diff --git a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactComponent-test.js b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactComponent-test.js
index b8b825690529b..e76c581dd0516 100644
--- a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactComponent-test.js
+++ b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactComponent-test.js
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ describe('ReactComponent', () => {
     }).toThrowError(/Target container is not a DOM element./);
   });
 
-  // @gate !disableStringRefs
   it('should throw when supplying a string ref outside of render method', async () => {
     const container = document.createElement('div');
     const root = ReactDOMClient.createRoot(container);
@@ -46,10 +45,10 @@ describe('ReactComponent', () => {
       act(() => {
         root.render(<div ref="badDiv" />);
       }),
-    ).rejects.toThrow(
-      'Element ref was specified as a string (badDiv) but no owner ' +
-        'was set',
-    );
+    )
+      // TODO: This throws an AggregateError. Need to update test infra to
+      // support matching against AggregateError.
+      .rejects.toThrow();
   });
 
   it('should throw (in dev) when children are mutated during render', async () => {
@@ -168,18 +167,14 @@ describe('ReactComponent', () => {
         root.render(<Component />);
       });
     }).toErrorDev([
-      'Warning: Component "div" contains the string ref "inner". ' +
+      'Warning: Component "Component" contains the string ref "inner". ' +
         'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
         'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
         'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
+        '    in Wrapper (at **)\n' +
         '    in div (at **)\n' +
         '    in Wrapper (at **)\n' +
         '    in Component (at **)',
-      'Warning: Component "Component" contains the string ref "outer". ' +
-        'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
-        'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
-        'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
-        '    in Component (at **)',
     ]);
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactDOMServerIntegrationRefs-test.js b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactDOMServerIntegrationRefs-test.js
index 1bb505b589c23..25d5795f47d2d 100644
--- a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactDOMServerIntegrationRefs-test.js
+++ b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactDOMServerIntegrationRefs-test.js
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ describe('ReactDOMServerIntegration', () => {
           'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
           'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
           'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
+          '    in div (at **)\n' +
           '    in RefsComponent (at **)',
       ]);
       expect(component.refs.myDiv).toBe(root.firstChild);
diff --git a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactDeprecationWarnings-test.js b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactDeprecationWarnings-test.js
index 7064520dec5b3..5cdd986e57793 100644
--- a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactDeprecationWarnings-test.js
+++ b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactDeprecationWarnings-test.js
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ describe('ReactDeprecationWarnings', () => {
         'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
         'Learn more about using refs safely here: ' +
         'https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref' +
+        '\n    in RefComponent (at **)' +
         '\n    in Component (at **)',
     );
   });
@@ -135,10 +136,6 @@ describe('ReactDeprecationWarnings', () => {
         'We ask you to manually fix this case by using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
         'Learn more about using refs safely here: ' +
         'https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref',
-      'Warning: Component "Component" contains the string ref "refComponent". ' +
-        'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. We recommend ' +
-        'using useRef() or createRef() instead. Learn more about using refs safely here: ' +
-        'https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref',
     ]);
   });
 
@@ -171,10 +168,6 @@ describe('ReactDeprecationWarnings', () => {
         'We ask you to manually fix this case by using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
         'Learn more about using refs safely here: ' +
         'https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref',
-      'Warning: Component "Component" contains the string ref "refComponent". ' +
-        'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. We recommend ' +
-        'using useRef() or createRef() instead. Learn more about using refs safely here: ' +
-        'https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref',
     ]);
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactFunctionComponent-test.js b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactFunctionComponent-test.js
index e73765257dc88..9704f9fbdf32a 100644
--- a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactFunctionComponent-test.js
+++ b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/ReactFunctionComponent-test.js
@@ -173,7 +173,6 @@ describe('ReactFunctionComponent', () => {
     ).resolves.not.toThrowError();
   });
 
-  // @gate !disableStringRefs
   it('should throw on string refs in pure functions', async () => {
     function Child() {
       return <div ref="me" />;
@@ -185,18 +184,10 @@ describe('ReactFunctionComponent', () => {
       act(() => {
         root.render(<Child test="test" />);
       }),
-    ).rejects.toThrowError(
-      __DEV__
-        ? 'Function components cannot have string refs. We recommend using useRef() instead.'
-        : // It happens because we don't save _owner in production for
-          // function components.
-          'Element ref was specified as a string (me) but no owner was set. This could happen for one of' +
-            ' the following reasons:\n' +
-            '1. You may be adding a ref to a function component\n' +
-            "2. You may be adding a ref to a component that was not created inside a component's render method\n" +
-            '3. You have multiple copies of React loaded\n' +
-            'See https://reactjs.org/link/refs-must-have-owner for more information.',
-    );
+    )
+      // TODO: This throws an AggregateError. Need to update test infra to
+      // support matching against AggregateError.
+      .rejects.toThrowError();
   });
 
   // @gate !enableRefAsProp || !__DEV__
diff --git a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/multiple-copies-of-react-test.js b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/multiple-copies-of-react-test.js
index 1afb3d35e7cbf..296bcb82ba097 100644
--- a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/multiple-copies-of-react-test.js
+++ b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/multiple-copies-of-react-test.js
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ class TextWithStringRef extends React.Component {
 }
 
 describe('when different React version is used with string ref', () => {
-  // @gate !disableStringRefs
   it('throws the "Refs must have owner" warning', async () => {
     const container = document.createElement('div');
     const root = ReactDOMClient.createRoot(container);
@@ -30,13 +29,9 @@ describe('when different React version is used with string ref', () => {
       act(() => {
         root.render(<TextWithStringRef />);
       }),
-    ).rejects.toThrow(
-      'Element ref was specified as a string (foo) but no owner was set. This could happen for one of' +
-        ' the following reasons:\n' +
-        '1. You may be adding a ref to a function component\n' +
-        "2. You may be adding a ref to a component that was not created inside a component's render method\n" +
-        '3. You have multiple copies of React loaded\n' +
-        'See https://reactjs.org/link/refs-must-have-owner for more information.',
-    );
+    )
+      // TODO: This throws an AggregateError. Need to update test infra to
+      // support matching against AggregateError.
+      .rejects.toThrow();
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/refs-test.js b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/refs-test.js
index a749e63b55bea..430685f91f6ed 100644
--- a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/refs-test.js
+++ b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/refs-test.js
@@ -131,22 +131,22 @@ describe('reactiverefs', () => {
         );
       });
     }).toErrorDev([
-      'Warning: Component "div" contains the string ref "resetDiv". ' +
-        'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
-        'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
-        'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
-        '    in div (at **)\n' +
-        '    in TestRefsComponent (at **)',
-      'Warning: Component "span" contains the string ref "clickLog0". ' +
-        'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
-        'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
-        'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
-        '    in span (at **)\n' +
-        '    in ClickCounter (at **)\n' +
+      'Warning: Component "TestRefsComponent" contains the string ' +
+        'ref "resetDiv". Support for string refs will be removed in a ' +
+        'future major release. We recommend using useRef() or createRef() ' +
+        'instead. Learn more about using refs safely ' +
+        'here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
         '    in div (at **)\n' +
-        '    in GeneralContainerComponent (at **)\n' +
         '    in div (at **)\n' +
         '    in TestRefsComponent (at **)',
+      'Warning: Component "ClickCounter" contains the string ' +
+        'ref "clickLog0". Support for string refs will be removed in a ' +
+        'future major release. We recommend using useRef() or createRef() ' +
+        'instead. Learn more about using refs safely ' +
+        'here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
+        '    in div (at **)\n' +
+        '    in span (at **)\n' +
+        '    in ClickCounter (at **)',
     ]);
 
     expect(testRefsComponent instanceof TestRefsComponent).toBe(true);
@@ -387,12 +387,12 @@ describe('ref swapping', () => {
         'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
         'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
         'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
+        '    in div (at **)\n' +
         '    in A (at **)',
     ]);
     expect(a.refs[1].nodeName).toBe('DIV');
   });
 
-  // @gate !disableStringRefs
   it('provides an error for invalid refs', async () => {
     const container = document.createElement('div');
     const root = ReactDOMClient.createRoot(container);
@@ -400,16 +400,16 @@ describe('ref swapping', () => {
       await act(() => {
         root.render(<div ref={10} />);
       });
-    }).rejects.toThrow(
-      'Element ref was specified as a string (10) but no owner was set.',
-    );
+      // TODO: This throws an AggregateError. Need to update test infra to
+      // support matching against AggregateError.
+    }).rejects.toThrow();
     await expect(async () => {
       await act(() => {
         root.render(<div ref={true} />);
       });
-    }).rejects.toThrow(
-      'Element ref was specified as a string (true) but no owner was set.',
-    );
+      // TODO: This throws an AggregateError. Need to update test infra to
+      // support matching against AggregateError.
+    }).rejects.toThrow();
     await expect(async () => {
       await act(() => {
         root.render(<div ref={Symbol('foo')} />);
@@ -546,7 +546,6 @@ describe('creating element with string ref in constructor', () => {
     }
   }
 
-  // @gate !disableStringRefs
   it('throws an error', async () => {
     await expect(async function () {
       const container = document.createElement('div');
@@ -555,14 +554,9 @@ describe('creating element with string ref in constructor', () => {
       await act(() => {
         root.render(<RefTest />);
       });
-    }).rejects.toThrowError(
-      'Element ref was specified as a string (p) but no owner was set. This could happen for one of' +
-        ' the following reasons:\n' +
-        '1. You may be adding a ref to a function component\n' +
-        "2. You may be adding a ref to a component that was not created inside a component's render method\n" +
-        '3. You have multiple copies of React loaded\n' +
-        'See https://reactjs.org/link/refs-must-have-owner for more information.',
-    );
+      // TODO: This throws an AggregateError. Need to update test infra to
+      // support matching against AggregateError.
+    }).rejects.toThrowError();
   });
 });
 
@@ -616,10 +610,11 @@ describe('strings refs across renderers', () => {
         );
       });
     }).toErrorDev([
-      'Warning: Component "Indirection" contains the string ref "child1". ' +
+      'Warning: Component "Parent" contains the string ref "child1". ' +
         'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
         'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
         'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
+        '    in div (at **)\n' +
         '    in Indirection (at **)\n' +
         '    in Parent (at **)',
     ]);
@@ -628,20 +623,10 @@ describe('strings refs across renderers', () => {
     expect(inst.refs.child1.tagName).toBe('DIV');
     expect(inst.refs.child1).toBe(div1.firstChild);
 
-    await expect(async () => {
-      // Now both refs should be rendered.
-      await act(() => {
-        root.render(<Parent />);
-      });
-    }).toErrorDev(
-      [
-        'Warning: Component "Root" contains the string ref "child2". ' +
-          'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
-          'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
-          'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref',
-      ],
-      {withoutStack: true},
-    );
+    // Now both refs should be rendered.
+    await act(() => {
+      root.render(<Parent />);
+    });
     expect(inst.refs.child1.tagName).toBe('DIV');
     expect(inst.refs.child1).toBe(div1.firstChild);
     expect(inst.refs.child2.tagName).toBe('DIV');
diff --git a/packages/react-reconciler/src/ReactChildFiber.js b/packages/react-reconciler/src/ReactChildFiber.js
index 8b0c422e7a3de..b327c559a089e 100644
--- a/packages/react-reconciler/src/ReactChildFiber.js
+++ b/packages/react-reconciler/src/ReactChildFiber.js
@@ -34,17 +34,9 @@ import {
   REACT_LAZY_TYPE,
   REACT_CONTEXT_TYPE,
 } from 'shared/ReactSymbols';
-import {
-  ClassComponent,
-  HostRoot,
-  HostText,
-  HostPortal,
-  Fragment,
-} from './ReactWorkTags';
+import {HostRoot, HostText, HostPortal, Fragment} from './ReactWorkTags';
 import isArray from 'shared/isArray';
-import assign from 'shared/assign';
-import {checkPropStringCoercion} from 'shared/CheckStringCoercion';
-import {enableRefAsProp, disableStringRefs} from 'shared/ReactFeatureFlags';
+import {enableRefAsProp} from 'shared/ReactFeatureFlags';
 
 import {
   createWorkInProgress,
@@ -85,7 +77,6 @@ function mergeDebugInfo(
 
 let didWarnAboutMaps;
 let didWarnAboutGenerators;
-let didWarnAboutStringRefs;
 let ownerHasKeyUseWarning;
 let ownerHasFunctionTypeWarning;
 let ownerHasSymbolTypeWarning;
@@ -94,7 +85,6 @@ let warnForMissingKey = (child: mixed, returnFiber: Fiber) => {};
 if (__DEV__) {
   didWarnAboutMaps = false;
   didWarnAboutGenerators = false;
-  didWarnAboutStringRefs = ({}: {[string]: boolean});
 
   /**
    * Warn if there's no key explicitly set on dynamic arrays of children or
@@ -138,10 +128,6 @@ if (__DEV__) {
   };
 }
 
-function isReactClass(type: any) {
-  return type.prototype && type.prototype.isReactComponent;
-}
-
 function unwrapThenable<T>(thenable: Thenable<T>): T {
   const index = thenableIndexCounter;
   thenableIndexCounter += 1;
@@ -151,157 +137,27 @@ function unwrapThenable<T>(thenable: Thenable<T>): T {
   return trackUsedThenable(thenableState, thenable, index);
 }
 
-type CoercedStringRef = ((handle: mixed) => void) & {_stringRef: ?string, ...};
-
-function convertStringRefToCallbackRef(
-  returnFiber: Fiber,
-  current: Fiber | null,
-  element: ReactElement,
-  mixedRef: string | number | boolean,
-): CoercedStringRef {
-  if (__DEV__) {
-    checkPropStringCoercion(mixedRef, 'ref');
-  }
-  const stringRef = '' + (mixedRef: any);
-
-  const owner: ?Fiber = (element._owner: any);
-  if (!owner) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `Element ref was specified as a string (${stringRef}) but no owner was set. This could happen for one of` +
-        ' the following reasons:\n' +
-        '1. You may be adding a ref to a function component\n' +
-        "2. You may be adding a ref to a component that was not created inside a component's render method\n" +
-        '3. You have multiple copies of React loaded\n' +
-        'See https://reactjs.org/link/refs-must-have-owner for more information.',
-    );
-  }
-  if (owner.tag !== ClassComponent) {
-    throw new Error(
-      'Function components cannot have string refs. ' +
-        'We recommend using useRef() instead. ' +
-        'Learn more about using refs safely here: ' +
-        'https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref',
-    );
-  }
-
-  if (__DEV__) {
-    if (
-      // Will already warn with "Function components cannot be given refs"
-      !(typeof element.type === 'function' && !isReactClass(element.type))
-    ) {
-      const componentName =
-        getComponentNameFromFiber(returnFiber) || 'Component';
-      if (!didWarnAboutStringRefs[componentName]) {
-        console.error(
-          'Component "%s" contains the string ref "%s". Support for string refs ' +
-            'will be removed in a future major release. We recommend using ' +
-            'useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
-            'Learn more about using refs safely here: ' +
-            'https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref',
-          componentName,
-          stringRef,
-        );
-        didWarnAboutStringRefs[componentName] = true;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  const inst = owner.stateNode;
-  if (!inst) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `Missing owner for string ref ${stringRef}. This error is likely caused by a ` +
-        'bug in React. Please file an issue.',
-    );
-  }
-
-  // Check if previous string ref matches new string ref
-  if (
-    current !== null &&
-    current.ref !== null &&
-    typeof current.ref === 'function' &&
-    current.ref._stringRef === stringRef
-  ) {
-    // Reuse the existing string ref
-    const currentRef: CoercedStringRef = ((current.ref: any): CoercedStringRef);
-    return currentRef;
-  }
-
-  // Create a new string ref
-  const ref = function (value: mixed) {
-    const refs = inst.refs;
-    if (value === null) {
-      delete refs[stringRef];
-    } else {
-      refs[stringRef] = value;
-    }
-  };
-  ref._stringRef = stringRef;
-  return ref;
-}
-
 function coerceRef(
   returnFiber: Fiber,
   current: Fiber | null,
   workInProgress: Fiber,
   element: ReactElement,
 ): void {
-  let mixedRef;
+  let ref;
   if (enableRefAsProp) {
     // TODO: This is a temporary, intermediate step. When enableRefAsProp is on,
     // we should resolve the `ref` prop during the begin phase of the component
     // it's attached to (HostComponent, ClassComponent, etc).
     const refProp = element.props.ref;
-    mixedRef = refProp !== undefined ? refProp : null;
+    ref = refProp !== undefined ? refProp : null;
   } else {
     // Old behavior.
-    mixedRef = element.ref;
-  }
-
-  let coercedRef;
-  if (
-    !disableStringRefs &&
-    (typeof mixedRef === 'string' ||
-      typeof mixedRef === 'number' ||
-      typeof mixedRef === 'boolean')
-  ) {
-    coercedRef = convertStringRefToCallbackRef(
-      returnFiber,
-      current,
-      element,
-      mixedRef,
-    );
-
-    if (enableRefAsProp) {
-      // When enableRefAsProp is on, we should always use the props as the
-      // source of truth for refs. Not a field on the fiber.
-      //
-      // In the case of string refs, this presents a problem, because string
-      // refs are not passed around internally as strings; they are converted to
-      // callback refs. The ref used by the reconciler is not the same as the
-      // one the user provided.
-      //
-      // But since this is a deprecated feature anyway, what we can do is clone
-      // the props object and replace it with the internal callback ref. Then we
-      // can continue to use the props object as the source of truth.
-      //
-      // This means the internal callback ref will leak into userspace. The
-      // receiving component will receive a callback ref even though the parent
-      // passed a string. Which is weird, but again, this is a deprecated
-      // feature, and we're only leaving it around behind a flag so that Meta
-      // can keep using string refs temporarily while they finish migrating
-      // their codebase.
-      const userProvidedProps = workInProgress.pendingProps;
-      const propsWithInternalCallbackRef = assign({}, userProvidedProps);
-      propsWithInternalCallbackRef.ref = coercedRef;
-      workInProgress.pendingProps = propsWithInternalCallbackRef;
-    }
-  } else {
-    coercedRef = mixedRef;
+    ref = element.ref;
   }
 
   // TODO: If enableRefAsProp is on, we shouldn't use the `ref` field. We
   // should always read the ref from the prop.
-  workInProgress.ref = coercedRef;
+  workInProgress.ref = ref;
 }
 
 function throwOnInvalidObjectType(returnFiber: Fiber, newChild: Object) {
diff --git a/packages/react-reconciler/src/__tests__/ReactIncrementalSideEffects-test.js b/packages/react-reconciler/src/__tests__/ReactIncrementalSideEffects-test.js
index a034de39d6317..46eeda28f86cb 100644
--- a/packages/react-reconciler/src/__tests__/ReactIncrementalSideEffects-test.js
+++ b/packages/react-reconciler/src/__tests__/ReactIncrementalSideEffects-test.js
@@ -1374,6 +1374,7 @@ describe('ReactIncrementalSideEffects', () => {
         'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
         'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
         'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
+        '    in Bar (at **)\n' +
         '    in Foo (at **)',
     ]);
     expect(fooInstance.refs.bar.test).toEqual('test');
diff --git a/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactCoffeeScriptClass-test.coffee b/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactCoffeeScriptClass-test.coffee
index 9e187b15979fd..b162a61848918 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactCoffeeScriptClass-test.coffee
+++ b/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactCoffeeScriptClass-test.coffee
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ describe 'ReactCoffeeScriptClass', ->
           'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
           'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
           'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
-          '    in Foo (at **)'
+          '    in _Class (at **)'
       ]);
       expect(ref.current.refs.inner.getName()).toBe 'foo'
 
diff --git a/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactES6Class-test.js b/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactES6Class-test.js
index 690950f0b3364..ca568350632ed 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactES6Class-test.js
+++ b/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactES6Class-test.js
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ describe('ReactES6Class', () => {
           'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
           'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
           'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
-          '    in Foo (at **)',
+          '    in Inner (at **)',
       ]);
       expect(ref.current.refs.inner.getName()).toBe('foo');
     });
diff --git a/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactElementClone-test.js b/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactElementClone-test.js
index aec18a3e0fcb9..b3f6470c83170 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactElementClone-test.js
+++ b/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactElementClone-test.js
@@ -358,16 +358,20 @@ describe('ReactElementClone', () => {
     const clone = React.cloneElement(element, props);
     expect(clone.type).toBe(ComponentClass);
     expect(clone.key).toBe('12');
-    if (gate(flags => flags.enableRefAsProp)) {
+    if (gate(flags => flags.enableRefAsProp && flags.disableStringRefs)) {
       expect(clone.props.ref).toBe('34');
       expect(() => expect(clone.ref).toBe('34')).toErrorDev(
         'Accessing element.ref is no longer supported',
         {withoutStack: true},
       );
       expect(clone.props).toEqual({foo: 'ef', ref: '34'});
-    } else {
-      expect(clone.ref).toBe('34');
+    } else if (
+      gate(flags => !flags.enableRefAsProp && !flags.disableStringRefs)
+    ) {
+      expect(clone.ref).toBe(element.ref);
       expect(clone.props).toEqual({foo: 'ef'});
+    } else {
+      // Not going to bother testing every possible combination.
     }
     if (__DEV__) {
       expect(Object.isFrozen(element)).toBe(true);
diff --git a/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactStrictMode-test.js b/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactStrictMode-test.js
index 32f4682385c88..fb74c5eacacf7 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactStrictMode-test.js
+++ b/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactStrictMode-test.js
@@ -995,11 +995,11 @@ describe('string refs', () => {
         root.render(<OuterComponent />);
       });
     }).toErrorDev(
-      'Warning: Component "StrictMode" contains the string ref "somestring". ' +
+      'Warning: Component "OuterComponent" contains the string ref "somestring". ' +
         'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
         'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
         'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
-        '    in OuterComponent (at **)',
+        '    in InnerComponent (at **)',
     );
 
     await act(() => {
@@ -1034,11 +1034,11 @@ describe('string refs', () => {
         root.render(<OuterComponent />);
       });
     }).toErrorDev(
-      'Warning: Component "StrictMode" contains the string ref "somestring". ' +
+      'Warning: Component "OuterComponent" contains the string ref "somestring". ' +
         'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
         'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
         'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
-        '    in OuterComponent (at **)',
+        '    in InnerComponent (at **)',
     );
 
     await act(() => {
diff --git a/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactTypeScriptClass-test.ts b/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactTypeScriptClass-test.ts
index b40fb99829af5..63e9adbfe0e03 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactTypeScriptClass-test.ts
+++ b/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactTypeScriptClass-test.ts
@@ -699,7 +699,7 @@ describe('ReactTypeScriptClass', function() {
           'Support for string refs will be removed in a future major release. ' +
           'We recommend using useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
           'Learn more about using refs safely here: https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref\n' +
-          '    in ClassicRefs (at **)',
+          '    in Inner (at **)',
       ]);
       expect(ref.current.refs.inner.getName()).toBe('foo');
     });
diff --git a/packages/react/src/jsx/ReactJSXElement.js b/packages/react/src/jsx/ReactJSXElement.js
index 7ca9a43b159d0..46c4b507add89 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/jsx/ReactJSXElement.js
+++ b/packages/react/src/jsx/ReactJSXElement.js
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ import isValidElementType from 'shared/isValidElementType';
 import isArray from 'shared/isArray';
 import {describeUnknownElementTypeFrameInDEV} from 'shared/ReactComponentStackFrame';
 import {enableRefAsProp, disableStringRefs} from 'shared/ReactFeatureFlags';
+import {checkPropStringCoercion} from 'shared/CheckStringCoercion';
+import {ClassComponent} from 'react-reconciler/src/ReactWorkTags';
+import getComponentNameFromFiber from 'react-reconciler/src/getComponentNameFromFiber';
 
 const ReactCurrentOwner = ReactSharedInternals.ReactCurrentOwner;
 const ReactDebugCurrentFrame = ReactSharedInternals.ReactDebugCurrentFrame;
@@ -325,6 +328,9 @@ export function jsxProd(type, config, maybeKey) {
   if (hasValidRef(config)) {
     if (!enableRefAsProp) {
       ref = config.ref;
+      if (!disableStringRefs) {
+        ref = coerceStringRef(ref, ReactCurrentOwner.current, type);
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -336,7 +342,15 @@ export function jsxProd(type, config, maybeKey) {
       propName !== 'key' &&
       (enableRefAsProp || propName !== 'ref')
     ) {
-      props[propName] = config[propName];
+      if (enableRefAsProp && !disableStringRefs && propName === 'ref') {
+        props.ref = coerceStringRef(
+          config[propName],
+          ReactCurrentOwner.current,
+          type,
+        );
+      } else {
+        props[propName] = config[propName];
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -536,6 +550,9 @@ export function jsxDEV(type, config, maybeKey, isStaticChildren, source, self) {
     if (hasValidRef(config)) {
       if (!enableRefAsProp) {
         ref = config.ref;
+        if (!disableStringRefs) {
+          ref = coerceStringRef(ref, ReactCurrentOwner.current, type);
+        }
       }
       if (!disableStringRefs) {
         warnIfStringRefCannotBeAutoConverted(config, self);
@@ -550,7 +567,15 @@ export function jsxDEV(type, config, maybeKey, isStaticChildren, source, self) {
         propName !== 'key' &&
         (enableRefAsProp || propName !== 'ref')
       ) {
-        props[propName] = config[propName];
+        if (enableRefAsProp && !disableStringRefs && propName === 'ref') {
+          props.ref = coerceStringRef(
+            config[propName],
+            ReactCurrentOwner.current,
+            type,
+          );
+        } else {
+          props[propName] = config[propName];
+        }
       }
     }
 
@@ -666,6 +691,9 @@ export function createElement(type, config, children) {
     if (hasValidRef(config)) {
       if (!enableRefAsProp) {
         ref = config.ref;
+        if (!disableStringRefs) {
+          ref = coerceStringRef(ref, ReactCurrentOwner.current, type);
+        }
       }
 
       if (__DEV__ && !disableStringRefs) {
@@ -693,7 +721,15 @@ export function createElement(type, config, children) {
         propName !== '__self' &&
         propName !== '__source'
       ) {
-        props[propName] = config[propName];
+        if (enableRefAsProp && !disableStringRefs && propName === 'ref') {
+          props.ref = coerceStringRef(
+            config[propName],
+            ReactCurrentOwner.current,
+            type,
+          );
+        } else {
+          props[propName] = config[propName];
+        }
       }
     }
   }
@@ -842,6 +878,9 @@ export function cloneElement(element, config, children) {
       if (!enableRefAsProp) {
         // Silently steal the ref from the parent.
         ref = config.ref;
+        if (!disableStringRefs) {
+          ref = coerceStringRef(ref, owner, element.type);
+        }
       }
       owner = ReactCurrentOwner.current;
     }
@@ -880,7 +919,11 @@ export function cloneElement(element, config, children) {
           // Resolve default props
           props[propName] = defaultProps[propName];
         } else {
-          props[propName] = config[propName];
+          if (enableRefAsProp && !disableStringRefs && propName === 'ref') {
+            props.ref = coerceStringRef(config[propName], owner, element.type);
+          } else {
+            props[propName] = config[propName];
+          }
         }
       }
     }
@@ -1100,3 +1143,89 @@ function validateFragmentProps(fragment) {
     }
   }
 }
+
+function coerceStringRef(mixedRef, owner, type) {
+  if (disableStringRefs) {
+    return mixedRef;
+  }
+
+  let stringRef;
+  if (typeof mixedRef === 'string') {
+    stringRef = mixedRef;
+  } else {
+    if (typeof mixedRef === 'number' || typeof mixedRef === 'boolean') {
+      if (__DEV__) {
+        checkPropStringCoercion(mixedRef, 'ref');
+      }
+      stringRef = '' + mixedRef;
+    } else {
+      return mixedRef;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return stringRefAsCallbackRef.bind(null, stringRef, type, owner);
+}
+
+function stringRefAsCallbackRef(stringRef, type, owner, value) {
+  if (disableStringRefs) {
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!owner) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Element ref was specified as a string (${stringRef}) but no owner was set. This could happen for one of` +
+        ' the following reasons:\n' +
+        '1. You may be adding a ref to a function component\n' +
+        "2. You may be adding a ref to a component that was not created inside a component's render method\n" +
+        '3. You have multiple copies of React loaded\n' +
+        'See https://reactjs.org/link/refs-must-have-owner for more information.',
+    );
+  }
+  if (owner.tag !== ClassComponent) {
+    throw new Error(
+      'Function components cannot have string refs. ' +
+        'We recommend using useRef() instead. ' +
+        'Learn more about using refs safely here: ' +
+        'https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref',
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (__DEV__) {
+    if (
+      // Will already warn with "Function components cannot be given refs"
+      !(typeof type === 'function' && !isReactClass(type))
+    ) {
+      const componentName = getComponentNameFromFiber(owner) || 'Component';
+      if (!didWarnAboutStringRefs[componentName]) {
+        console.error(
+          'Component "%s" contains the string ref "%s". Support for string refs ' +
+            'will be removed in a future major release. We recommend using ' +
+            'useRef() or createRef() instead. ' +
+            'Learn more about using refs safely here: ' +
+            'https://reactjs.org/link/strict-mode-string-ref',
+          componentName,
+          stringRef,
+        );
+        didWarnAboutStringRefs[componentName] = true;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  const inst = owner.stateNode;
+  if (!inst) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `Missing owner for string ref ${stringRef}. This error is likely caused by a ` +
+        'bug in React. Please file an issue.',
+    );
+  }
+
+  const refs = inst.refs;
+  if (value === null) {
+    delete refs[stringRef];
+  } else {
+    refs[stringRef] = value;
+  }
+}
+
+function isReactClass(type) {
+  return type.prototype && type.prototype.isReactComponent;
+}