diff --git a/src/wp-includes/capabilities.php b/src/wp-includes/capabilities.php
index 1e55d55f53..d06887a2bb 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/capabilities.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/capabilities.php
@@ -1030,30 +1030,6 @@ function add_role( $role, $display_name, $capabilities = array() ) {
 	return wp_roles()->add_role( $role, $display_name, $capabilities );
 }
 
-/**
- * Updates an existing role. Creates a new role if it doesn't exist.
- *
- * Modifies the display name and/or capabilities for an existing role.
- * If the role does not exist then a new role is created.
- *
- * The capabilities are defined in the following format: `array( 'read' => true )`.
- * To explicitly deny the role a capability, set the value for that capability to false.
- *
- * @since 6.1.0
- *
- * @param string      $role         Role name.
- * @param string|null $display_name Optional. Role display name. If null, the display name
- *                                  is not modified. Default null.
- * @param bool[]|null $capabilities Optional. List of capabilities keyed by the capability name,
- *                                  e.g. `array( 'edit_posts' => true, 'delete_posts' => false )`.
- *                                  If null, don't alter capabilities for the existing role and make
- *                                  empty capabilities for the new one. Default null.
- * @return WP_Role|void WP_Role object, if the role is updated.
- */
-function update_role( $role, $display_name = null, $capabilities = null ) {
-	return wp_roles()->update_role( $role, $display_name, $capabilities );
-}
-
 /**
  * Removes a role, if it exists.
  *
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-roles.php b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-roles.php
index d5eb97ef38..f224250fa2 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-roles.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-roles.php
@@ -172,76 +172,6 @@ class WP_Roles {
 		return $this->role_objects[ $role ];
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Updates an existing role. Creates a new role if it doesn't exist.
-	 *
-	 * Modifies the display name and/or capabilities for an existing role.
-	 * If the role does not exist then a new role is created.
-	 *
-	 * The capabilities are defined in the following format: `array( 'read' => true )`.
-	 * To explicitly deny the role a capability, set the value for that capability to false.
-	 *
-	 * @since 6.1.0
-	 *
-	 * @param string      $role         Role name.
-	 * @param string|null $display_name Optional. Role display name. If null, the display name
-	 *                                  is not modified. Default null.
-	 * @param bool[]|null $capabilities Optional. List of capabilities keyed by the capability name,
-	 *                                  e.g. `array( 'edit_posts' => true, 'delete_posts' => false )`.
-	 *                                  If null, don't alter capabilities for the existing role and make
-	 *                                  empty capabilities for the new one. Default null.
-	 * @return WP_Role|void WP_Role object, if the role is updated.
-	 */
-	public function update_role( $role, $display_name = null, $capabilities = null ) {
-		if ( ! is_string( $role ) || '' === trim( $role ) ) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		if ( null !== $display_name && ( ! is_string( $display_name ) || '' === trim( $display_name ) ) ) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		if ( null !== $capabilities && ! is_array( $capabilities ) ) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		if ( null === $display_name && null === $capabilities ) {
-			if ( isset( $this->role_objects[ $role ] ) ) {
-				return $this->role_objects[ $role ];
-			}
-			return;
-		}
-
-		if ( null === $display_name ) {
-			if ( ! isset( $this->role_objects[ $role ] ) ) {
-				return;
-			}
-
-			$display_name = $this->roles[ $role ]['name'];
-		}
-
-		if ( null === $capabilities ) {
-			if ( isset( $this->role_objects[ $role ] ) ) {
-				$capabilities = $this->role_objects[ $role ]->capabilities;
-			} else {
-				$capabilities = array();
-			}
-		}
-
-		if ( isset( $this->roles[ $role ] ) ) {
-			if ( null === $capabilities ) {
-				$capabilities = $this->role_objects[ $role ]->capabilities;
-			}
-
-			unset( $this->role_objects[ $role ] );
-			unset( $this->role_names[ $role ] );
-			unset( $this->roles[ $role ] );
-		}
-
-		// The roles database option will be updated in ::add_role().
-		return $this->add_role( $role, $display_name, $capabilities );
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * Removes a role by name.
 	 *
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/tests/user/capabilities.php b/tests/phpunit/tests/user/capabilities.php
index 3e49adc39d..c7e836f6e5 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/tests/user/capabilities.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/tests/user/capabilities.php
@@ -998,461 +998,6 @@ class Tests_User_Capabilities extends WP_UnitTestCase {
 		$this->assertFalse( $wp_roles->is_role( $role_name ) );
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * @dataProvider data_update_role_unhappy_paths
-	 *
-	 * @ticket 54572
-	 *
-	 * @covers WP_Roles::update_role
-	 * @covers ::update_role
-	 *
-	 * @param mixed $role         The role to update.
-	 * @param mixed $display_name The display name for the role.
-	 * @param mixed $capabilities The capabilities for the role.
-	 */
-	public function test_update_role_unhappy_paths( $role, $display_name, $capabilities ) {
-		global $wp_roles;
-
-		// Create role if it does not exist.
-		$role_name     = 'janitor';
-		$expected_caps = array(
-			'edit_posts' => true,
-			'edit_pages' => true,
-			'level_0'    => true,
-			'level_1'    => true,
-			'level_2'    => true,
-		);
-		add_role( $role_name, 'Janitor', $expected_caps );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-
-		$this->assertTrue(
-			$wp_roles->is_role( $role_name ),
-			"The $role_name role was not created"
-		);
-
-		$this->assertNotInstanceOf(
-			'WP_Role',
-			update_role( $role, $display_name, $capabilities ),
-			"The $role_name role was updated"
-		);
-
-		// Clean up.
-		remove_role( $role_name );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-		$this->assertFalse(
-			$wp_roles->is_role( $role_name ),
-			"The $role_name role was not removed"
-		);
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Data provider.
-	 *
-	 * @return array
-	 */
-	public function data_update_role_unhappy_paths() {
-		return array(
-			'true as the role'                       => array(
-				'role'         => true,
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'false as the role'                      => array(
-				'role'         => false,
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'null as the role'                       => array(
-				'role'         => null,
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'(int) 1 as the role'                    => array(
-				'role'         => 1,
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'(float) 1.0 as the role'                => array(
-				'role'         => 1.0,
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'(int) 0 as the role'                    => array(
-				'role'         => 0,
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'(float) 0.0 as the role'                => array(
-				'role'         => 0.0,
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'an empty string as the role'            => array(
-				'role'         => '',
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'a string with only a space as the role' => array(
-				'role'         => ' ',
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'an empty array as the role'             => array(
-				'role'         => array(),
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'a non-empty array as the role'          => array(
-				'role'         => array( 'janitor' ),
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'an object as the role'                  => array(
-				'role'         => (object) array( 'janitor' ),
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'true as the display name'               => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => true,
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'false as the display name'              => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => false,
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'(int) 1 as the display name'            => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => 1,
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'(float) 1.0 as the display name'        => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => 1.0,
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'(int) 0 as the display name'            => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => 0,
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'(float) 0.0 as the display name'        => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => 0.0,
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'an empty string as the display name'    => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => '',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'a string with only a space as the display name' => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => ' ',
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'an empty array as the display name'     => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => array(),
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'a non-empty array as the display name'  => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => array( 'Janitor' ),
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'an object as the display name'          => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => (object) array( 'Janitor' ),
-				'capabilities' => array(
-					'level_1' => true,
-				),
-			),
-			'true as the capabilities'               => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => true,
-			),
-			'false as the capabilities'              => array(
-				'role'         => (object) array( 'janitor' ),
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => false,
-			),
-			'(int) 1 as the capabilities'            => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => 1,
-			),
-			'(float) 1.0 as the capabilities'        => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => 1.0,
-			),
-			'(int) 0 as the capabilities'            => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => 0,
-			),
-			'(float) 0.0 as the capabilities'        => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => 0.0,
-			),
-			'an empty string as the capabilities'    => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => '',
-			),
-			'a string with only a space as the capabilities' => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => ' ',
-			),
-			'an object as the capabilities'          => array(
-				'role'         => 'janitor',
-				'display_name' => 'Janitor',
-				'capabilities' => (object) array( 'level_1' => true ),
-			),
-		);
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * @ticket 54572
-	 *
-	 * @covers WP_Roles::update_role
-	 * @covers ::update_role
-	 */
-	public function test_update_role_should_create_a_role_if_it_does_not_exist() {
-		global $wp_roles;
-
-		// Create role if it does not exist.
-		$role_name     = 'janitor';
-		$expected_caps = array(
-			'edit_posts' => true,
-			'edit_pages' => true,
-			'level_0'    => true,
-			'level_1'    => true,
-			'level_2'    => true,
-		);
-		update_role( $role_name, 'Janitor', $expected_caps );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-		$this->assertTrue( $wp_roles->is_role( $role_name ) );
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * @ticket 54572
-	 *
-	 * @covers WP_Roles::update_role
-	 * @covers ::update_role
-	 */
-	public function test_update_role_should_change_the_display_name_of_a_role() {
-		global $wp_roles;
-		$role_name = 'janitor';
-
-		add_role( $role_name, 'Janitor', array( 'level_1' => true ) );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-
-		$expected_display_name = 'Janitor Executive';
-		update_role( $role_name, $expected_display_name );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-
-		$this->assertSame(
-			$expected_display_name,
-			$wp_roles->roles[ $role_name ]['name'],
-			'The expected display name was not correct'
-		);
-		$this->assertSame(
-			array( 'level_1' => true ),
-			$wp_roles->roles[ $role_name ]['capabilities'],
-			'The expected capabilities were not correct'
-		);
-
-		// Clean up.
-		remove_role( $role_name );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-		$this->assertFalse(
-			$wp_roles->is_role( $role_name ),
-			"The $role_name role was not removed"
-		);
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * @dataProvider data_update_role_should_change_the_capabilities_of_a_role
-	 *
-	 * @ticket 54572
-	 *
-	 * @covers WP_Roles::update_role
-	 * @covers ::update_role
-	 *
-	 * @param array $capabilities An array of capabilities.
-	 */
-	public function test_update_role_should_change_the_capabilities_of_a_role( $capabilities ) {
-		global $wp_roles;
-		$role_name = 'janitor';
-
-		add_role( $role_name, 'Janitor', array( 'level_1' => true ) );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-
-		update_role( $role_name, null, $capabilities );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-
-		$this->assertSame(
-			'Janitor',
-			$wp_roles->roles[ $role_name ]['name'],
-			'The display name was changed'
-		);
-		$this->assertSame(
-			$capabilities,
-			$wp_roles->roles[ $role_name ]['capabilities'],
-			'The expected capabilities were not correct'
-		);
-
-		// Clean up.
-		remove_role( $role_name );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-		$this->assertFalse(
-			$wp_roles->is_role( $role_name ),
-			"The $role_name role was not removed"
-		);
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Data provider.
-	 *
-	 * @return array
-	 */
-	public function data_update_role_should_change_the_capabilities_of_a_role() {
-		return array(
-			'an empty array'           => array( 'capabilities' => array() ),
-			'an array of capabilities' => array( 'capabilities' => array( 'level_2' => true ) ),
-		);
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * @ticket 54572
-	 *
-	 * @covers WP_Roles::update_role
-	 * @covers ::update_role
-	 */
-	public function test_update_role_should_change_display_name_and_capabilities_of_role() {
-		global $wp_roles;
-		$role_name = 'janitor';
-
-		add_role( $role_name, 'Janitor', array( 'level_1' => true ) );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-
-		$expected_display_name = 'Janitor Manager';
-		$new_expected_caps     = array(
-			'level_3' => true,
-			'level_4' => true,
-		);
-		update_role( $role_name, $expected_display_name, $new_expected_caps );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-
-		$this->assertSame(
-			$expected_display_name,
-			$wp_roles->roles[ $role_name ]['name'],
-			'The expected display name was not correct'
-		);
-
-		$this->assertSame(
-			$new_expected_caps,
-			$wp_roles->roles[ $role_name ]['capabilities'],
-			'The expected capabilities were not correct'
-		);
-
-		// Clean up.
-		remove_role( $role_name );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-		$this->assertFalse(
-			$wp_roles->is_role( $role_name ),
-			"The $role_name role was not removed"
-		);
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * @ticket 54572
-	 *
-	 * @covers WP_Roles::update_role
-	 * @covers ::update_role
-	 */
-	public function test_update_role_should_change_capabilities_of_a_user() {
-		global $wp_roles;
-		$role_name = 'janitor';
-
-		add_role( $role_name, 'Janitor', array( 'level_1' => true ) );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-
-		// Assign a user to the role.
-		$id = self::factory()->user->create( array( 'role' => $role_name ) );
-
-		// Update empty capabilities.
-		update_role( $role_name, null, array( 'level_2' => true ) );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-
-		$this->assertTrue(
-			user_can( $id, 'level_2' ),
-			'The user does not have level_2 capabilities'
-		);
-		$this->assertFalse(
-			user_can( $id, 'level_1' ),
-			'The user has level_1 capabilities'
-		);
-
-		// Clean up.
-		remove_role( $role_name );
-		$this->flush_roles();
-		$this->assertFalse(
-			$wp_roles->is_role( $role_name ),
-			"The $role_name role was not removed"
-		);
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * Change the capabilites associated with a role and make sure the change
 	 * is reflected in has_cap().