diff --git a/docs/local-api/overview.mdx b/docs/local-api/overview.mdx
index 666be3dceef..28fb938d488 100644
--- a/docs/local-api/overview.mdx
+++ b/docs/local-api/overview.mdx
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ You can specify more options within the Local API vs. REST or GraphQL due to the
 | `depth`              | [Control auto-population](../queries/depth) of nested relationship and upload fields.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
 | `locale`             | Specify [locale](/docs/configuration/localization) for any returned documents.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
 | `select`             | Specify [select](../queries/select) to control which fields to include to the result.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
+| `populate`           | Specify [populate](../queries/select#populate) to control which fields to include to the result from populated documents.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
 | `fallbackLocale`     | Specify a [fallback locale](/docs/configuration/localization) to use for any returned documents.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
 | `overrideAccess`     | Skip access control. By default, this property is set to true within all Local API operations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
 | `overrideLock`       | By default, document locks are ignored (`true`). Set to `false` to enforce locks and prevent operations when a document is locked by another user. [More details](../admin/locked-documents).                                                                                                                                                                         |
diff --git a/docs/queries/select.mdx b/docs/queries/select.mdx
index 8d987ebc293..4a90b80b9b1 100644
--- a/docs/queries/select.mdx
+++ b/docs/queries/select.mdx
@@ -128,3 +128,31 @@ export const Pages: CollectionConfig<'pages'> = {
   ],
 }
 ```
+
+## `populate`
+
+You can override `defaultPopulate` with the `populate` property in the Local and REST API
+
+Local API:
+```ts
+const getPosts = async () => {
+  const posts = await payload.find({
+    collection: 'posts',
+    populate: {
+      // Select only `text` from populated docs in the "pages" collection
+      pages: {
+        text: true,
+      }, // highlight-line
+    },
+  })
+
+  return posts
+}
+```
+
+REST API:
+```ts
+fetch('https://localhost:3000/api/posts?populate[pages][text]=true') // highlight-line
+  .then((res) => res.json())
+  .then((data) => console.log(data))
+```
diff --git a/docs/rest-api/overview.mdx b/docs/rest-api/overview.mdx
index 69f68a7fd7d..f9f7c692664 100644
--- a/docs/rest-api/overview.mdx
+++ b/docs/rest-api/overview.mdx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ All Payload API routes are mounted and prefixed to your config's `routes.api` UR
 - [locale](/docs/configuration/localization#retrieving-localized-docs) - retrieves document(s) in a specific locale
 - [fallback-locale](/docs/configuration/localization#retrieving-localized-docs) - specifies a fallback locale if no locale value exists
 - [select](../queries/select) - specifies which fields to include to the result
+- [populate](../queries/select#populate) - specifies which fields to include to the result from populated documents
 
 ## Collections
 
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/create.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/create.ts
index e388d8c5a0c..f705bda0128 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/create.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/create.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { isNumber } from 'payload/shared'
 import type { CollectionRouteHandler } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const create: CollectionRouteHandler = async ({ collection, req }) => {
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ export const create: CollectionRouteHandler = async ({ collection, req }) => {
     data: req.data,
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? depth : undefined,
     draft,
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(req.query.populate),
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(req.query.select),
   })
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/delete.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/delete.ts
index 5d5db732bc8..1e2e329df08 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/delete.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/delete.ts
@@ -8,12 +8,14 @@ import { isNumber } from 'payload/shared'
 import type { CollectionRouteHandler } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const deleteDoc: CollectionRouteHandler = async ({ collection, req }) => {
-  const { depth, overrideLock, select, where } = req.query as {
+  const { depth, overrideLock, populate, select, where } = req.query as {
     depth?: string
     overrideLock?: string
+    populate?: Record<string, unknown>
     select?: Record<string, unknown>
     where?: Where
   }
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ export const deleteDoc: CollectionRouteHandler = async ({ collection, req }) =>
     collection,
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? Number(depth) : undefined,
     overrideLock: Boolean(overrideLock === 'true'),
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(populate),
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(select),
     where,
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/deleteByID.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/deleteByID.ts
index 9f4869a6d92..676a16fbf6c 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/deleteByID.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/deleteByID.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import type { CollectionRouteHandlerWithID } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
 import { sanitizeCollectionID } from '../utilities/sanitizeCollectionID.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const deleteByID: CollectionRouteHandlerWithID = async ({
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ export const deleteByID: CollectionRouteHandlerWithID = async ({
     collection,
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? depth : undefined,
     overrideLock: Boolean(overrideLock === 'true'),
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(req.query.populate),
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(req.query.select),
   })
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/duplicate.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/duplicate.ts
index 891af1794fe..5a46ca7a504 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/duplicate.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/duplicate.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import type { CollectionRouteHandlerWithID } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
 import { sanitizeCollectionID } from '../utilities/sanitizeCollectionID.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const duplicate: CollectionRouteHandlerWithID = async ({
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ export const duplicate: CollectionRouteHandlerWithID = async ({
     collection,
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? Number(depth) : undefined,
     draft,
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(req.query.populate),
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(req.query.select),
   })
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/find.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/find.ts
index 29fbcc21f1f..5e46eff9bc8 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/find.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/find.ts
@@ -8,15 +8,17 @@ import type { CollectionRouteHandler } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
 import { sanitizeJoinParams } from '../utilities/sanitizeJoinParams.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const find: CollectionRouteHandler = async ({ collection, req }) => {
-  const { depth, draft, joins, limit, page, select, sort, where } = req.query as {
+  const { depth, draft, joins, limit, page, populate, select, sort, where } = req.query as {
     depth?: string
     draft?: string
     joins?: JoinQuery
     limit?: string
     page?: string
+    populate?: Record<string, unknown>
     select?: Record<string, unknown>
     sort?: string
     where?: Where
@@ -29,6 +31,7 @@ export const find: CollectionRouteHandler = async ({ collection, req }) => {
     joins: sanitizeJoinParams(joins),
     limit: isNumber(limit) ? Number(limit) : undefined,
     page: isNumber(page) ? Number(page) : undefined,
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(populate),
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(select),
     sort: typeof sort === 'string' ? sort.split(',') : undefined,
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/findByID.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/findByID.ts
index 4faeace3c4f..33e86ac3f89 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/findByID.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/findByID.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import type { CollectionRouteHandlerWithID } from '../types.js'
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
 import { sanitizeCollectionID } from '../utilities/sanitizeCollectionID.js'
 import { sanitizeJoinParams } from '../utilities/sanitizeJoinParams.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const findByID: CollectionRouteHandlerWithID = async ({
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ export const findByID: CollectionRouteHandlerWithID = async ({
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? Number(depth) : undefined,
     draft: searchParams.get('draft') === 'true',
     joins: sanitizeJoinParams(req.query.joins as JoinQuery),
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(req.query.populate),
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(req.query.select),
   })
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/findVersionByID.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/findVersionByID.ts
index 7ad31fc93a6..ab99120796f 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/findVersionByID.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/findVersionByID.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import type { CollectionRouteHandlerWithID } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
 import { sanitizeCollectionID } from '../utilities/sanitizeCollectionID.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const findVersionByID: CollectionRouteHandlerWithID = async ({
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ export const findVersionByID: CollectionRouteHandlerWithID = async ({
     id,
     collection,
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? Number(depth) : undefined,
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(req.query.populate),
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(req.query.select),
   })
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/findVersions.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/findVersions.ts
index 358c3aacc07..0f7b38f18ed 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/findVersions.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/findVersions.ts
@@ -7,13 +7,15 @@ import { isNumber } from 'payload/shared'
 import type { CollectionRouteHandler } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const findVersions: CollectionRouteHandler = async ({ collection, req }) => {
-  const { depth, limit, page, select, sort, where } = req.query as {
+  const { depth, limit, page, populate, select, sort, where } = req.query as {
     depth?: string
     limit?: string
     page?: string
+    populate?: Record<string, unknown>
     select?: Record<string, unknown>
     sort?: string
     where?: Where
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ export const findVersions: CollectionRouteHandler = async ({ collection, req })
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? Number(depth) : undefined,
     limit: isNumber(limit) ? Number(limit) : undefined,
     page: isNumber(page) ? Number(page) : undefined,
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(populate),
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(select),
     sort: typeof sort === 'string' ? sort.split(',') : undefined,
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/restoreVersion.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/restoreVersion.ts
index af7f217b506..f48d5c0ed29 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/restoreVersion.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/restoreVersion.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import type { CollectionRouteHandlerWithID } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
 import { sanitizeCollectionID } from '../utilities/sanitizeCollectionID.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 
 export const restoreVersion: CollectionRouteHandlerWithID = async ({
   id: incomingID,
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ export const restoreVersion: CollectionRouteHandlerWithID = async ({
     collection,
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? Number(depth) : undefined,
     draft: draft === 'true' ? true : undefined,
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(req.query.populate),
     req,
   })
 
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/update.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/update.ts
index 70e4366fb93..f90ae9ec449 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/update.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/update.ts
@@ -8,14 +8,16 @@ import { isNumber } from 'payload/shared'
 import type { CollectionRouteHandler } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const update: CollectionRouteHandler = async ({ collection, req }) => {
-  const { depth, draft, limit, overrideLock, select, where } = req.query as {
+  const { depth, draft, limit, overrideLock, populate, select, where } = req.query as {
     depth?: string
     draft?: string
     limit?: string
     overrideLock?: string
+    populate?: Record<string, unknown>
     select?: Record<string, unknown>
     where?: Where
   }
@@ -27,6 +29,7 @@ export const update: CollectionRouteHandler = async ({ collection, req }) => {
     draft: draft === 'true',
     limit: isNumber(limit) ? Number(limit) : undefined,
     overrideLock: Boolean(overrideLock === 'true'),
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(populate),
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(select),
     where,
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/updateByID.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/updateByID.ts
index 7d4b50fdd76..f2868f4badb 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/updateByID.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/collections/updateByID.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import type { CollectionRouteHandlerWithID } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
 import { sanitizeCollectionID } from '../utilities/sanitizeCollectionID.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const updateByID: CollectionRouteHandlerWithID = async ({
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ export const updateByID: CollectionRouteHandlerWithID = async ({
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? Number(depth) : undefined,
     draft,
     overrideLock: Boolean(overrideLock === 'true'),
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(req.query.populate),
     publishSpecificLocale,
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(req.query.select),
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/findOne.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/findOne.ts
index 115200f90e9..7ee4670161e 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/findOne.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/findOne.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { isNumber } from 'payload/shared'
 import type { GlobalRouteHandler } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const findOne: GlobalRouteHandler = async ({ globalConfig, req }) => {
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ export const findOne: GlobalRouteHandler = async ({ globalConfig, req }) => {
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? Number(depth) : undefined,
     draft: searchParams.get('draft') === 'true',
     globalConfig,
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(req.query.populate),
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(req.query.select),
   })
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/findVersionByID.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/findVersionByID.ts
index 8fd3fd77352..e1c7f58d628 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/findVersionByID.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/findVersionByID.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { isNumber } from 'payload/shared'
 import type { GlobalRouteHandlerWithID } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const findVersionByID: GlobalRouteHandlerWithID = async ({ id, globalConfig, req }) => {
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ export const findVersionByID: GlobalRouteHandlerWithID = async ({ id, globalConf
     id,
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? Number(depth) : undefined,
     globalConfig,
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(req.query.populate),
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(req.query.select),
   })
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/findVersions.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/findVersions.ts
index 095cf99d3f2..7a2ede4bce0 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/findVersions.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/findVersions.ts
@@ -7,13 +7,15 @@ import { isNumber } from 'payload/shared'
 import type { GlobalRouteHandler } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const findVersions: GlobalRouteHandler = async ({ globalConfig, req }) => {
-  const { depth, limit, page, select, sort, where } = req.query as {
+  const { depth, limit, page, populate, select, sort, where } = req.query as {
     depth?: string
     limit?: string
     page?: string
+    populate?: Record<string, unknown>
     select?: Record<string, unknown>
     sort?: string
     where?: Where
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ export const findVersions: GlobalRouteHandler = async ({ globalConfig, req }) =>
     globalConfig,
     limit: isNumber(limit) ? Number(limit) : undefined,
     page: isNumber(page) ? Number(page) : undefined,
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(populate),
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(select),
     sort: typeof sort === 'string' ? sort.split(',') : undefined,
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/restoreVersion.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/restoreVersion.ts
index 04ac3aa3702..c2e2672b744 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/restoreVersion.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/restoreVersion.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { isNumber } from 'payload/shared'
 import type { GlobalRouteHandlerWithID } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 
 export const restoreVersion: GlobalRouteHandlerWithID = async ({ id, globalConfig, req }) => {
   const { searchParams } = req
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ export const restoreVersion: GlobalRouteHandlerWithID = async ({ id, globalConfi
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? Number(depth) : undefined,
     draft: draft === 'true' ? true : undefined,
     globalConfig,
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(req.query.populate),
     req,
   })
 
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/update.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/update.ts
index 5007de78a16..0b9c306a8cc 100644
--- a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/update.ts
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/globals/update.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { isNumber } from 'payload/shared'
 import type { GlobalRouteHandler } from '../types.js'
 
 import { headersWithCors } from '../../../utilities/headersWithCors.js'
+import { sanitizePopulate } from '../utilities/sanitizePopulate.js'
 import { sanitizeSelect } from '../utilities/sanitizeSelect.js'
 
 export const update: GlobalRouteHandler = async ({ globalConfig, req }) => {
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ export const update: GlobalRouteHandler = async ({ globalConfig, req }) => {
     depth: isNumber(depth) ? Number(depth) : undefined,
     draft,
     globalConfig,
+    populate: sanitizePopulate(req.query.populate),
     publishSpecificLocale,
     req,
     select: sanitizeSelect(req.query.select),
diff --git a/packages/next/src/routes/rest/utilities/sanitizePopulate.ts b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/utilities/sanitizePopulate.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0bdcf180304
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/next/src/routes/rest/utilities/sanitizePopulate.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import type { PopulateType } from 'payload'
+
+import { sanitizeSelect } from './sanitizeSelect.js'
+
+export const sanitizePopulate = (unsanitizedPopulate: unknown): PopulateType | undefined => {
+  if (!unsanitizedPopulate || typeof unsanitizedPopulate !== 'object') {
+    return
+  }
+
+  for (const k in unsanitizedPopulate) {
+    unsanitizedPopulate[k] = sanitizeSelect(unsanitizedPopulate[k])
+  }
+
+  return unsanitizedPopulate as PopulateType
+}
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/admin/RichText.ts b/packages/payload/src/admin/RichText.ts
index 79b276218ae..bb03c692c65 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/admin/RichText.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/admin/RichText.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import type {
 } from '../fields/config/types.js'
 import type { SanitizedGlobalConfig } from '../globals/config/types.js'
 import type { RequestContext } from '../index.js'
-import type { JsonObject, Payload, PayloadRequest } from '../types/index.js'
+import type { JsonObject, Payload, PayloadRequest, PopulateType } from '../types/index.js'
 import type { RichTextFieldClientProps } from './fields/RichText.js'
 import type { CreateMappedComponent } from './types.js'
 
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ export type AfterReadRichTextHookArgs<
   draft?: boolean
 
   fallbackLocale?: string
-
   fieldPromises?: Promise<void>[]
 
   /** Boolean to denote if this hook is running against finding one, or finding many within the afterRead hook. */
@@ -44,6 +43,8 @@ export type AfterReadRichTextHookArgs<
 
   overrideAccess?: boolean
 
+  populate?: PopulateType
+
   populationPromises?: Promise<void>[]
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
   triggerAccessControl?: boolean
@@ -225,6 +226,7 @@ type RichTextAdapterBase<
     findMany: boolean
     flattenLocales: boolean
     overrideAccess?: boolean
+    populateArg?: PopulateType
     populationPromises: Promise<void>[]
     req: PayloadRequest
     showHiddenFields: boolean
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/create.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/create.ts
index ede23e3316f..574d3e2c6dd 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/create.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/create.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type { CollectionSlug, JsonObject } from '../../index.js'
 import type {
   Document,
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   TransformCollectionWithSelect,
 } from '../../types/index.js'
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ export type Arguments<TSlug extends CollectionSlug> = {
   draft?: boolean
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   overwriteExistingFiles?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -97,11 +99,12 @@ export const createOperation = async <
       draft = false,
       overrideAccess,
       overwriteExistingFiles = false,
+      populate,
       req: {
         fallbackLocale,
         locale,
         payload,
-        payload: { config, email },
+        payload: { config },
       },
       req,
       select,
@@ -304,6 +307,7 @@ export const createOperation = async <
       global: null,
       locale,
       overrideAccess,
+      populate,
       req,
       select,
       showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/delete.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/delete.ts
index 569a7f635cd..90b2dc01775 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/delete.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/delete.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import httpStatus from 'http-status'
 
 import type { AccessResult } from '../../config/types.js'
 import type { CollectionSlug } from '../../index.js'
-import type { PayloadRequest, SelectType, Where } from '../../types/index.js'
+import type { PayloadRequest, PopulateType, SelectType, Where } from '../../types/index.js'
 import type {
   BeforeOperationHook,
   BulkOperationResult,
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ export type Arguments = {
   disableTransaction?: boolean
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   overrideLock?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ export const deleteOperation = async <
       depth,
       overrideAccess,
       overrideLock,
+      populate,
       req: {
         fallbackLocale,
         locale,
@@ -203,6 +205,7 @@ export const deleteOperation = async <
           global: null,
           locale,
           overrideAccess,
+          populate,
           req,
           select,
           showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/deleteByID.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/deleteByID.ts
index 25be137b7ea..83b4fa1bef6 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/deleteByID.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/deleteByID.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import type { CollectionSlug } from '../../index.js'
 import type {
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   TransformCollectionWithSelect,
 } from '../../types/index.js'
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ export type Arguments = {
   id: number | string
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   overrideLock?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ export const deleteByIDOperation = async <TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect
       depth,
       overrideAccess,
       overrideLock,
+      populate,
       req: {
         fallbackLocale,
         locale,
@@ -188,6 +191,7 @@ export const deleteByIDOperation = async <TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect
       global: null,
       locale,
       overrideAccess,
+      populate,
       req,
       select,
       showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/duplicate.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/duplicate.ts
index 66891db00b0..386318af202 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/duplicate.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/duplicate.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import type { FindOneArgs } from '../../database/types.js'
 import type { CollectionSlug } from '../../index.js'
 import type {
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   TransformCollectionWithSelect,
 } from '../../types/index.js'
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ export type Arguments = {
   draft?: boolean
   id: number | string
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -81,6 +83,7 @@ export const duplicateOperation = async <
       depth,
       draft: draftArg = true,
       overrideAccess,
+      populate,
       req: { fallbackLocale, locale: localeArg, payload },
       req,
       select,
@@ -306,6 +309,7 @@ export const duplicateOperation = async <
       global: null,
       locale: localeArg,
       overrideAccess,
+      populate,
       req,
       select,
       showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/find.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/find.ts
index a0c3b684fc4..c183df9aaa9 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/find.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/find.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { PaginatedDocs } from '../../database/types.js'
 import type { CollectionSlug, JoinQuery } from '../../index.js'
 import type {
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   Sort,
   TransformCollectionWithSelect,
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ export type Arguments = {
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   page?: number
   pagination?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -84,6 +86,7 @@ export const findOperation = async <
       overrideAccess,
       page,
       pagination = true,
+      populate,
       req: { fallbackLocale, locale, payload },
       req,
       select,
@@ -294,6 +297,7 @@ export const findOperation = async <
             global: null,
             locale,
             overrideAccess,
+            populate,
             req,
             select,
             showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findByID.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findByID.ts
index d6a67ffb4de..06c4715713e 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findByID.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findByID.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { CollectionSlug, JoinQuery } from '../../index.js'
 import type {
   ApplyDisableErrors,
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   TransformCollectionWithSelect,
 } from '../../types/index.js'
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ export type Arguments = {
   includeLockStatus?: boolean
   joins?: JoinQuery
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -74,6 +76,7 @@ export const findByIDOperation = async <
       includeLockStatus,
       joins,
       overrideAccess = false,
+      populate,
       req: { fallbackLocale, locale, t },
       req,
       select,
@@ -241,6 +244,7 @@ export const findByIDOperation = async <
       global: null,
       locale,
       overrideAccess,
+      populate,
       req,
       select,
       showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findVersionByID.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findVersionByID.ts
index 89de00d6c28..0b65bce32d5 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findVersionByID.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findVersionByID.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import httpStatus from 'http-status'
 
-import type { PayloadRequest, SelectType } from '../../types/index.js'
+import type { PayloadRequest, PopulateType, SelectType } from '../../types/index.js'
 import type { TypeWithVersion } from '../../versions/types.js'
 import type { Collection, TypeWithID } from '../config/types.js'
 
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export type Arguments = {
   disableErrors?: boolean
   id: number | string
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ export const findVersionByIDOperation = async <TData extends TypeWithID = any>(
     depth,
     disableErrors,
     overrideAccess,
+    populate,
     req: { fallbackLocale, locale, payload },
     req,
     select,
@@ -121,6 +123,7 @@ export const findVersionByIDOperation = async <TData extends TypeWithID = any>(
       global: null,
       locale,
       overrideAccess,
+      populate,
       req,
       select: typeof select?.version === 'object' ? select.version : undefined,
       showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findVersions.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findVersions.ts
index beef8e9ca84..0993131ee24 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findVersions.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/findVersions.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { PaginatedDocs } from '../../database/types.js'
-import type { PayloadRequest, SelectType, Sort, Where } from '../../types/index.js'
+import type { PayloadRequest, PopulateType, SelectType, Sort, Where } from '../../types/index.js'
 import type { TypeWithVersion } from '../../versions/types.js'
 import type { Collection } from '../config/types.js'
 
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export type Arguments = {
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   page?: number
   pagination?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export const findVersionsOperation = async <TData extends TypeWithVersion<TData>
     overrideAccess,
     page,
     pagination = true,
+    populate,
     req: { fallbackLocale, locale, payload },
     req,
     select,
@@ -129,6 +131,7 @@ export const findVersionsOperation = async <TData extends TypeWithVersion<TData>
             global: null,
             locale,
             overrideAccess,
+            populate,
             req,
             select: typeof select?.version === 'object' ? select.version : undefined,
             showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/create.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/create.ts
index 9e14fd97a40..6043928f8e4 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/create.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/create.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { CollectionSlug, Payload, RequestContext, TypedLocale } from '../..
 import type {
   Document,
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   TransformCollectionWithSelect,
 } from '../../../types/index.js'
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect extends SelectType> =
   locale?: TypedLocale
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   overwriteExistingFiles?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: TSelect
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ export default async function createLocal<
     filePath,
     overrideAccess = true,
     overwriteExistingFiles = false,
+    populate,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
   } = options
@@ -81,6 +84,7 @@ export default async function createLocal<
     draft,
     overrideAccess,
     overwriteExistingFiles,
+    populate,
     req,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/delete.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/delete.ts
index c82a75e5b1c..729dcde0c40 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/delete.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/delete.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { CollectionSlug, Payload, RequestContext, TypedLocale } from '../..
 import type {
   Document,
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   TransformCollectionWithSelect,
   Where,
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ export type BaseOptions<TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect extends SelectType
   locale?: TypedLocale
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   overrideLock?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: TSelect
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -87,6 +89,7 @@ async function deleteLocal<
     disableTransaction,
     overrideAccess = true,
     overrideLock,
+    populate,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
     where,
@@ -107,6 +110,7 @@ async function deleteLocal<
     disableTransaction,
     overrideAccess,
     overrideLock,
+    populate,
     req: await createLocalReq(options, payload),
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/duplicate.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/duplicate.ts
index 93266663f33..f9de560bebc 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/duplicate.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/duplicate.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { Payload, RequestContext } from '../../../index.js'
 import type {
   Document,
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   TransformCollectionWithSelect,
 } from '../../../types/index.js'
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect extends SelectType> =
   id: number | string
   locale?: TypedLocale
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: TSelect
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@ export async function duplicate<
     disableTransaction,
     draft,
     overrideAccess = true,
+    populate,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
   } = options
@@ -72,6 +75,7 @@ export async function duplicate<
     disableTransaction,
     draft,
     overrideAccess,
+    populate,
     req,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/find.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/find.ts
index 93cbdc1390c..ce18b599e5f 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/find.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/find.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import type {
 import type {
   Document,
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   Sort,
   TransformCollectionWithSelect,
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect extends SelectType> =
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   page?: number
   pagination?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: TSelect
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/findByID.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/findByID.ts
index c50b1001acd..d7ac4d90789 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/findByID.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/findByID.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import type {
   ApplyDisableErrors,
   Document,
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   TransformCollectionWithSelect,
 } from '../../../types/index.js'
 import type { SelectFromCollectionSlug } from '../../config/types.js'
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ export type Options<
   joins?: JoinQuery
   locale?: 'all' | TypedLocale
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: TSelect
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ export default async function findByIDLocal<
     includeLockStatus,
     joins,
     overrideAccess = true,
+    populate,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
   } = options
@@ -85,6 +88,7 @@ export default async function findByIDLocal<
     includeLockStatus,
     joins,
     overrideAccess,
+    populate,
     req: await createLocalReq(options, payload),
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/findVersionByID.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/findVersionByID.ts
index ee2928191d4..61057ad1538 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/findVersionByID.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/findVersionByID.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { CollectionSlug, Payload, RequestContext, TypedLocale } from '../../../index.js'
-import type { Document, PayloadRequest, SelectType } from '../../../types/index.js'
+import type { Document, PayloadRequest, PopulateType, SelectType } from '../../../types/index.js'
 import type { TypeWithVersion } from '../../../versions/types.js'
 import type { DataFromCollectionSlug } from '../../config/types.js'
 
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends CollectionSlug> = {
   id: string
   locale?: 'all' | TypedLocale
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ export default async function findVersionByIDLocal<TSlug extends CollectionSlug>
     depth,
     disableErrors = false,
     overrideAccess = true,
+    populate,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
   } = options
@@ -56,6 +58,7 @@ export default async function findVersionByIDLocal<TSlug extends CollectionSlug>
     depth,
     disableErrors,
     overrideAccess,
+    populate,
     req: await createLocalReq(options, payload),
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/findVersions.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/findVersions.ts
index 68bf2c68dd7..1b5e1d71d47 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/findVersions.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/findVersions.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 import type { PaginatedDocs } from '../../../database/types.js'
 import type { CollectionSlug, Payload, RequestContext, TypedLocale } from '../../../index.js'
-import type { Document, PayloadRequest, SelectType, Sort, Where } from '../../../types/index.js'
+import type {
+  Document,
+  PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
+  SelectType,
+  Sort,
+  Where,
+} from '../../../types/index.js'
 import type { TypeWithVersion } from '../../../versions/types.js'
 import type { DataFromCollectionSlug } from '../../config/types.js'
 
@@ -21,6 +28,7 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends CollectionSlug> = {
   locale?: 'all' | TypedLocale
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   page?: number
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -39,6 +47,7 @@ export default async function findVersionsLocal<TSlug extends CollectionSlug>(
     limit,
     overrideAccess = true,
     page,
+    populate,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
     sort,
@@ -59,6 +68,7 @@ export default async function findVersionsLocal<TSlug extends CollectionSlug>(
     limit,
     overrideAccess,
     page,
+    populate,
     req: await createLocalReq(options, payload),
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/restoreVersion.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/restoreVersion.ts
index 33e24d727fe..83a47d2f0f1 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/restoreVersion.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/restoreVersion.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { CollectionSlug, Payload, RequestContext, TypedLocale } from '../../../index.js'
-import type { Document, PayloadRequest, SelectType } from '../../../types/index.js'
+import type { Document, PayloadRequest, PopulateType, SelectType } from '../../../types/index.js'
 import type { DataFromCollectionSlug } from '../../config/types.js'
 
 import { APIError } from '../../../errors/index.js'
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends CollectionSlug> = {
   id: string
   locale?: TypedLocale
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ export default async function restoreVersionLocal<TSlug extends CollectionSlug>(
     collection: collectionSlug,
     depth,
     overrideAccess = true,
+    populate,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
   } = options
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ export default async function restoreVersionLocal<TSlug extends CollectionSlug>(
     depth,
     overrideAccess,
     payload,
+    populate,
     req: await createLocalReq(options, payload),
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/update.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/update.ts
index 218477e44fc..8909543cd02 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/update.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/local/update.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type { CollectionSlug, Payload, RequestContext, TypedLocale } from '../..
 import type {
   Document,
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   TransformCollectionWithSelect,
   Where,
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ export type BaseOptions<TSlug extends CollectionSlug, TSelect extends SelectType
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   overrideLock?: boolean
   overwriteExistingFiles?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   publishSpecificLocale?: string
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: TSelect
@@ -111,6 +113,7 @@ async function updateLocal<
     overrideAccess = true,
     overrideLock,
     overwriteExistingFiles = false,
+    populate,
     publishSpecificLocale,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
@@ -141,6 +144,7 @@ async function updateLocal<
     overrideLock,
     overwriteExistingFiles,
     payload,
+    populate,
     publishSpecificLocale,
     req,
     select,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/restoreVersion.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/restoreVersion.ts
index d87e7fc38e6..80e4ab92c20 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/restoreVersion.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/restoreVersion.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import httpStatus from 'http-status'
 
 import type { FindOneArgs } from '../../database/types.js'
-import type { PayloadRequest, SelectType } from '../../types/index.js'
+import type { PayloadRequest, PopulateType, SelectType } from '../../types/index.js'
 import type { Collection, TypeWithID } from '../config/types.js'
 
 import executeAccess from '../../auth/executeAccess.js'
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ export type Arguments = {
   draft?: boolean
   id: number | string
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export const restoreVersionOperation = async <TData extends TypeWithID = any>(
     depth,
     draft,
     overrideAccess = false,
+    populate,
     req,
     req: { fallbackLocale, locale, payload },
     select,
@@ -152,6 +154,7 @@ export const restoreVersionOperation = async <TData extends TypeWithID = any>(
       global: null,
       locale,
       overrideAccess,
+      populate,
       req,
       select,
       showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/update.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/update.ts
index 993fe84ab63..9447f09c7fd 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/update.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/update.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import httpStatus from 'http-status'
 
 import type { AccessResult } from '../../config/types.js'
 import type { CollectionSlug } from '../../index.js'
-import type { PayloadRequest, SelectType, Where } from '../../types/index.js'
+import type { PayloadRequest, PopulateType, SelectType, Where } from '../../types/index.js'
 import type {
   BulkOperationResult,
   Collection,
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ export type Arguments<TSlug extends CollectionSlug> = {
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   overrideLock?: boolean
   overwriteExistingFiles?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -89,6 +90,7 @@ export const updateOperation = async <
       overrideAccess,
       overrideLock,
       overwriteExistingFiles = false,
+      populate,
       req: {
         fallbackLocale,
         locale,
@@ -361,6 +363,7 @@ export const updateOperation = async <
           global: null,
           locale,
           overrideAccess,
+          populate,
           req,
           select,
           showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/updateByID.ts b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/updateByID.ts
index 5b4a32c0cf2..b0cd080368b 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/updateByID.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/collections/operations/updateByID.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import type { Args } from '../../fields/hooks/beforeChange/index.js'
 import type { CollectionSlug } from '../../index.js'
 import type {
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   TransformCollectionWithSelect,
 } from '../../types/index.js'
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ export type Arguments<TSlug extends CollectionSlug> = {
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   overrideLock?: boolean
   overwriteExistingFiles?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   publishSpecificLocale?: string
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
@@ -99,6 +101,7 @@ export const updateByIDOperation = async <
       overrideAccess,
       overrideLock,
       overwriteExistingFiles = false,
+      populate,
       publishSpecificLocale,
       req: {
         fallbackLocale,
@@ -392,6 +395,7 @@ export const updateByIDOperation = async <
       global: null,
       locale,
       overrideAccess,
+      populate,
       req,
       select,
       showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/index.ts b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/index.ts
index cc02f1e9758..177a499ebce 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/index.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/index.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { SanitizedCollectionConfig } from '../../../collections/config/types.js'
 import type { SanitizedGlobalConfig } from '../../../globals/config/types.js'
 import type { RequestContext } from '../../../index.js'
-import type { JsonObject, PayloadRequest, SelectType } from '../../../types/index.js'
+import type { JsonObject, PayloadRequest, PopulateType, SelectType } from '../../../types/index.js'
 
 import { deepCopyObjectSimple } from '../../../utilities/deepCopyObject.js'
 import { getSelectMode } from '../../../utilities/getSelectMode.js'
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ type Args<T extends JsonObject> = {
   global: null | SanitizedGlobalConfig
   locale: string
   overrideAccess: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields: boolean
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ export async function afterRead<T extends JsonObject>(args: Args<T>): Promise<T>
     global,
     locale,
     overrideAccess,
+    populate,
     req,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
@@ -84,6 +86,7 @@ export async function afterRead<T extends JsonObject>(args: Args<T>): Promise<T>
     locale,
     overrideAccess,
     path: [],
+    populate,
     populationPromises,
     req,
     schemaPath: [],
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/promise.ts b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/promise.ts
index 604784ffe7d..4614ca12758 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/promise.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/promise.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,13 @@ import type { RichTextAdapter } from '../../../admin/RichText.js'
 import type { SanitizedCollectionConfig } from '../../../collections/config/types.js'
 import type { SanitizedGlobalConfig } from '../../../globals/config/types.js'
 import type { RequestContext } from '../../../index.js'
-import type { JsonObject, PayloadRequest, SelectMode, SelectType } from '../../../types/index.js'
+import type {
+  JsonObject,
+  PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
+  SelectMode,
+  SelectType,
+} from '../../../types/index.js'
 import type { Field, TabAsField } from '../../config/types.js'
 
 import { MissingEditorProp } from '../../../errors/index.js'
@@ -38,6 +44,7 @@ type Args = {
    * The parent's schemaPath (path without indexes).
    */
   parentSchemaPath: string[]
+  populate?: PopulateType
   populationPromises: Promise<void>[]
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
@@ -73,6 +80,7 @@ export const promise = async ({
   overrideAccess,
   parentPath,
   parentSchemaPath,
+  populate,
   populationPromises,
   req,
   select,
@@ -323,6 +331,7 @@ export const promise = async ({
           field,
           locale,
           overrideAccess,
+          populate,
           req,
           showHiddenFields,
           siblingDoc,
@@ -356,6 +365,7 @@ export const promise = async ({
         locale,
         overrideAccess,
         path: fieldPath,
+        populate,
         populationPromises,
         req,
         schemaPath: fieldSchemaPath,
@@ -397,6 +407,7 @@ export const promise = async ({
             locale,
             overrideAccess,
             path: [...fieldPath, i],
+            populate,
             populationPromises,
             req,
             schemaPath: fieldSchemaPath,
@@ -428,6 +439,7 @@ export const promise = async ({
                 locale,
                 overrideAccess,
                 path: [...fieldPath, i],
+                populate,
                 populationPromises,
                 req,
                 schemaPath: fieldSchemaPath,
@@ -497,6 +509,7 @@ export const promise = async ({
               locale,
               overrideAccess,
               path: [...fieldPath, i],
+              populate,
               populationPromises,
               req,
               schemaPath: fieldSchemaPath,
@@ -534,6 +547,7 @@ export const promise = async ({
                   locale,
                   overrideAccess,
                   path: [...fieldPath, i],
+                  populate,
                   populationPromises,
                   req,
                   schemaPath: fieldSchemaPath,
@@ -571,6 +585,7 @@ export const promise = async ({
         locale,
         overrideAccess,
         path: fieldPath,
+        populate,
         populationPromises,
         req,
         schemaPath: fieldSchemaPath,
@@ -617,6 +632,7 @@ export const promise = async ({
         locale,
         overrideAccess,
         path: fieldPath,
+        populate,
         populationPromises,
         req,
         schemaPath: fieldSchemaPath,
@@ -648,6 +664,7 @@ export const promise = async ({
         locale,
         overrideAccess,
         path: fieldPath,
+        populate,
         populationPromises,
         req,
         schemaPath: fieldSchemaPath,
@@ -701,6 +718,7 @@ export const promise = async ({
                   originalDoc: doc,
                   overrideAccess,
                   path: fieldPath,
+                  populate,
                   populationPromises,
                   req,
                   schemaPath: fieldSchemaPath,
@@ -737,6 +755,7 @@ export const promise = async ({
               originalDoc: doc,
               overrideAccess,
               path: fieldPath,
+              populate,
               populationPromises,
               req,
               schemaPath: fieldSchemaPath,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/relationshipPopulationPromise.ts b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/relationshipPopulationPromise.ts
index 1c11a2f3d5b..22a0ebae781 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/relationshipPopulationPromise.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/relationshipPopulationPromise.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import type { PayloadRequest } from '../../../types/index.js'
+import type { PayloadRequest, PopulateType } from '../../../types/index.js'
 import type { JoinField, RelationshipField, UploadField } from '../../config/types.js'
 
 import { createDataloaderCacheKey } from '../../../collections/dataloader.js'
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ type PopulateArgs = {
   key?: string
   locale: null | string
   overrideAccess: boolean
+  populateArg?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   showHiddenFields: boolean
 }
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ const populate = async ({
   key,
   locale,
   overrideAccess,
+  populateArg,
   req,
   showHiddenFields,
 }: PopulateArgs) => {
@@ -69,7 +71,9 @@ const populate = async ({
           fallbackLocale,
           locale,
           overrideAccess,
-          select: relatedCollection.config.defaultPopulate,
+          select:
+            populateArg?.[relatedCollection.config.slug] ??
+            relatedCollection.config.defaultPopulate,
           showHiddenFields,
           transactionID: req.transactionID,
         }),
@@ -110,6 +114,7 @@ type PromiseArgs = {
   field: JoinField | RelationshipField | UploadField
   locale: null | string
   overrideAccess: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   showHiddenFields: boolean
   siblingDoc: Record<string, any>
@@ -123,6 +128,7 @@ export const relationshipPopulationPromise = async ({
   field,
   locale,
   overrideAccess,
+  populate: populateArg,
   req,
   showHiddenFields,
   siblingDoc,
@@ -154,6 +160,7 @@ export const relationshipPopulationPromise = async ({
                 key: localeKey,
                 locale,
                 overrideAccess,
+                populateArg,
                 req,
                 showHiddenFields,
               })
@@ -183,6 +190,7 @@ export const relationshipPopulationPromise = async ({
               index,
               locale,
               overrideAccess,
+              populateArg,
               req,
               showHiddenFields,
             })
@@ -211,6 +219,7 @@ export const relationshipPopulationPromise = async ({
           key: localeKey,
           locale,
           overrideAccess,
+          populateArg,
           req,
           showHiddenFields,
         })
@@ -230,6 +239,7 @@ export const relationshipPopulationPromise = async ({
       field,
       locale,
       overrideAccess,
+      populateArg,
       req,
       showHiddenFields,
     })
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/traverseFields.ts b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/traverseFields.ts
index e89d467eb32..1ffe4840ddf 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/traverseFields.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/fields/hooks/afterRead/traverseFields.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 import type { SanitizedCollectionConfig } from '../../../collections/config/types.js'
 import type { SanitizedGlobalConfig } from '../../../globals/config/types.js'
 import type { RequestContext } from '../../../index.js'
-import type { JsonObject, PayloadRequest, SelectMode, SelectType } from '../../../types/index.js'
+import type {
+  JsonObject,
+  PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
+  SelectMode,
+  SelectType,
+} from '../../../types/index.js'
 import type { Field, TabAsField } from '../../config/types.js'
 
 import { promise } from './promise.js'
@@ -25,6 +31,7 @@ type Args = {
   locale: null | string
   overrideAccess: boolean
   path: (number | string)[]
+  populate?: PopulateType
   populationPromises: Promise<void>[]
   req: PayloadRequest
   schemaPath: string[]
@@ -52,6 +59,7 @@ export const traverseFields = ({
   locale,
   overrideAccess,
   path,
+  populate,
   populationPromises,
   req,
   schemaPath,
@@ -81,6 +89,7 @@ export const traverseFields = ({
         overrideAccess,
         parentPath: path,
         parentSchemaPath: schemaPath,
+        populate,
         populationPromises,
         req,
         select,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/findOne.ts b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/findOne.ts
index 76e28792b69..542daf7de47 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/findOne.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/findOne.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { AccessResult } from '../../config/types.js'
-import type { PayloadRequest, SelectType, Where } from '../../types/index.js'
+import type { PayloadRequest, PopulateType, SelectType, Where } from '../../types/index.js'
 import type { SanitizedGlobalConfig } from '../config/types.js'
 
 import executeAccess from '../../auth/executeAccess.js'
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ type Args = {
   globalConfig: SanitizedGlobalConfig
   includeLockStatus?: boolean
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ export const findOneOperation = async <T extends Record<string, unknown>>(
     globalConfig,
     includeLockStatus,
     overrideAccess = false,
+    populate,
     req: { fallbackLocale, locale },
     req,
     select,
@@ -169,6 +171,7 @@ export const findOneOperation = async <T extends Record<string, unknown>>(
       global: globalConfig,
       locale,
       overrideAccess,
+      populate,
       req,
       select,
       showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/findVersionByID.ts b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/findVersionByID.ts
index 31dedd829e4..3c3bf3ea362 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/findVersionByID.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/findVersionByID.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { FindGlobalVersionsArgs } from '../../database/types.js'
-import type { PayloadRequest, SelectType } from '../../types/index.js'
+import type { PayloadRequest, PopulateType, SelectType } from '../../types/index.js'
 import type { TypeWithVersion } from '../../versions/types.js'
 import type { SanitizedGlobalConfig } from '../config/types.js'
 
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import { combineQueries } from '../../database/combineQueries.js'
 import { Forbidden, NotFound } from '../../errors/index.js'
 import { afterRead } from '../../fields/hooks/afterRead/index.js'
 import { deepCopyObjectSimple } from '../../utilities/deepCopyObject.js'
-import { getSelectMode } from '../../utilities/getSelectMode.js'
 import { killTransaction } from '../../utilities/killTransaction.js'
 
 export type Arguments = {
@@ -18,6 +17,7 @@ export type Arguments = {
   globalConfig: SanitizedGlobalConfig
   id: number | string
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ export const findVersionByIDOperation = async <T extends TypeWithVersion<T> = an
     disableErrors,
     globalConfig,
     overrideAccess,
+    populate,
     req: { fallbackLocale, locale, payload },
     req,
     select,
@@ -123,6 +124,7 @@ export const findVersionByIDOperation = async <T extends TypeWithVersion<T> = an
       global: globalConfig,
       locale,
       overrideAccess,
+      populate,
       req,
       select: typeof select?.version === 'object' ? select.version : undefined,
       showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/findVersions.ts b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/findVersions.ts
index aa2018cc620..f36f1c95b04 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/findVersions.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/findVersions.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { PaginatedDocs } from '../../database/types.js'
-import type { PayloadRequest, SelectType, Sort, Where } from '../../types/index.js'
+import type { PayloadRequest, PopulateType, SelectType, Sort, Where } from '../../types/index.js'
 import type { TypeWithVersion } from '../../versions/types.js'
 import type { SanitizedGlobalConfig } from '../config/types.js'
 
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export type Arguments = {
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   page?: number
   pagination?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export const findVersionsOperation = async <T extends TypeWithVersion<T>>(
     overrideAccess,
     page,
     pagination = true,
+    populate,
     req: { fallbackLocale, locale, payload },
     req,
     select,
@@ -105,6 +107,7 @@ export const findVersionsOperation = async <T extends TypeWithVersion<T>>(
               global: globalConfig,
               locale,
               overrideAccess,
+              populate,
               req,
               select,
               showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/findOne.ts b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/findOne.ts
index 1538de6063c..0676385a6f7 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/findOne.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/findOne.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { GlobalSlug, Payload, RequestContext, TypedLocale } from '../../../
 import type {
   Document,
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   TransformGlobalWithSelect,
 } from '../../../types/index.js'
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends GlobalSlug, TSelect extends SelectType> = {
   includeLockStatus?: boolean
   locale?: 'all' | TypedLocale
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: TSelect
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@ export default async function findOneLocal<
     draft = false,
     includeLockStatus,
     overrideAccess = true,
+    populate,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
   } = options
@@ -56,6 +59,7 @@ export default async function findOneLocal<
     globalConfig,
     includeLockStatus,
     overrideAccess,
+    populate,
     req: await createLocalReq(options, payload),
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/findVersionByID.ts b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/findVersionByID.ts
index 236b5188a2a..df76db573a6 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/findVersionByID.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/findVersionByID.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { GlobalSlug, Payload, RequestContext, TypedLocale } from '../../../index.js'
-import type { Document, PayloadRequest, SelectType } from '../../../types/index.js'
+import type { Document, PayloadRequest, PopulateType, SelectType } from '../../../types/index.js'
 import type { TypeWithVersion } from '../../../versions/types.js'
 import type { DataFromGlobalSlug } from '../../config/types.js'
 
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends GlobalSlug> = {
   id: string
   locale?: 'all' | TypedLocale
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ export default async function findVersionByIDLocal<TSlug extends GlobalSlug>(
     depth,
     disableErrors = false,
     overrideAccess = true,
+    populate,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
   } = options
@@ -49,6 +51,7 @@ export default async function findVersionByIDLocal<TSlug extends GlobalSlug>(
     disableErrors,
     globalConfig,
     overrideAccess,
+    populate,
     req: await createLocalReq(options, payload),
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/findVersions.ts b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/findVersions.ts
index 61dd15072e2..042158fbb4c 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/findVersions.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/findVersions.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 /* eslint-disable no-restricted-exports */
 import type { PaginatedDocs } from '../../../database/types.js'
 import type { GlobalSlug, Payload, RequestContext, TypedLocale } from '../../../index.js'
-import type { Document, PayloadRequest, SelectType, Sort, Where } from '../../../types/index.js'
+import type {
+  Document,
+  PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
+  SelectType,
+  Sort,
+  Where,
+} from '../../../types/index.js'
 import type { TypeWithVersion } from '../../../versions/types.js'
 import type { DataFromGlobalSlug } from '../../config/types.js'
 
@@ -17,6 +24,7 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends GlobalSlug> = {
   locale?: 'all' | TypedLocale
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   page?: number
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
@@ -36,6 +44,7 @@ export default async function findVersionsLocal<TSlug extends GlobalSlug>(
     limit,
     overrideAccess = true,
     page,
+    populate,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
     sort,
@@ -54,6 +63,7 @@ export default async function findVersionsLocal<TSlug extends GlobalSlug>(
     limit,
     overrideAccess,
     page,
+    populate,
     req: await createLocalReq(options, payload),
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/restoreVersion.ts b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/restoreVersion.ts
index f9e683722f2..e2cf93e9b4d 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/restoreVersion.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/restoreVersion.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /* eslint-disable no-restricted-exports */
 import type { GlobalSlug, Payload, RequestContext, TypedLocale } from '../../../index.js'
-import type { Document, PayloadRequest } from '../../../types/index.js'
+import type { Document, PayloadRequest, PopulateType } from '../../../types/index.js'
 import type { DataFromGlobalSlug } from '../../config/types.js'
 
 import { APIError } from '../../../errors/index.js'
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends GlobalSlug> = {
   id: string
   locale?: TypedLocale
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
   slug: TSlug
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ export default async function restoreVersionLocal<TSlug extends GlobalSlug>(
   payload: Payload,
   options: Options<TSlug>,
 ): Promise<DataFromGlobalSlug<TSlug>> {
-  const { id, slug: globalSlug, depth, overrideAccess = true, showHiddenFields } = options
+  const { id, slug: globalSlug, depth, overrideAccess = true, populate, showHiddenFields } = options
 
   const globalConfig = payload.globals.config.find((config) => config.slug === globalSlug)
 
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ export default async function restoreVersionLocal<TSlug extends GlobalSlug>(
     depth,
     globalConfig,
     overrideAccess,
+    populate,
     req: await createLocalReq(options, payload),
     showHiddenFields,
   })
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/update.ts b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/update.ts
index 7b25843a17e..6a4378a0723 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/update.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/local/update.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type { GlobalSlug, Payload, RequestContext, TypedLocale } from '../../../
 import type {
   Document,
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   TransformGlobalWithSelect,
 } from '../../../types/index.js'
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ export type Options<TSlug extends GlobalSlug, TSelect extends SelectType> = {
   locale?: TypedLocale
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   overrideLock?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   publishSpecificLocale?: TypedLocale
   req?: PayloadRequest
   select?: TSelect
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ export default async function updateLocal<
     draft,
     overrideAccess = true,
     overrideLock,
+    populate,
     publishSpecificLocale,
     select,
     showHiddenFields,
@@ -63,6 +66,7 @@ export default async function updateLocal<
     globalConfig,
     overrideAccess,
     overrideLock,
+    populate,
     publishSpecificLocale,
     req: await createLocalReq(options, payload),
     select,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/restoreVersion.ts b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/restoreVersion.ts
index d50d554b6a0..50c4a94ead9 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/restoreVersion.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/restoreVersion.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import type { PayloadRequest } from '../../types/index.js'
+import type { PayloadRequest, PopulateType } from '../../types/index.js'
 import type { TypeWithVersion } from '../../versions/types.js'
 import type { SanitizedGlobalConfig } from '../config/types.js'
 
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export type Arguments = {
   globalConfig: SanitizedGlobalConfig
   id: number | string
   overrideAccess?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   req?: PayloadRequest
   showHiddenFields?: boolean
 }
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ export const restoreVersionOperation = async <T extends TypeWithVersion<T> = any
     draft,
     globalConfig,
     overrideAccess,
+    populate,
     req: { fallbackLocale, locale, payload },
     req,
     showHiddenFields,
@@ -131,6 +133,7 @@ export const restoreVersionOperation = async <T extends TypeWithVersion<T> = any
       global: globalConfig,
       locale,
       overrideAccess,
+      populate,
       req,
       showHiddenFields,
     })
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/update.ts b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/update.ts
index e59e21eb5f2..03716507707 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/update.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/globals/operations/update.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type { GlobalSlug, JsonObject } from '../../index.js'
 import type {
   Operation,
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   SelectType,
   TransformGlobalWithSelect,
   Where,
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ type Args<TSlug extends GlobalSlug> = {
   globalConfig: SanitizedGlobalConfig
   overrideAccess?: boolean
   overrideLock?: boolean
+  populate?: PopulateType
   publishSpecificLocale?: string
   req: PayloadRequest
   select?: SelectType
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ export const updateOperation = async <
     globalConfig,
     overrideAccess,
     overrideLock,
+    populate,
     publishSpecificLocale,
     req: { fallbackLocale, locale, payload },
     req,
@@ -307,6 +310,7 @@ export const updateOperation = async <
       global: globalConfig,
       locale,
       overrideAccess,
+      populate,
       req,
       select,
       showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/payload/src/types/index.ts b/packages/payload/src/types/index.ts
index 3a5badc901d..27fb68ecbdc 100644
--- a/packages/payload/src/types/index.ts
+++ b/packages/payload/src/types/index.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import type {
   DataFromGlobalSlug,
   GlobalSlug,
   RequestContext,
+  TypedCollectionSelect,
   TypedLocale,
   TypedUser,
 } from '../index.js'
@@ -219,3 +220,5 @@ export type TransformGlobalWithSelect<
 > = TSelect extends SelectType
   ? TransformDataWithSelect<DataFromGlobalSlug<TSlug>, TSelect>
   : DataFromGlobalSlug<TSlug>
+
+export type PopulateType = Partial<TypedCollectionSelect>
diff --git a/packages/richtext-lexical/src/features/relationship/server/index.ts b/packages/richtext-lexical/src/features/relationship/server/index.ts
index cde6b0e0edc..5e18901e99d 100644
--- a/packages/richtext-lexical/src/features/relationship/server/index.ts
+++ b/packages/richtext-lexical/src/features/relationship/server/index.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ export const RelationshipFeature = createServerFeature<
                 draft,
                 node,
                 overrideAccess,
+                populateArg,
                 populationPromises,
                 req,
                 showHiddenFields,
@@ -90,7 +91,8 @@ export const RelationshipFeature = createServerFeature<
                     key: 'value',
                     overrideAccess,
                     req,
-                    select: collection.config.defaultPopulate,
+                    select:
+                      populateArg?.[collection.config.slug] ?? collection.config.defaultPopulate,
                     showHiddenFields,
                   }),
                 )
diff --git a/packages/richtext-lexical/src/features/typesServer.ts b/packages/richtext-lexical/src/features/typesServer.ts
index 72d0288ffe3..f5b7bbdea28 100644
--- a/packages/richtext-lexical/src/features/typesServer.ts
+++ b/packages/richtext-lexical/src/features/typesServer.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import type {
   Payload,
   PayloadComponent,
   PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
   ReplaceAny,
   RequestContext,
   RichTextField,
@@ -147,6 +148,10 @@ export type AfterReadNodeHookArgs<T extends SerializedLexicalNode> = {
    */
   locale: string
   overrideAccess: boolean
+  /**
+   * Only available in `afterRead` hooks.
+   */
+  populateArg?: PopulateType
   /**
    *  Only available in `afterRead` field hooks.
    */
diff --git a/packages/richtext-lexical/src/features/upload/server/feature.server.ts b/packages/richtext-lexical/src/features/upload/server/feature.server.ts
index d6a00bbad73..c399ddd89cc 100644
--- a/packages/richtext-lexical/src/features/upload/server/feature.server.ts
+++ b/packages/richtext-lexical/src/features/upload/server/feature.server.ts
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ export const UploadFeature = createServerFeature<
                 draft,
                 node,
                 overrideAccess,
+                populateArg,
                 populationPromises,
                 req,
                 showHiddenFields,
@@ -261,7 +262,8 @@ export const UploadFeature = createServerFeature<
                     key: 'value',
                     overrideAccess,
                     req,
-                    select: collection.config.defaultPopulate,
+                    select:
+                      populateArg?.[collection.config.slug] ?? collection.config.defaultPopulate,
                     showHiddenFields,
                   }),
                 )
diff --git a/packages/richtext-lexical/src/index.ts b/packages/richtext-lexical/src/index.ts
index 75e91b5a649..42e91d2ef6c 100644
--- a/packages/richtext-lexical/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/richtext-lexical/src/index.ts
@@ -313,6 +313,7 @@ export function lexicalEditor(props?: LexicalEditorProps): LexicalRichTextAdapte
               locale,
               overrideAccess,
               path,
+              populate,
               populationPromises,
               req,
               schemaPath,
@@ -360,6 +361,7 @@ export function lexicalEditor(props?: LexicalEditorProps): LexicalRichTextAdapte
                     overrideAccess: overrideAccess!,
                     parentRichTextFieldPath: path,
                     parentRichTextFieldSchemaPath: schemaPath,
+                    populateArg: populate,
                     populationPromises: populationPromises!,
                     req,
                     showHiddenFields: showHiddenFields!,
@@ -394,6 +396,7 @@ export function lexicalEditor(props?: LexicalEditorProps): LexicalRichTextAdapte
                     locale: locale!,
                     overrideAccess: overrideAccess!,
                     path,
+                    populate,
                     populationPromises: populationPromises!,
                     req,
                     schemaPath,
diff --git a/packages/richtext-slate/src/data/recurseNestedFields.ts b/packages/richtext-slate/src/data/recurseNestedFields.ts
index 349fd507eb4..cd92b5f76a9 100644
--- a/packages/richtext-slate/src/data/recurseNestedFields.ts
+++ b/packages/richtext-slate/src/data/recurseNestedFields.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import type { Field, PayloadRequest } from 'payload'
+import type { Field, PayloadRequest, PopulateType } from 'payload'
 
 import { fieldAffectsData, fieldHasSubFields, fieldIsArrayType, tabHasName } from 'payload/shared'
 
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ type NestedRichTextFieldsArgs = {
   draft: boolean
   fields: Field[]
   overrideAccess: boolean
+  populateArg?: PopulateType
   populationPromises: Promise<void>[]
   req: PayloadRequest
   showHiddenFields: boolean
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ export const recurseNestedFields = ({
   draft,
   fields,
   overrideAccess = false,
+  populateArg,
   populationPromises,
   req,
   showHiddenFields,
@@ -48,7 +50,8 @@ export const recurseNestedFields = ({
                     key: i,
                     overrideAccess,
                     req,
-                    select: collection.config.defaultPopulate,
+                    select:
+                      populateArg?.[collection.config.slug] ?? collection.config.defaultPopulate,
                     showHiddenFields,
                   }),
                 )
@@ -70,7 +73,8 @@ export const recurseNestedFields = ({
                     key: i,
                     overrideAccess,
                     req,
-                    select: collection.config.defaultPopulate,
+                    select:
+                      populateArg?.[collection.config.slug] ?? collection.config.defaultPopulate,
                     showHiddenFields,
                   }),
                 )
@@ -96,7 +100,7 @@ export const recurseNestedFields = ({
                 key: 'value',
                 overrideAccess,
                 req,
-                select: collection.config.defaultPopulate,
+                select: populateArg?.[collection.config.slug] ?? collection.config.defaultPopulate,
                 showHiddenFields,
               }),
             )
@@ -117,7 +121,7 @@ export const recurseNestedFields = ({
             key: field.name,
             overrideAccess,
             req,
-            select: collection.config.defaultPopulate,
+            select: populateArg?.[collection.config.slug] ?? collection.config.defaultPopulate,
             showHiddenFields,
           }),
         )
@@ -131,6 +135,7 @@ export const recurseNestedFields = ({
           draft,
           fields: field.fields,
           overrideAccess,
+          populateArg,
           populationPromises,
           req,
           showHiddenFields,
@@ -143,6 +148,7 @@ export const recurseNestedFields = ({
           draft,
           fields: field.fields,
           overrideAccess,
+          populateArg,
           populationPromises,
           req,
           showHiddenFields,
@@ -157,6 +163,7 @@ export const recurseNestedFields = ({
           draft,
           fields: tab.fields,
           overrideAccess,
+          populateArg,
           populationPromises,
           req,
           showHiddenFields,
@@ -174,6 +181,7 @@ export const recurseNestedFields = ({
               draft,
               fields: block.fields,
               overrideAccess,
+              populateArg,
               populationPromises,
               req,
               showHiddenFields,
@@ -191,6 +199,7 @@ export const recurseNestedFields = ({
             draft,
             fields: field.fields,
             overrideAccess,
+            populateArg,
             populationPromises,
             req,
             showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/richtext-slate/src/data/richTextRelationshipPromise.ts b/packages/richtext-slate/src/data/richTextRelationshipPromise.ts
index e1bd066b850..140fb59485a 100644
--- a/packages/richtext-slate/src/data/richTextRelationshipPromise.ts
+++ b/packages/richtext-slate/src/data/richTextRelationshipPromise.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
-import type { PayloadRequest, RichTextAdapter, RichTextField } from 'payload'
+import type {
+  CollectionConfig,
+  PayloadRequest,
+  PopulateType,
+  RichTextAdapter,
+  RichTextField,
+} from 'payload'
 
 import type { AdapterArguments } from '../types.js'
 
@@ -16,6 +22,7 @@ type RecurseRichTextArgs = {
   draft: boolean
   field: RichTextField<any[], any, any>
   overrideAccess: boolean
+  populateArg?: PopulateType
   populationPromises: Promise<void>[]
   req: PayloadRequest
   showHiddenFields: boolean
@@ -28,6 +35,7 @@ export const recurseRichText = ({
   draft,
   field,
   overrideAccess = false,
+  populateArg,
   populationPromises,
   req,
   showHiddenFields,
@@ -54,7 +62,10 @@ export const recurseRichText = ({
               key: 'value',
               overrideAccess,
               req,
-              select: collection.config.defaultPopulate,
+              select:
+                req.payloadAPI !== 'GraphQL'
+                  ? (populateArg?.[collection.config.slug] ?? collection.config.defaultPopulate)
+                  : undefined,
               showHiddenFields,
             }),
           )
@@ -70,6 +81,7 @@ export const recurseRichText = ({
             draft,
             fields: field.admin.upload.collections[element.relationTo].fields,
             overrideAccess,
+            populateArg,
             populationPromises,
             req,
             showHiddenFields,
@@ -94,7 +106,10 @@ export const recurseRichText = ({
                 key: 'value',
                 overrideAccess,
                 req,
-                select: collection.config.defaultPopulate,
+                select:
+                  req.payloadAPI !== 'GraphQL'
+                    ? (populateArg?.[collection.config.slug] ?? collection.config.defaultPopulate)
+                    : undefined,
                 showHiddenFields,
               }),
             )
@@ -109,6 +124,7 @@ export const recurseRichText = ({
             draft,
             fields: field.admin?.link?.fields,
             overrideAccess,
+            populateArg,
             populationPromises,
             req,
             showHiddenFields,
@@ -124,6 +140,7 @@ export const recurseRichText = ({
           draft,
           field,
           overrideAccess,
+          populateArg,
           populationPromises,
           req,
           showHiddenFields,
@@ -139,6 +156,7 @@ export const richTextRelationshipPromise = ({
   draft,
   field,
   overrideAccess,
+  populateArg,
   populationPromises,
   req,
   showHiddenFields,
@@ -151,6 +169,7 @@ export const richTextRelationshipPromise = ({
     draft,
     field,
     overrideAccess,
+    populateArg,
     populationPromises,
     req,
     showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/packages/richtext-slate/src/index.tsx b/packages/richtext-slate/src/index.tsx
index 053196bc46e..c39ddc4f864 100644
--- a/packages/richtext-slate/src/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/richtext-slate/src/index.tsx
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ export function slateEditor(
             findMany,
             flattenLocales,
             overrideAccess,
+            populate,
             populationPromises,
             req,
             showHiddenFields,
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ export function slateEditor(
                 findMany,
                 flattenLocales,
                 overrideAccess,
+                populateArg: populate,
                 populationPromises,
                 req,
                 showHiddenFields,
diff --git a/test/helpers/NextRESTClient.ts b/test/helpers/NextRESTClient.ts
index fbc89674b76..d49d11f33b2 100644
--- a/test/helpers/NextRESTClient.ts
+++ b/test/helpers/NextRESTClient.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import type { JoinQuery, SanitizedConfig, SelectType, Where } from 'payload'
+import type { JoinQuery, PopulateType, SanitizedConfig, SelectType, Where } from 'payload'
 import type { ParsedQs } from 'qs-esm'
 
 import {
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ type RequestOptions = {
     limit?: number
     locale?: string
     page?: number
+    populate?: PopulateType
     select?: SelectType
     sort?: string
     where?: Where
diff --git a/test/select/collections/Pages/index.ts b/test/select/collections/Pages/index.ts
index 0f4248f7081..ee8d3c011f1 100644
--- a/test/select/collections/Pages/index.ts
+++ b/test/select/collections/Pages/index.ts
@@ -11,13 +11,14 @@ export const Pages: CollectionConfig<'pages'> = {
   defaultPopulate: {
     slug: true,
   },
+  access: { read: () => true },
   fields: [
     {
       name: 'content',
       type: 'blocks',
       blocks: [
         {
-          slug: 'cta',
+          slug: 'introduction',
           fields: [
             {
               name: 'title',
@@ -80,5 +81,9 @@ export const Pages: CollectionConfig<'pages'> = {
       type: 'text',
       required: true,
     },
+    {
+      name: 'additional',
+      type: 'text',
+    },
   ],
 }
diff --git a/test/select/int.spec.ts b/test/select/int.spec.ts
index 2406ae43968..1ef65779a21 100644
--- a/test/select/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/select/int.spec.ts
@@ -1612,24 +1612,26 @@ describe('Select', () => {
     })
   })
 
-  describe('defaultPopulate', () => {
+  describe('populate / defaultPopulate', () => {
     let homePage: Page
     let aboutPage: Page
     let expectedHomePage: { id: number | string; slug: string }
+    let expectedHomePageOverride: { additional: string; id: number | string }
     beforeAll(async () => {
       homePage = await payload.create({
         depth: 0,
         collection: 'pages',
-        data: { content: [], slug: 'home' },
+        data: { content: [], slug: 'home', additional: 'additional-data' },
       })
       expectedHomePage = { id: homePage.id, slug: homePage.slug }
+      expectedHomePageOverride = { id: homePage.id, additional: homePage.additional }
       aboutPage = await payload.create({
         depth: 0,
         collection: 'pages',
         data: {
           content: [
             {
-              blockType: 'cta',
+              blockType: 'introduction',
               richTextSlate: [
                 {
                   type: 'relationship',
@@ -1745,6 +1747,151 @@ describe('Select', () => {
       expect(richTextLexicalRel.value).toMatchObject(expectedHomePage)
       expect(richTextSlateRel.value).toMatchObject(expectedHomePage)
     })
+
+    it('graphQL - should retrieve fields against defaultPopulate', async () => {
+      const query = `query {
+        Pages {
+          docs { 
+            id,
+            content {
+              ... on Introduction {
+                link {
+                  doc {
+                    id,
+                    additional,
+                    slug, 
+                  }
+                },
+                richTextLexical(depth: 1)
+                richTextSlate(depth: 1)
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }`
+
+      const {
+        data: {
+          Pages: {
+            docs: [
+              {
+                content: [
+                  {
+                    link,
+                    richTextSlate: [richTextSlateRel],
+                    richTextLexical: {
+                      root: {
+                        children: [richTextLexicalRel],
+                      },
+                    },
+                  },
+                ],
+              },
+            ],
+          },
+        },
+      } = await restClient
+        .GRAPHQL_POST({
+          body: JSON.stringify({ query }),
+        })
+        .then((res) => res.json())
+
+      expect(link.doc).toMatchObject({
+        id: homePage.id,
+        additional: homePage.additional,
+        slug: homePage.slug,
+      })
+      expect(richTextLexicalRel.value).toMatchObject(homePage)
+      expect(richTextSlateRel.value).toMatchObject(homePage)
+    })
+
+    it('local API - should populate and override defaultSelect select shape from the populate arg', async () => {
+      const result = await payload.findByID({
+        populate: {
+          pages: {
+            additional: true,
+          },
+        },
+        collection: 'pages',
+        depth: 1,
+        id: aboutPage.id,
+      })
+
+      const {
+        content: [
+          {
+            link: { doc, docHasManyPoly, docMany, docPoly },
+            richTextSlate: [richTextSlateRel],
+            richTextLexical: {
+              root: {
+                children: [richTextLexicalRel],
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        ],
+      } = result
+
+      expect(doc).toStrictEqual(expectedHomePageOverride)
+      expect(docMany).toStrictEqual([expectedHomePageOverride])
+      expect(docPoly).toStrictEqual({
+        relationTo: 'pages',
+        value: expectedHomePageOverride,
+      })
+      expect(docHasManyPoly).toStrictEqual([
+        {
+          relationTo: 'pages',
+          value: expectedHomePageOverride,
+        },
+      ])
+
+      expect(richTextLexicalRel.value).toStrictEqual(expectedHomePageOverride)
+      expect(richTextSlateRel.value).toStrictEqual(expectedHomePageOverride)
+    })
+
+    it('rEST API - should populate and override defaultSelect select shape from the populate arg', async () => {
+      const result = await restClient
+        .GET(`/pages/${aboutPage.id}`, {
+          query: {
+            populate: {
+              pages: {
+                additional: true,
+              },
+            },
+            depth: 1,
+          },
+        })
+        .then((res) => res.json())
+
+      const {
+        content: [
+          {
+            link: { doc, docHasManyPoly, docMany, docPoly },
+            richTextSlate: [richTextSlateRel],
+            richTextLexical: {
+              root: {
+                children: [richTextLexicalRel],
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        ],
+      } = result
+
+      expect(doc).toMatchObject(expectedHomePageOverride)
+      expect(docMany).toMatchObject([expectedHomePageOverride])
+      expect(docPoly).toMatchObject({
+        relationTo: 'pages',
+        value: expectedHomePageOverride,
+      })
+      expect(docHasManyPoly).toMatchObject([
+        {
+          relationTo: 'pages',
+          value: expectedHomePageOverride,
+        },
+      ])
+
+      expect(richTextLexicalRel.value).toMatchObject(expectedHomePageOverride)
+      expect(richTextSlateRel.value).toMatchObject(expectedHomePageOverride)
+    })
   })
 })
 
diff --git a/test/select/payload-types.ts b/test/select/payload-types.ts
index 6a1ed46379e..654d2f82d49 100644
--- a/test/select/payload-types.ts
+++ b/test/select/payload-types.ts
@@ -297,10 +297,11 @@ export interface Page {
           | null;
         id?: string | null;
         blockName?: string | null;
-        blockType: 'cta';
+        blockType: 'introduction';
       }[]
     | null;
   slug: string;
+  additional?: string | null;
   updatedAt: string;
   createdAt: string;
 }
@@ -605,7 +606,7 @@ export interface PagesSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
   content?:
     | T
     | {
-        cta?:
+        introduction?:
           | T
           | {
               title?: T;
@@ -625,6 +626,7 @@ export interface PagesSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
             };
       };
   slug?: T;
+  additional?: T;
   updatedAt?: T;
   createdAt?: T;
 }