diff --git a/examples/draft-preview/src/app/(app)/next/preview/route.ts b/examples/draft-preview/src/app/(app)/next/preview/route.ts
index da133e64d9d..5716aa7a423 100644
--- a/examples/draft-preview/src/app/(app)/next/preview/route.ts
+++ b/examples/draft-preview/src/app/(app)/next/preview/route.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import { getPayload } from 'payload'
 
 import configPromise from '../../../../payload.config'
 
-const payloadToken = 'payload-token'
 
 export async function GET(
   req: {
@@ -18,7 +17,6 @@ export async function GET(
   } & Request,
 ): 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/website/src/app/(frontend)/next/preview/route.ts b/templates/website/src/app/(frontend)/next/preview/route.ts
index 80642637c05..e927d4c5501 100644
--- a/templates/website/src/app/(frontend)/next/preview/route.ts
+++ b/templates/website/src/app/(frontend)/next/preview/route.ts
@@ -4,7 +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 & {
@@ -16,7 +15,6 @@ 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/preview/route.ts b/templates/with-vercel-website/src/app/(frontend)/next/preview/route.ts
index 80642637c05..e927d4c5501 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
@@ -4,7 +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 & {
@@ -16,7 +15,6 @@ 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