diff --git a/searx/plugins/hostname_replace.py b/searx/plugins/hostname_replace.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 48900a3f9..000000000
--- a/searx/plugins/hostname_replace.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
-# pylint: disable=missing-module-docstring
-
-from flask_babel import gettext
-from searx.plugins import logger
-
-name = gettext('Hostname replace')
-description = "Deprecated / contact system admin to configure 'Hostnames plugin'!!"
-default_on = False
-preference_section = 'general'
-
-plugin_id = 'hostname_replace'
-logger = logger.getChild(plugin_id)
-
-REPORTED = False
-
-
-def deprecated_msg():
-    global REPORTED  # pylint: disable=global-statement
-    if REPORTED:
-        return
-    logger.error(
-        "'Hostname replace' plugin is deprecated and will be dropped soon!"
-        " Configure 'Hostnames plugin':"
-        " https://docs.searxng.org/src/searx.plugins.hostnames.html"
-    )
-    REPORTED = True
-
-
-def on_result(_request, _search, result):
-    # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel, cyclic-import
-    from searx.plugins.hostnames import on_result as hostnames_on_result
-
-    deprecated_msg()
-    return hostnames_on_result(_request, _search, result)
diff --git a/searx/plugins/hostnames.py b/searx/plugins/hostnames.py
index 2783f23eb..770b00e15 100644
--- a/searx/plugins/hostnames.py
+++ b/searx/plugins/hostnames.py
@@ -3,16 +3,6 @@
 """In addition to rewriting/replace reslut URLs, the *hoostnames* plugin offers
 other features.
 
-.. attention::
-
-   The 'Hostnames plugin' from `PR-3463
-   <https://github.com/searxng/searxng/pull/3463>`_ is a rewrite of the
-   'Hostname replace' plugin.  Backwards compatibility is guaranteed for a
-   transitional period, but this will end soon.
-
-   **To maintainers of SearXNG instances, please modify your old plugin config
-   to the new.**
-
 - ``hostnames.replace``: A **mapping** of regular expressions to hostnames to be
   replaced by other hostnames.
 
@@ -129,29 +119,8 @@ def _load_regular_expressions(settings_key):
     return {}
 
 
-# compatibility fallback for old hostname replace plugin
-# TODO: remove in the future once most/all instance maintainers finished migrating # pylint: disable=fixme
-def _load_regular_expressions_with_fallback(settings_key):
-    expressions = _load_regular_expressions(settings_key)
-    if expressions:
-        return expressions
-
-    # fallback to the old `hostname_replace` settings format
-    # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel, cyclic-import
-    hostname_replace_config = settings.get('hostname_replace', {})
-    if hostname_replace_config:
-        from searx.plugins.hostname_replace import deprecated_msg
-
-        deprecated_msg()
-
-    if settings_key == 'replace':
-        return {re.compile(p): r for (p, r) in hostname_replace_config.items() if r}
-
-    return {re.compile(p) for (p, r) in hostname_replace_config.items() if not r}
-
-
-replacements = _load_regular_expressions_with_fallback('replace')
-removables = _load_regular_expressions_with_fallback('remove')
+replacements = _load_regular_expressions('replace')
+removables = _load_regular_expressions('remove')
 high_priority = _load_regular_expressions('high_priority')
 low_priority = _load_regular_expressions('low_priority')