diff --git a/.changeset/retire-compactlayout-alias.md b/.changeset/retire-compactlayout-alias.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..36db9ffa27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/retire-compactlayout-alias.md
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+---
+'@objectstack/spec': minor
+'@objectstack/plugin-audit': patch
+'@objectstack/plugin-approvals': patch
+'@objectstack/plugin-security': patch
+'@objectstack/plugin-sharing': patch
+'@objectstack/plugin-webhooks': patch
+'@objectstack/service-storage': patch
+'@objectstack/service-automation': patch
+'@objectstack/service-messaging': patch
+'@objectstack/service-realtime': patch
+---
+
+Retire the deprecated `compactLayout` alias for `highlightFields` (framework#2536, closes the ADR-0085 deprecation window).
+
+- `ObjectSchema` no longer declares `compactLayout`: `create()` rejects it like any unknown key; lenient `parse()` strips it (no silent aliasing).
+- The parse-time alias AND the `highlightFields → compactLayout` back-fill transition mirror are removed from `normalizeSemanticRoleAliases`. Served metadata now carries the canonical key only.
+- All remaining first-party authors (27 system objects across plugin-audit / approvals / security / sharing / webhooks / service-storage / automation / messaging / realtime — missed by the #2521 sweep, caught by the type gate) renamed to `highlightFields`.
+- The downstream smoke pin moves to hotcrm v1.2.2 (hotcrm#424: same rename + deps ^11.7.0).
+- Consumers were switched in objectui#2168 and shipped via the console pin bump (#2526); this closes the window scheduled there. The dogfood mirror assertion (#2528) flips to `compactLayout: undefined` in this same change, per the plan it carried.
+
+Version note: minor, not major — the key was deprecated-with-alias for a full release window, all first-party consumers/authors are migrated, and the spec api-surface gate reports no export changes (same documented-exception path as the ADR-0085 removals in 11.7.0). External metadata still authoring `compactLayout` will now fail `create()` loudly with the standard unknown-key error naming the key.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 400b381b24..5e742b00f1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ jobs:
           # ADR-0085 (hotcrm#423) — the intended break, explicitly digested
           # downstream. Bump this ref whenever a deliberate spec surface
           # removal ships a matching hotcrm release.
-          HOTCRM_REF: v1.2.1
+          HOTCRM_REF: v1.2.2
         run: bash scripts/downstream-smoke.sh
 
       - name: Create Release Pull Request or Publish to npm
diff --git a/examples/app-showcase/src/objects/semantic-zoo.object.ts b/examples/app-showcase/src/objects/semantic-zoo.object.ts
index fc245ea036..ac56728afd 100644
--- a/examples/app-showcase/src/objects/semantic-zoo.object.ts
+++ b/examples/app-showcase/src/objects/semantic-zoo.object.ts
@@ -9,14 +9,14 @@
  * strips nor mangles them. Guarded by
  * `packages/dogfood/test/semantic-roles.dogfood.test.ts`.
  *
- * Two objects because the alias runs both directions:
- *  - `SemanticZoo` authors the CANONICAL spellings (highlightFields,
- *    stageField: 'status', collapse enum) — served meta must also carry the
- *    deprecated `compactLayout` mirror for pre-11.7 renderers.
- *  - `SemanticZooLegacy` authors the DEPRECATED spelling (compactLayout) and
- *    `stageField: false` — served meta must carry the canonical
- *    `highlightFields`, and `false` must survive (it is the only "stop
- *    guessing" signal; a falsy-check regression turns the stepper back on).
+ * Two objects, two role postures:
+ *  - `SemanticZoo` authors the full canonical role set (highlightFields,
+ *    stageField: 'status', collapse enum).
+ *  - `SemanticZooLegacy` carries `stageField: false` — `false` must survive
+ *    serialization strictly (it is the only "stop guessing" signal; a
+ *    falsy-check regression turns the stepper back on). It exercised the
+ *    deprecated `compactLayout` alias during the ADR-0085 window; the alias
+ *    was retired by framework#2536.
  */
 import { ObjectSchema, Field } from '@objectstack/spec/data';
 
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export const SemanticZooLegacy = ObjectSchema.create({
   label: 'Semantic Zoo (Legacy)',
   pluralLabel: 'Semantic Zoo Legacies',
   icon: 'flask-round',
-  description: 'ADR-0085 semantic-role runtime fixture (deprecated spellings)',
+  description: 'ADR-0085 semantic-role runtime fixture (stageField:false suppression)',
 
   fields: {
     name: Field.text({ label: 'Name', required: true }),
@@ -71,8 +71,9 @@ export const SemanticZooLegacy = ObjectSchema.create({
     amount: Field.number({ label: 'Amount' }),
   },
 
-  // Deprecated alias on purpose — must surface as highlightFields when served.
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'amount'],
+  // (This fixture authored the deprecated `compactLayout` spelling during the
+  // ADR-0085 alias window; retired by framework#2536.)
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'amount'],
   // This status is a color, not a lifecycle.
   stageField: false,
 });
diff --git a/packages/dogfood/test/semantic-roles.dogfood.test.ts b/packages/dogfood/test/semantic-roles.dogfood.test.ts
index 03e9a9f49f..b8be25bdb8 100644
--- a/packages/dogfood/test/semantic-roles.dogfood.test.ts
+++ b/packages/dogfood/test/semantic-roles.dogfood.test.ts
@@ -46,11 +46,10 @@ describe('ADR-0085 semantic roles survive the served pipeline', () => {
     const def = await servedObject('showcase_semantic_zoo');
 
     expect(def.highlightFields).toEqual(['name', 'status', 'amount']);
-    // Transition mirror for pre-11.7 renderers (ObjectGrid & friends read the
-    // old spelling). Deliberately asserted: when the deprecated alias is
-    // retired, this expectation is DELETED IN THE SAME PR — a red here after
-    // that removal means the retirement missed a consumer.
-    expect(def.compactLayout).toEqual(['name', 'status', 'amount']);
+    // Alias retired (framework#2536): served meta carries the canonical key
+    // ONLY. This flip happened in the same PR that removed the transition
+    // mirror, per the plan the mirror assertion carried.
+    expect(def.compactLayout).toBeUndefined();
 
     expect(def.stageField).toBe('status');
 
@@ -62,13 +61,11 @@ describe('ADR-0085 semantic roles survive the served pipeline', () => {
     expect(def.fields?.amount?.group).toBe('money');
   });
 
-  it('deprecated spellings alias onto the canonical keys when served', async () => {
+  it('the legacy fixture serves canonical highlightFields only (alias retired)', async () => {
     const def = await servedObject('showcase_semantic_zoo_legacy');
 
-    // compactLayout (deprecated) must surface as highlightFields…
     expect(def.highlightFields).toEqual(['name', 'amount']);
-    // …and stay readable under the old name (ADR-0079 alias pattern).
-    expect(def.compactLayout).toEqual(['name', 'amount']);
+    expect(def.compactLayout).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
   it('stageField:false survives serialization as a strict false', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/sys-approval-action.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/sys-approval-action.object.ts
index 4d7e9399d1..dbc711de3d 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/sys-approval-action.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/sys-approval-action.object.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export const SysApprovalAction = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'id',
   nameField: 'id', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{action} · {step_name}',
-  compactLayout: ['request_id', 'step_name', 'action', 'actor_id', 'created_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['request_id', 'step_name', 'action', 'actor_id', 'created_at'],
 
   listViews: {
     recent: {
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/sys-approval-approver.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/sys-approval-approver.object.ts
index 01275610ef..0ed2ea51ae 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/sys-approval-approver.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/sys-approval-approver.object.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export const SysApprovalApprover = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'id',
   nameField: 'id', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{approver} · {request_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['request_id', 'approver', 'created_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['request_id', 'approver', 'created_at'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({ label: 'Row ID', required: true, readonly: true, group: 'System' }),
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/sys-approval-request.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/sys-approval-request.object.ts
index 1a8fb74c85..2aae9109c0 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/sys-approval-request.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-approvals/src/sys-approval-request.object.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export const SysApprovalRequest = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'id',
   nameField: 'id', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{process_name} · {record_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['process_name', 'object_name', 'record_id', 'status', 'current_step', 'submitter_id', 'updated_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['process_name', 'object_name', 'record_id', 'status', 'current_step', 'submitter_id', 'updated_at'],
 
   // Curated built-in list views — render as segmented tabs in the console.
   // Filters use {current_user_id} substitution wired by the console.
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-audit/src/objects/sys-activity.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-audit/src/objects/sys-activity.object.ts
index ab164f60d9..85923ae51f 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-audit/src/objects/sys-activity.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-audit/src/objects/sys-activity.object.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export const SysActivity = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'summary',
   nameField: 'summary', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{type} · {summary}',
-  compactLayout: ['timestamp', 'type', 'actor_name', 'summary'],
+  highlightFields: ['timestamp', 'type', 'actor_name', 'summary'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-audit/src/objects/sys-audit-log.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-audit/src/objects/sys-audit-log.object.ts
index 83c23c2e82..9820717d83 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-audit/src/objects/sys-audit-log.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-audit/src/objects/sys-audit-log.object.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export const SysAuditLog = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'action',
   nameField: 'action', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{action} · {object_name}',
-  compactLayout: ['created_at', 'action', 'object_name', 'record_id', 'user_id'],
+  highlightFields: ['created_at', 'action', 'object_name', 'record_id', 'user_id'],
 
   listViews: {
     recent: {
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-audit/src/objects/sys-comment.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-audit/src/objects/sys-comment.object.ts
index bfdd0d5947..28aaf25a54 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-audit/src/objects/sys-comment.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-audit/src/objects/sys-comment.object.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export const SysComment = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'body',
   nameField: 'body', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{author_name}: {body}',
-  compactLayout: ['created_at', 'author_name', 'body'],
+  highlightFields: ['created_at', 'author_name', 'body'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-capability.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-capability.object.ts
index 0fa21fe9a6..764a2166de 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-capability.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-capability.object.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export const SysCapability = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'label',
   nameField: 'label', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{label}',
-  compactLayout: ['label', 'name', 'scope', 'managed_by', 'active'],
+  highlightFields: ['label', 'name', 'scope', 'managed_by', 'active'],
 
   actions: [
     {
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-permission-set.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-permission-set.object.ts
index 0fba1f35df..0fe676e84e 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-permission-set.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-permission-set.object.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export const SysPermissionSet = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'label',
   nameField: 'label', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{label}',
-  compactLayout: ['label', 'name', 'active'],
+  highlightFields: ['label', 'name', 'active'],
 
   // Custom actions — permission sets are templates assigned to roles or
   // users (via sys_role_permission_set / sys_user_permission_set). The
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-role-permission-set.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-role-permission-set.object.ts
index 620dfb4bbf..bea408dfad 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-role-permission-set.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-role-permission-set.object.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export const SysRolePermissionSet = ObjectSchema.create({
   managedBy: 'system',
   description: 'Binds a permission set to a role.',
   titleFormat: '{role_id} → {permission_set_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['role_id', 'permission_set_id'],
+  highlightFields: ['role_id', 'permission_set_id'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-role.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-role.object.ts
index 01759f8002..fb9d55a5f2 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-role.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-role.object.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export const SysRole = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'label',
   nameField: 'label', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{label}',
-  compactLayout: ['label', 'name', 'active', 'is_default'],
+  highlightFields: ['label', 'name', 'active', 'is_default'],
 
   // Custom actions — system roles drive RBAC and are edited rarely but
   // require the four high-frequency sysadmin affordances every IdP
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-user-permission-set.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-user-permission-set.object.ts
index f8db9594c7..5a4edaf1d6 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-user-permission-set.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-user-permission-set.object.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export const SysUserPermissionSet = ObjectSchema.create({
   managedBy: 'system',
   description: 'Direct assignment of a permission set to a user (optionally scoped to an organization).',
   titleFormat: '{user_id} → {permission_set_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['user_id', 'permission_set_id', 'organization_id'],
+  highlightFields: ['user_id', 'permission_set_id', 'organization_id'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-user-role.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-user-role.object.ts
index f282a0ebe5..1503647a80 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-user-role.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-security/src/objects/sys-user-role.object.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export const SysUserRole = ObjectSchema.create({
   managedBy: 'system',
   description: 'Assigns an RBAC role (sys_role.name) to a user. Platform-owned (ADR-0057 D4).',
   titleFormat: '{user_id} → {role}',
-  compactLayout: ['user_id', 'role', 'organization_id'],
+  highlightFields: ['user_id', 'role', 'organization_id'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/objects/sys-record-share.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/objects/sys-record-share.object.ts
index 3784e56932..c771bb3a3d 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/objects/sys-record-share.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/objects/sys-record-share.object.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export const SysRecordShare = ObjectSchema.create({
   managedBy: 'system',
   description: 'Per-record sharing grant — extends OWD with explicit access',
   titleFormat: '{object_name}/{record_id} → {recipient_id} ({access_level})',
-  compactLayout: ['object_name', 'record_id', 'recipient_id', 'access_level', 'source'],
+  highlightFields: ['object_name', 'record_id', 'recipient_id', 'access_level', 'source'],
 
   listViews: {
     granted_to_me: {
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/objects/sys-share-link.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/objects/sys-share-link.object.ts
index d16ff4a9d0..07e2633802 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/objects/sys-share-link.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/objects/sys-share-link.object.ts
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export const SysShareLink = ObjectSchema.create({
   managedBy: 'system',
   description: 'Opaque capability token granting access to a single record. Notion/Figma-style public link sharing.',
   titleFormat: '{object_name}/{record_id} ({permission})',
-  compactLayout: ['object_name', 'record_id', 'permission', 'audience', 'expires_at', 'revoked_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['object_name', 'record_id', 'permission', 'audience', 'expires_at', 'revoked_at'],
 
   listViews: {
     active_links: {
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/objects/sys-sharing-rule.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/objects/sys-sharing-rule.object.ts
index fea3661178..b1f38f81f2 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/objects/sys-sharing-rule.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-sharing/src/objects/sys-sharing-rule.object.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export const SysSharingRule = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'name',
   nameField: 'name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{label}',
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'object_name', 'recipient_type', 'recipient_id', 'access_level', 'active'],
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'object_name', 'recipient_type', 'recipient_id', 'access_level', 'active'],
 
   listViews: {
     active: {
diff --git a/packages/plugins/plugin-webhooks/src/sys-webhook.object.ts b/packages/plugins/plugin-webhooks/src/sys-webhook.object.ts
index 45ef97770b..0a07e1f2fe 100644
--- a/packages/plugins/plugin-webhooks/src/sys-webhook.object.ts
+++ b/packages/plugins/plugin-webhooks/src/sys-webhook.object.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ export const SysWebhook = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'name',
   nameField: 'name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{label}',
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'object_name', 'url', 'active', 'updated_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'object_name', 'url', 'active', 'updated_at'],
 
   listViews: {
     active: {
diff --git a/packages/services/service-automation/src/sys-automation-run.object.ts b/packages/services/service-automation/src/sys-automation-run.object.ts
index e4703fa566..ed859e5ca3 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-automation/src/sys-automation-run.object.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-automation/src/sys-automation-run.object.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export const SysAutomationRun = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'id',
   nameField: 'id', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{flow_name} · {node_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['flow_name', 'node_id', 'status', 'correlation', 'started_at', 'updated_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['flow_name', 'node_id', 'status', 'correlation', 'started_at', 'updated_at'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({ label: 'Run ID', required: true, readonly: true, group: 'System' }),
diff --git a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/http-delivery.object.ts b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/http-delivery.object.ts
index 18b2e52541..648c4b1dd4 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/http-delivery.object.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/http-delivery.object.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export const HttpDelivery = ObjectSchema.create({
     displayNameField: 'id',
     nameField: 'id', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
     titleFormat: '{label} → {url}',
-    compactLayout: ['source', 'url', 'status', 'attempts', 'next_retry_at'],
+    highlightFields: ['source', 'url', 'status', 'attempts', 'next_retry_at'],
 
     listViews: {
         recent: {
diff --git a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/inbox-message.object.ts b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/inbox-message.object.ts
index 5046468cd4..dc780be9f2 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/inbox-message.object.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/inbox-message.object.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export const InboxMessage = ObjectSchema.create({
     description: 'User-facing in-app notification rows materialized by the inbox messaging channel.',
     nameField: 'title', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (single-field titleFormat)
     titleFormat: '{title}',
-    compactLayout: ['title', 'user_id', 'severity', 'created_at'],
+    highlightFields: ['title', 'user_id', 'severity', 'created_at'],
 
     listViews: {
         mine: {
diff --git a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-delivery.object.ts b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-delivery.object.ts
index d3aec2ecdd..99b072a201 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-delivery.object.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-delivery.object.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export const NotificationDelivery = ObjectSchema.create({
     managedBy: 'system',
     description: 'Durable per-recipient × channel delivery outbox (ADR-0030 Layer 4).',
     titleFormat: '{channel} → {recipient_id}',
-    compactLayout: ['notification_id', 'recipient_id', 'channel', 'status', 'attempts'],
+    highlightFields: ['notification_id', 'recipient_id', 'channel', 'status', 'attempts'],
 
     fields: {
         id: Field.text({ label: 'Delivery ID', required: true, readonly: true }),
diff --git a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-preference.object.ts b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-preference.object.ts
index 055da424a4..db3e8a3de8 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-preference.object.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-preference.object.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export const NotificationPreference = ObjectSchema.create({
     managedBy: 'system',
     description: 'Per-user × topic × channel notification toggle (mute/allow), with admin-global defaults.',
     titleFormat: '{user_id} · {topic} · {channel}',
-    compactLayout: ['user_id', 'topic', 'channel', 'enabled', 'digest'],
+    highlightFields: ['user_id', 'topic', 'channel', 'enabled', 'digest'],
 
     fields: {
         id: Field.text({ label: 'Preference ID', required: true, readonly: true }),
diff --git a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-receipt.object.ts b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-receipt.object.ts
index 2705dd92d8..37418dd635 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-receipt.object.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-receipt.object.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export const NotificationReceipt = ObjectSchema.create({
     managedBy: 'system',
     description: 'Per-recipient × channel receipt; the source of truth for notification read-state.',
     titleFormat: '{state}',
-    compactLayout: ['notification_id', 'user_id', 'channel', 'state', 'at'],
+    highlightFields: ['notification_id', 'user_id', 'channel', 'state', 'at'],
 
     fields: {
         id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-subscription.object.ts b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-subscription.object.ts
index 84d50bbe66..2b9b3f6607 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-subscription.object.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-subscription.object.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export const NotificationSubscription = ObjectSchema.create({
     managedBy: 'system',
     description: 'Standing subscription of a principal (role/team/user) to a notification topic.',
     titleFormat: '{principal} · {topic}',
-    compactLayout: ['topic', 'principal', 'enabled', 'created_at'],
+    highlightFields: ['topic', 'principal', 'enabled', 'created_at'],
 
     fields: {
         id: Field.text({ label: 'Subscription ID', required: true, readonly: true }),
diff --git a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-template.object.ts b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-template.object.ts
index 5aa7393e8d..0742ad4713 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-template.object.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-messaging/src/objects/notification-template.object.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export const NotificationTemplate = ObjectSchema.create({
     managedBy: 'system',
     description: 'Per (topic × channel × locale) render template for notifications.',
     titleFormat: '{topic} · {channel} · {locale}',
-    compactLayout: ['topic', 'channel', 'locale', 'is_active'],
+    highlightFields: ['topic', 'channel', 'locale', 'is_active'],
 
     fields: {
         id: Field.text({ label: 'Template ID', required: true, readonly: true }),
diff --git a/packages/services/service-realtime/src/objects/sys-presence.object.ts b/packages/services/service-realtime/src/objects/sys-presence.object.ts
index 2906e85fbd..26b1c458f8 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-realtime/src/objects/sys-presence.object.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-realtime/src/objects/sys-presence.object.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export const SysPresence = ObjectSchema.create({
   managedBy: 'append-only',
   description: 'Real-time user presence and activity tracking',
   titleFormat: '{user_id} ({status})',
-  compactLayout: ['user_id', 'status', 'last_seen'],
+  highlightFields: ['user_id', 'status', 'last_seen'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/services/service-storage/src/objects/system-file.object.ts b/packages/services/service-storage/src/objects/system-file.object.ts
index 8a4a263687..94540d8388 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-storage/src/objects/system-file.object.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-storage/src/objects/system-file.object.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export const SystemFile = ObjectSchema.create({
   description: 'Storage service file metadata (fileId ↔ key mapping)',
   nameField: 'name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (single-field titleFormat)
   titleFormat: '{name}',
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'mime_type', 'size', 'status', 'created_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'mime_type', 'size', 'status', 'created_at'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/services/service-storage/src/objects/system-upload-session.object.ts b/packages/services/service-storage/src/objects/system-upload-session.object.ts
index 5452095916..5863fb6dea 100644
--- a/packages/services/service-storage/src/objects/system-upload-session.object.ts
+++ b/packages/services/service-storage/src/objects/system-upload-session.object.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export const SystemUploadSession = ObjectSchema.create({
   description: 'Resumable multipart upload sessions tracked by service-storage',
   nameField: 'filename', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (single-field titleFormat)
   titleFormat: '{filename}',
-  compactLayout: ['filename', 'status', 'uploaded_chunks', 'total_chunks', 'expires_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['filename', 'status', 'uploaded_chunks', 'total_chunks', 'expires_at'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/spec/liveness/object.json b/packages/spec/liveness/object.json
index a7172e160e..38e6e5fc97 100644
--- a/packages/spec/liveness/object.json
+++ b/packages/spec/liveness/object.json
@@ -35,10 +35,6 @@
       "status": "live",
       "note": "objectui ({{record.field}} interpolation)."
     },
-    "compactLayout": {
-      "status": "live",
-      "note": "[DEPRECATED → highlightFields, ADR-0085] parse-time alias copied onto highlightFields; preserved on output for back-compat."
-    },
     "highlightFields": {
       "status": "live",
       "note": "ADR-0085 semantic role (renamed from compactLayout): objectui default list/grid columns (ObjectGrid/ObjectView/InterfaceListPage), child-record previews (first entry), record:details auto layout, detail highlight strip (first 4)."
diff --git a/packages/spec/src/data/object.test.ts b/packages/spec/src/data/object.test.ts
index f7a9157053..1b8f17937d 100644
--- a/packages/spec/src/data/object.test.ts
+++ b/packages/spec/src/data/object.test.ts
@@ -897,27 +897,31 @@ describe('ObjectSchema semantic roles (ADR-0085)', () => {
     expect(ObjectSchema.safeParse({ name: 'lead', fields: {}, stageField: 3 }).success).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it('accepts highlightFields and aliases the deprecated compactLayout onto it', () => {
+  it('accepts highlightFields; the retired compactLayout alias no longer parses through (framework#2536)', () => {
     const direct = ObjectSchema.parse({
       name: 'account', fields: {}, highlightFields: ['name', 'industry'],
     });
     expect(direct.highlightFields).toEqual(['name', 'industry']);
-    // Transition mirror: old-key readers (current objectui) still see
-    // compactLayout for metadata authored with the canonical name.
-    expect(direct.compactLayout).toEqual(['name', 'industry']);
+    // The transition mirror is gone: output carries the canonical key only.
+    expect((direct as Record<string, unknown>).compactLayout).toBeUndefined();
 
-    const aliased = ObjectSchema.parse({
+    // Lenient parse: the retired key is STRIPPED, not aliased — an old-key
+    // author gets no highlightFields rather than silently working.
+    const legacy = ObjectSchema.parse({
       name: 'account', fields: {}, compactLayout: ['name', 'industry'],
     });
-    expect(aliased.highlightFields).toEqual(['name', 'industry']);
-    // Deprecated key preserved on output (ADR-0079 alias pattern).
-    expect(aliased.compactLayout).toEqual(['name', 'industry']);
+    expect(legacy.highlightFields).toBeUndefined();
+    expect((legacy as Record<string, unknown>).compactLayout).toBeUndefined();
 
-    // Canonical key wins when both are present.
-    const both = ObjectSchema.parse({
-      name: 'account', fields: {}, highlightFields: ['a'], compactLayout: ['b'],
-    });
-    expect(both.highlightFields).toEqual(['a']);
+    // Authoring path: create() REJECTS the retired key like any unknown key.
+    expect(() =>
+      ObjectSchema.create({
+        name: 'account',
+        fields: {},
+        // @ts-expect-error — compactLayout was retired by framework#2536
+        compactLayout: ['name'],
+      }),
+    ).toThrow(/compactLayout/);
   });
 
   it('rejects the removed detail UI-hints block at create()', () => {
diff --git a/packages/spec/src/data/object.zod.ts b/packages/spec/src/data/object.zod.ts
index 4b3083ad84..09abf0bc0c 100644
--- a/packages/spec/src/data/object.zod.ts
+++ b/packages/spec/src/data/object.zod.ts
@@ -603,13 +603,10 @@ const ObjectSchemaBase = z.object({
    * a layout); Salesforce compact-layout semantics.
    */
   highlightFields: z.array(z.string()).optional().describe('[ADR-0085] Ordered most-important fields; first entry wins where only one fits. Drives default columns, cards, previews, detail highlight strip. Renamed from compactLayout.'),
-  /**
-   * @deprecated [ADR-0085 → `highlightFields`] Accepted as a parse-time alias:
-   * copied onto `highlightFields` when that key is absent (both preserved on
-   * output for cross-repo back-compat, the ADR-0079 alias pattern). New
-   * metadata sets `highlightFields`.
-   */
-  compactLayout: z.array(z.string()).optional().describe('[DEPRECATED → highlightFields] Accepted as an alias for highlightFields.'),
+  // `compactLayout` (the pre-ADR-0085 spelling of `highlightFields`) was an
+  // accepted parse-time alias for one deprecation window and is now RETIRED
+  // (framework#2536): authoring it is rejected by `create()` like any unknown
+  // key. All first-party consumers read `highlightFields` since objectui#2168.
   /**
    * [ADR-0085] Semantic role: the field that represents the record's LINEAR
    * lifecycle (an ordered pipeline / stage progression). A string names the
@@ -894,12 +891,8 @@ function normalizeNameFieldAlias(input: unknown): unknown {
  * (same pattern as `normalizeNameFieldAlias`; deprecated keys are PRESERVED
  * on output for cross-repo back-compat):
  *
- * - `compactLayout` ⇄ `highlightFields`: whichever key is present is mirrored
- *   onto the other (canonical wins when both exist). The BACK-fill
- *   (highlightFields → compactLayout) is a transition mirror so renderers
- *   that still read the old key (current objectui / vendored console) keep
- *   their default columns for metadata authored with the new name; it is
- *   removed together with the alias.
+ * - (`compactLayout` ⇄ `highlightFields` mirrored here during the ADR-0085
+ *   deprecation window; RETIRED by framework#2536 once objectui#2168 shipped.)
  * - `fieldGroups[].collapse` derived from the deprecated flags when absent:
  *   the UI-dialect `collapsible`/`collapsed` pair wins over the old
  *   `defaultExpanded` (it is what designer-authored metadata actually
@@ -912,13 +905,6 @@ function normalizeSemanticRoleAliases(input: unknown): unknown {
   const obj = input as Record<string, unknown>;
   let out = obj;
 
-  if (obj.highlightFields == null && Array.isArray(obj.compactLayout)) {
-    out = { ...out, highlightFields: obj.compactLayout };
-  } else if (obj.compactLayout == null && Array.isArray(obj.highlightFields)) {
-    // Transition mirror for old-key readers (see doc comment above).
-    out = { ...out, compactLayout: obj.highlightFields };
-  }
-
   if (Array.isArray(obj.fieldGroups)) {
     let changed = false;
     const groups = (obj.fieldGroups as unknown[]).map((g) => {