/testHooks.ts
index 84d451f99..67d524a1f 100644
--- a/test/testHooks.ts
+++ b/test/testHooks.ts
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@ type TestHooks = {
 }
 
 export const createTestHooks = async (testSuiteName = '_community'): Promise<TestHooks> => {
-  console.log('\nUsing config:', testSuiteName, '\n')
-
   const tsConfigPath = path.resolve(dirname, '..', 'tsconfig.json')
   const tsConfig = await json5.parse(await readFile(tsConfigPath, 'utf8'))
   const originalPayloadConfigTsValue =
diff --git a/test/uploads/int.spec.ts b/test/uploads/int.spec.ts
index 805575117..7caeed06c 100644
--- a/test/uploads/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/uploads/int.spec.ts
@@ -6,11 +6,12 @@ import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 import { promisify } from 'util'
 
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import type { Enlarge, Media } from './payload-types.js'
 
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import getFileByPath from '../../packages/payload/src/uploads/getFileByPath.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 import {
@@ -79,9 +80,8 @@ let payload: Payload
 
 describe('Collections - Uploads', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
+
     await restClient.login({ slug: usersSlug })
   })
 
diff --git a/test/uploads/payload-types.ts b/test/uploads/payload-types.ts
index 4a23b421b..0d0cc8f61 100644
--- a/test/uploads/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/uploads/payload-types.ts
@@ -546,30 +546,3 @@ export interface PayloadMigration {
   updatedAt: string
   createdAt: string
 }
-
-declare module 'payload' {
-  export interface GeneratedTypes {
-    collections: {
-      relation: Relation
-      audio: Audio
-      'gif-resize': GifResize
-      'no-image-sizes': NoImageSize
-      'crop-only': CropOnly
-      'focal-only': FocalOnly
-      media: Media
-      enlarge: Enlarge
-      reduce: Reduce
-      'media-trim': MediaTrim
-      'unstored-media': UnstoredMedia
-      'externally-served-media': ExternallyServedMedia
-      'uploads-1': Uploads1
-      'uploads-2': Uploads2
-      'admin-thumbnail': AdminThumbnail
-      'optional-file': OptionalFile
-      'required-file': RequiredFile
-      users: User
-      'payload-preferences': PayloadPreference
-      'payload-migrations': PayloadMigration
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/test/versions/int.spec.ts b/test/versions/int.spec.ts
index 4198df76d..9af1ffd03 100644
--- a/test/versions/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/versions/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { devUser } from '../credentials.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import { initPayloadInt } from '../helpers/initPayloadInt.js'
 import AutosavePosts from './collections/Autosave.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 import AutosaveGlobal from './globals/Autosave.js'
@@ -35,9 +34,7 @@ const formatGraphQLID = (id: number | string) =>
 
 describe('Versions', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
-    const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    payload = await getPayload({ config })
-    restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
+    ;({ payload, restClient } = await initPayloadInt(configPromise))
 
     const login = `
       mutation {