diff --git a/src/maxtext/common/checkpointing.py b/src/maxtext/common/checkpointing.py
index 17bfac932a..8efd48a065 100644
--- a/src/maxtext/common/checkpointing.py
+++ b/src/maxtext/common/checkpointing.py
@@ -182,13 +182,7 @@ def _default_for_sds(sds):
   def _make():
     if "key" in str(sds.dtype):
       base = jax.random.key(0)
-      return (
-          base
-          if sds.shape == ()
-          else jax.random.split(base, int(np.prod(sds.shape))).reshape(
-              sds.shape
-          )
-      )
+      return base if sds.shape == () else jax.random.split(base, int(np.prod(sds.shape))).reshape(sds.shape)
     return jnp.zeros(sds.shape, dtype=sds.dtype)
 
   sharding = getattr(sds, "sharding", None)
@@ -208,9 +202,7 @@ def _populate_pure_dict_from_partial(abstract_pure, partial_concrete):
     return {
         k: _populate_pure_dict_from_partial(
             v,
-            partial_concrete.get(k)
-            if isinstance(partial_concrete, dict)
-            else None,
+            partial_concrete.get(k) if isinstance(partial_concrete, dict) else None,
         )
         for k, v in abstract_pure.items()
     }
@@ -243,9 +235,7 @@ def _load_linen_checkpoint_into_nnx(
       )
   )
   restore_args = ocp.checkpoint_utils.construct_restore_args(linen_abstract)
-  restored = ocp.args.PyTreeRestore(
-      item=linen_abstract, restore_args=restore_args, partial_restore=True
-  )
+  restored = ocp.args.PyTreeRestore(item=linen_abstract, restore_args=restore_args, partial_restore=True)
   restored = ckptr.restore(epath.Path(path), args=restored)
   partial_nnx = train_state_nnx.from_linen_checkpoint_dict(restored)
   return _populate_pure_dict_from_partial(nnx_abstract_pure, partial_nnx)
@@ -253,19 +243,13 @@ def _load_linen_checkpoint_into_nnx(
 
 def _rebuild_nnx_with_values(abstract_nnx_state, concrete_weights):
   """Fills each Variable in `abstract_nnx_state` with the matching restored array."""
-  leaves, treedef = jax.tree_util.tree_flatten(
-      abstract_nnx_state, is_leaf=lambda x: isinstance(x, nnx.Variable)
-  )
+  leaves, treedef = jax.tree_util.tree_flatten(abstract_nnx_state, is_leaf=lambda x: isinstance(x, nnx.Variable))
   concrete = jax.tree_util.tree_leaves(concrete_weights)
   if len(leaves) != len(concrete):
     raise ValueError(
-        f"Params load leaf-count mismatch: {len(leaves)} abstract Variables vs"
-        f" {len(concrete)} restored."
+        f"Params load leaf-count mismatch: {len(leaves)} abstract Variables vs" f" {len(concrete)} restored."
     )
-  new_leaves = [
-      v.replace(value=a) if isinstance(v, nnx.Variable) else a
-      for v, a in zip(leaves, concrete)
-  ]
+  new_leaves = [v.replace(value=a) if isinstance(v, nnx.Variable) else a for v, a in zip(leaves, concrete)]
   return jax.tree_util.tree_unflatten(treedef, new_leaves)
 
 
@@ -284,9 +268,7 @@ def _load_linen_params_into_nnx(
   NNX params Variables.
   """
   max_logging.log(f"Restoring Linen-layout params into NNX state at {path}")
-  linen_abstract = train_state_nnx.to_linen_checkpoint_dict(
-      {"model": nnx_params_abstract.to_pure_dict()}
-  )
+  linen_abstract = train_state_nnx.to_linen_checkpoint_dict({"model": nnx_params_abstract.to_pure_dict()})
   ckptr = ocp.Checkpointer(
       ocp.PyTreeCheckpointHandler(
           restore_concurrent_gb=checkpoint_storage_concurrent_gb,
@@ -298,13 +280,9 @@ def _load_linen_params_into_nnx(
   restore_args = ocp.checkpoint_utils.construct_restore_args(linen_abstract)
   restored = ckptr.restore(
       epath.Path(path),
-      args=ocp.args.PyTreeRestore(
-          item=linen_abstract, restore_args=restore_args, partial_restore=True
-      ),
-  )
-  return _rebuild_nnx_with_values(
-      nnx_params_abstract, restored["params"]["params"]
+      args=ocp.args.PyTreeRestore(item=linen_abstract, restore_args=restore_args, partial_restore=True),
   )
+  return _rebuild_nnx_with_values(nnx_params_abstract, restored["params"]["params"])
 
 
 def _load_full_state_from_path(
@@ -388,7 +366,7 @@ def create_orbax_checkpoint_manager(
     enable_checkpointing: bool,
     use_async: bool,
     save_interval_steps: int,
-    dataset_type: None | str = "tfds",
+    dataset_type: None | str = None,
     orbax_logger: Any = None,  # pytype: disable=attribute-error
     use_ocdbt: bool = True,
     use_zarr3: bool = True,
@@ -421,7 +399,7 @@ def create_orbax_checkpoint_manager(
       )
   }
 
-  if dataset_type == "grain":
+  if dataset_type is not None and dataset_type == "grain":
     item_names += ("iter",)
     item_handlers["iter"] = GrainCheckpointHandler()
 
@@ -798,9 +776,7 @@ def map_to_pspec(data):
           checkpoint_manager,
           (EmergencyCheckpointManager, EmergencyReplicatorCheckpointManager),
       ):
-        checkpoint_path = str(
-            checkpoint_manager.directory / str(step) / "items"
-        )
+        checkpoint_path = str(checkpoint_manager.directory / str(step) / "items")
         restored_nnx = _load_linen_checkpoint_into_nnx(
             checkpoint_path,
             abstract_unboxed_pre_state,
@@ -831,9 +807,7 @@ def map_to_pspec(data):
             (EmergencyCheckpointManager, EmergencyReplicatorCheckpointManager),
         ):
           return (
-              checkpoint_manager.restore(
-                  step, args=Composite(state=checkpoint_args)
-              ).state,
+              checkpoint_manager.restore(step, args=Composite(state=checkpoint_args)).state,
               None,
           )
         # Case 2: Matches if dataset type is "grain" and the data iterator is not a
diff --git a/src/maxtext/configs/types.py b/src/maxtext/configs/types.py
index 2c089aee3a..22284d2ce6 100644
--- a/src/maxtext/configs/types.py
+++ b/src/maxtext/configs/types.py
@@ -3031,6 +3031,9 @@ def calculate_global_batch_sizes(per_device_batch_size, expansion_factor, num_de
       if self.eval_interval > 0 and not self.grain_eval_files:
         raise ValueError("Please specify grain_eval_files or set eval_interval to <=0.")
     elif self.dataset_type == DatasetType.TFDS:
+      logger.warning(
+          "tfds pipeline is deprecated. Use dataset_type=grain, grain_file_type=tfrecord, and provide grain_train_files."
+      )
       if not self.dataset_name:
         raise ValueError("dataset_name can't be empty when dataset_type=tfds")
       if self.eval_interval > 0 and not self.eval_split:
diff --git a/src/maxtext/input_pipeline/input_pipeline_interface.py b/src/maxtext/input_pipeline/input_pipeline_interface.py
index 5229a1729c..4a0b37532f 100644
--- a/src/maxtext/input_pipeline/input_pipeline_interface.py
+++ b/src/maxtext/input_pipeline/input_pipeline_interface.py
@@ -25,10 +25,6 @@
 from maxtext.input_pipeline.hf_data_processing import make_hf_eval_iterator
 from maxtext.input_pipeline.olmo_grain_data_processing import make_olmo_grain_train_iterator
 from maxtext.input_pipeline.olmo_grain_data_processing import make_olmo_grain_eval_iterator
-from maxtext.input_pipeline.tfds_data_processing import make_tfds_train_iterator
-from maxtext.input_pipeline.tfds_data_processing import make_tfds_eval_iterator
-from maxtext.input_pipeline.tfds_data_processing_c4_mlperf import make_c4_mlperf_train_iterator
-from maxtext.input_pipeline.tfds_data_processing_c4_mlperf import make_c4_mlperf_eval_iterator
 from maxtext.input_pipeline.synthetic_data_processing import SyntheticDataIterator
 from maxtext.input_pipeline.synthetic_data_processing import PlaceHolderDataIterator
 from maxtext.utils import max_logging
@@ -71,12 +67,16 @@ def create_data_iterator(config: pyconfig.HyperParameters, mesh):
     eval_iterator = SyntheticDataIterator(config, mesh) if config.eval_interval > 0 else None
     return SyntheticDataIterator(config, mesh), eval_iterator
   dataset_type_to_train_eval_iterator = {
-      "tfds": (make_tfds_train_iterator, make_tfds_eval_iterator),
       "grain": (make_grain_train_iterator, make_grain_eval_iterator),
       "hf": (make_hf_train_iterator, make_hf_eval_iterator),
-      "c4_mlperf": (make_c4_mlperf_train_iterator, make_c4_mlperf_eval_iterator),
       "olmo_grain": (make_olmo_grain_train_iterator, make_olmo_grain_eval_iterator),
   }
+  if config.dataset_type in ("tfds", "c4_mlperf"):
+    from maxtext.input_pipeline.tfds_data_processing import make_tfds_train_iterator, make_tfds_eval_iterator  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+    from maxtext.input_pipeline.tfds_data_processing_c4_mlperf import make_c4_mlperf_train_iterator, make_c4_mlperf_eval_iterator  # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+
+    dataset_type_to_train_eval_iterator["tfds"] = (make_tfds_train_iterator, make_tfds_eval_iterator)
+    dataset_type_to_train_eval_iterator["c4_mlperf"] = (make_c4_mlperf_train_iterator, make_c4_mlperf_eval_iterator)
 
   # Collect train and eval iterators
   if config.dataset_type in ["tfds", "grain", "hf", "c4_mlperf", "olmo_grain"]:
diff --git a/src/maxtext/input_pipeline/multihost_dataloading.py b/src/maxtext/input_pipeline/multihost_dataloading.py
index 7757c27313..221a6ed338 100644
--- a/src/maxtext/input_pipeline/multihost_dataloading.py
+++ b/src/maxtext/input_pipeline/multihost_dataloading.py
@@ -25,7 +25,14 @@
 import json
 
 from etils import epath
-import tensorflow as tf  # pylint: disable=g-import-not-at-top
+
+try:
+  import tensorflow as tf
+
+  _TF_RETRYABLE_ERRORS = (tf.errors.FailedPreconditionError,)
+except ImportError:
+  tf = None  # type: ignore[assignment]
+  _TF_RETRYABLE_ERRORS = ()
 
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -74,14 +81,14 @@ class MultiHostDataLoadIterator:
 
   def __init__(
       self,
-      dataloader: tf.data.Dataset | Iterable,
+      dataloader: Iterable,
       global_mesh: Mesh,
       generate_padding_batch: bool = False,
       expansion_loading_factor_for_grain: int = -1,
   ):
     self.global_mesh = global_mesh
     self.dataloader = dataloader
-    if isinstance(self.dataloader, tf.data.Dataset):
+    if hasattr(self.dataloader, "as_numpy_iterator"):
       self.local_iterator = self.dataloader.as_numpy_iterator()
     elif isinstance(self.dataloader, Iterable):
       self.local_iterator = iter(self.dataloader)
@@ -93,7 +100,7 @@ def __init__(
     self.expansion_loading_factor_for_grain = expansion_loading_factor_for_grain
 
   def reset(self):
-    if isinstance(self.dataloader, tf.data.Dataset):
+    if hasattr(self.dataloader, "as_numpy_iterator"):
       self.local_iterator = self.dataloader.as_numpy_iterator()
     elif isinstance(self.dataloader, Iterable):
       self.local_iterator = iter(self.dataloader)
@@ -132,7 +139,7 @@ def _get_next_batch_sharded(self) -> jax.Array:
               local_data_list.append(next_batch)
             local_data = jtu.tree_map(lambda *xs: np.concatenate(xs, axis=0), *local_data_list)
           break  # exit the loop on success
-        except tf.errors.FailedPreconditionError as e:
+        except _TF_RETRYABLE_ERRORS as e:
           max_logging.log(f"Failed to get next data batch due to {e}, retrying")
           time.sleep(SLEEP_TIME)
         except StopIteration as e:
@@ -188,7 +195,7 @@ def __init__(self, get_ds_fn, preprocessing_fn, global_shape, checkpoint_path, e
   def reset(self):
     ds = self.get_ds_fn(dataloading_host_index=jax.process_index(), dataloading_host_count=jax.process_count())
     dataloader = self.preprocessing_fn(dataset=ds)
-    if isinstance(dataloader, tf.data.Dataset):
+    if hasattr(dataloader, "as_numpy_iterator"):
       self.iterator = dataloader.as_numpy_iterator()
     elif isinstance(dataloader, Iterable):
       self.iterator = iter(dataloader)
diff --git a/tests/end_to_end/tpu/test_convergence_1b_params.sh b/tests/end_to_end/tpu/test_convergence_1b_params.sh
index 924ee2f8a0..28a7e0e22a 100644
--- a/tests/end_to_end/tpu/test_convergence_1b_params.sh
+++ b/tests/end_to_end/tpu/test_convergence_1b_params.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export LOSS_THRESHOLD=100.0 # Set to large value so test is guaranteed to pass.
 export STEPS=20400 # Run for 20B tokens for a 1B sized mode for "chinchilla" scaling https://arxiv.org/abs/2203.15556
 export EVAL_STEPS=160
 export EVAL_INTERVAL=100
-export DATASET_TYPE=tfds
+export DATASET_TYPE=grain
 export MTP_NUM_LAYERS=0 # Disable MTP by default
 export PER_DEVICE_BATCH_SIZE=8.0 # With the default learning rate (3e-4) this should have global batch of 512, with 2k sequence length (1M global batch in tokens)
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/checkpoint_compatibility_test.py b/tests/integration/checkpoint_compatibility_test.py
index 5b628695b5..27febcbd9e 100644
--- a/tests/integration/checkpoint_compatibility_test.py
+++ b/tests/integration/checkpoint_compatibility_test.py
@@ -26,10 +26,16 @@
 """
 
 from datetime import datetime
+import importlib.util
 import json
 import os
 import pytest
 from maxtext.trainers.pre_train.train import main as train_main
+
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    importlib.util.find_spec("tensorflow") is None,
+    reason="tensorflow not installed; skip testing checkpoint compatibility between tfds and grain",
+)
 from maxtext.utils.globals import MAXTEXT_REPO_ROOT
 from tests.integration.checkpointing_test import get_checkpointing_command
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/attention_test.py b/tests/unit/attention_test.py
index 3cd9c5d4d2..745e24002e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/attention_test.py
+++ b/tests/unit/attention_test.py
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ def fake_to_nnx(*args, **kwargs):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
         context_parallel_strategy="ring",
         context_parallel_load_balance=False,
         packing=True,
-        dataset_type="tfds",
+        dataset_type="grain",
         max_segments_per_seq=4,
         head_dim=2,
         attention_kernel="cudnn_flash_te",
diff --git a/tests/unit/multihost_dataloading_test.py b/tests/unit/multihost_dataloading_test.py
index 1899cc0b49..d4a6172141 100644
--- a/tests/unit/multihost_dataloading_test.py
+++ b/tests/unit/multihost_dataloading_test.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 # pylint: disable=missing-module-docstring, missing-function-docstring
+import itertools
 import sys
 import unittest
 
@@ -23,9 +24,6 @@
 import jax
 from jax.sharding import Mesh
 from jax.experimental import mesh_utils
-from jax.sharding import PartitionSpec
-
-import tensorflow as tf
 
 from maxtext.configs import pyconfig
 from maxtext.input_pipeline import multihost_dataloading
@@ -51,16 +49,14 @@ def setUp(self):
         data_sharding=["data"],
         enable_checkpointing=False,
     )
-    global_data_shape = PartitionSpec(batch_size, config.max_target_length)
     mesh_shape_1d = (len(jax.devices()),)
     self.mesh = Mesh(mesh_utils.create_device_mesh(mesh_shape_1d), config.mesh_axes)
-    # creating 2 batches of data
-    global_data = np.arange(np.prod(global_data_shape) * 2).reshape((batch_size * 2, config.max_target_length))
-
-    dataset = tf.data.Dataset.from_tensor_slices(global_data)
-    dataset = dataset.repeat()
-    dataset = dataset.batch(batch_size)
-    self.multihost_gen = multihost_dataloading.MultiHostDataLoadIterator(dataset, self.mesh)
+    # Create 2 distinct batches and cycle through them infinitely.
+    global_data = np.arange(batch_size * 2 * config.max_target_length, dtype=np.int32).reshape(
+        (batch_size * 2, config.max_target_length)
+    )
+    data_batches = [global_data[:batch_size], global_data[batch_size:]]
+    self.multihost_gen = multihost_dataloading.MultiHostDataLoadIterator(itertools.cycle(data_batches), self.mesh)
 
   @pytest.mark.tpu_only
   def test_batch_sharded_data_pipeline(self):
diff --git a/tests/unit/tfds_data_processing_test.py b/tests/unit/tfds_data_processing_test.py
index 6f3beaaf6f..fe1bb75f24 100644
--- a/tests/unit/tfds_data_processing_test.py
+++ b/tests/unit/tfds_data_processing_test.py
@@ -17,12 +17,14 @@
 import sys
 import unittest
 
+import pytest
+
 import jax
 from jax.sharding import Mesh
 from jax.experimental import mesh_utils
 
-import tensorflow as tf
-import tensorflow_datasets as tfds
+tf = pytest.importorskip("tensorflow")
+tfds = pytest.importorskip("tensorflow_datasets")
 
 from maxtext.configs import pyconfig
 from maxtext.utils.globals import MAXTEXT_ASSETS_ROOT
diff --git a/tests/unit/train_utils_test.py b/tests/unit/train_utils_test.py
index a8b9458794..cd7fb029e2 100644
--- a/tests/unit/train_utils_test.py
+++ b/tests/unit/train_utils_test.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class MockConfig:
   quantization: str = ""
   gradient_accumulation_steps: int = 1
   packing: bool = False
-  dataset_type: str = "tfds"
+  dataset_type: str = "synthetic"
 
   # Fields needed for create_training_optimizer
   opt_type: str = "adamw"