diff --git a/web/data/references_test.go b/web/data/references_test.go
index 9b46d02773a..285a02ba2c1 100644
--- a/web/data/references_test.go
+++ b/web/data/references_test.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func TestReferences(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	})
 
-	t.Run("ListNotSynchronizedOn", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("ListReferencesHandler", func(t *testing.T) {
 		e := testutils.CreateTestClient(t, ts.URL)
 
 		// Make doc
@@ -230,6 +230,41 @@ func TestReferences(t *testing.T) {
 		obj.Value("data").Array().Length().Equal(1)
 		obj.Path("$.data[0].id").Equal(fdoc.ID())
 
+		// Add dummy references on io.cozy.apps%2ffoobaz and io.cozy.apps%2Ffooqux
+		foobazRef := couchdb.DocReference{
+			ID:   "io.cozy.apps%2ffoobaz",
+			Type: Type,
+		}
+		fooquxRef := couchdb.DocReference{
+			ID:   "io.cozy.apps%2Ffooqux",
+			Type: Type,
+		}
+		fdoc.ReferencedBy = append(fdoc.ReferencedBy, foobazRef, fooquxRef)
+		err = couchdb.UpdateDoc(testInstance, fdoc)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// Check that we can find the reference with %2f
+		obj = e.GET("/data/"+Type+"/io.cozy.apps%2ffoobar/relationships/references").
+			WithHeader("Authorization", "Bearer "+token).
+			Expect().Status(200).
+			JSON(httpexpect.ContentOpts{MediaType: "application/vnd.api+json"}).
+			Object()
+
+		obj.Path("$.meta.count").Equal(1)
+		obj.Value("data").Array().Length().Equal(1)
+		obj.Path("$.data[0].id").Equal(fdoc.ID())
+
+		// Check that we can find the reference with %2F
+		obj = e.GET("/data/"+Type+"/io.cozy.apps%2Ffoobar/relationships/references").
+			WithHeader("Authorization", "Bearer "+token).
+			Expect().Status(200).
+			JSON(httpexpect.ContentOpts{MediaType: "application/vnd.api+json"}).
+			Object()
+
+		obj.Path("$.meta.count").Equal(1)
+		obj.Value("data").Array().Length().Equal(1)
+		obj.Path("$.data[0].id").Equal(fdoc.ID())
+
 		// Remove the reference with a /
 		e.DELETE("/data/"+Type+"/io.cozy.apps%2Ffoobar/relationships/references").
 			WithHeader("Authorization", "Bearer "+token).
@@ -241,6 +276,28 @@ func TestReferences(t *testing.T) {
       }`)).
 			Expect().Status(204)
 
+		// Remove the reference with a %2f
+		e.DELETE("/data/"+Type+"/io.cozy.apps%2ffoobaz/relationships/references").
+			WithHeader("Authorization", "Bearer "+token).
+			WithHeader("Content-Type", "application/vnd.api+json").
+			WithBytes([]byte(`{
+        "data": [
+          {"id": "` + fdoc.ID() + `", "type": "` + consts.Files + `"}
+        ]
+      }`)).
+			Expect().Status(204)
+
+		// Remove the reference with a %2F
+		e.DELETE("/data/"+Type+"/io.cozy.apps%2Ffooqux/relationships/references").
+			WithHeader("Authorization", "Bearer "+token).
+			WithHeader("Content-Type", "application/vnd.api+json").
+			WithBytes([]byte(`{
+        "data": [
+          {"id": "` + fdoc.ID() + `", "type": "` + consts.Files + `"}
+        ]
+      }`)).
+			Expect().Status(204)
+
 		// Check that all the references have been removed
 		fdoc2, err := testInstance.VFS().FileByID(fdoc.ID())
 		assert.NoError(t, err)
diff --git a/web/files/references.go b/web/files/references.go
index 1801aa84760..922bd32eb9f 100644
--- a/web/files/references.go
+++ b/web/files/references.go
@@ -77,6 +77,17 @@ func ListReferencesHandler(c echo.Context) error {
 	if len(resCount.Rows) > 0 {
 		count = int(resCount.Rows[0].Value.(float64))
 	}
+
+	// XXX Some references can contain `%2f` instead of `/` in the id (legacy),
+	// and to preserve compatibility, we try to find those documents if no
+	// documents with the correct reference are found.
+	if count == 0 && strings.Contains(id, "/") {
+		key[1] = c.Param("docid")
+		err = couchdb.ExecView(instance, couchdb.FilesReferencedByView, reqCount, &resCount)
+		if err == nil && len(resCount.Rows) > 0 {
+			count = int(resCount.Rows[0].Value.(float64))
+		}
+	}
 	meta := &jsonapi.Meta{Count: &count}
 
 	sort := c.QueryParam("sort")
@@ -242,6 +253,17 @@ func RemoveReferencesHandler(c echo.Context) error {
 		ID:   id,
 	}
 
+	// XXX References with an ID that contains a / could have it encoded as %2F
+	// (legacy). We delete the references for both versions to preserve
+	// compatibility.
+	var altRef *couchdb.DocReference
+	if strings.Contains(id, "/") {
+		altRef = &couchdb.DocReference{
+			Type: doctype,
+			ID:   c.Param("docid"),
+		}
+	}
+
 	if err := middlewares.AllowTypeAndID(c, permission.DELETE, doctype, id); err != nil {
 		if middlewares.AllowWholeType(c, permission.PATCH, consts.Files) != nil {
 			return err
@@ -259,12 +281,18 @@ func RemoveReferencesHandler(c echo.Context) error {
 		if dir != nil {
 			oldDir := dir.Clone()
 			dir.RemoveReferencedBy(docRef)
+			if altRef != nil {
+				dir.RemoveReferencedBy(*altRef)
+			}
 			updateDirCozyMetadata(c, dir)
 			docs[i] = dir
 			oldDocs[i] = oldDir
 		} else {
 			oldFile := file.Clone().(*vfs.FileDoc)
 			file.RemoveReferencedBy(docRef)
+			if altRef != nil {
+				file.RemoveReferencedBy(*altRef)
+			}
 			updateFileCozyMetadata(c, file, false)
 			_, _ = file.Path(fs)    // Ensure the fullpath is filled to realtime
 			_, _ = oldFile.Path(fs) // Ensure the fullpath is filled to realtime