diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-cache.md b/.api-reports/api-report-cache.md
index 34278f0c522..e10f450c8b7 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-cache.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-cache.md
@@ -885,7 +885,7 @@ export interface StoreObject {
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "AsStoreObject" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public (undocumented)
-type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<infer Item extends Record<string, any>> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
+type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<Record<string, any>> ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item> ? Item extends Record<string, any> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : never : never : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 export type StoreValue = number | string | string[] | Reference | Reference[] | null | undefined | void | Object;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-core.md b/.api-reports/api-report-core.md
index bd0acbce3df..c5d9202d915 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-core.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-core.md
@@ -2015,7 +2015,7 @@ export interface StoreObject {
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "AsStoreObject" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public (undocumented)
-type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<infer Item extends Record<string, any>> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
+type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<Record<string, any>> ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item> ? Item extends Record<string, any> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : never : never : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 export type StoreValue = number | string | string[] | Reference | Reference[] | null | undefined | void | Object;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react.md
index 267adc1a330..3d605b0c75d 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react.md
@@ -1859,7 +1859,7 @@ interface StoreObject {
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "AsStoreObject" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public (undocumented)
-type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<infer Item extends Record<string, any>> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
+type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<Record<string, any>> ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item> ? Item extends Record<string, any> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : never : never : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 type StoreValue = number | string | string[] | Reference | Reference[] | null | undefined | void | Object;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.md
index 1c8651938b5..fe5cd1acd2e 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.md
@@ -1594,7 +1594,7 @@ interface StoreObject {
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "AsStoreObject" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public (undocumented)
-type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<infer Item extends Record<string, any>> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
+type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<Record<string, any>> ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item> ? Item extends Record<string, any> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : never : never : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 type StoreValue = number | string | string[] | Reference | Reference[] | null | undefined | void | Object;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.md
index 594fb04aeed..a7d24173bf6 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.md
@@ -1529,7 +1529,7 @@ interface StoreObject {
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "AsStoreObject" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public (undocumented)
-type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<infer Item extends Record<string, any>> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
+type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<Record<string, any>> ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item> ? Item extends Record<string, any> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : never : never : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 type StoreValue = number | string | string[] | Reference | Reference[] | null | undefined | void | Object;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.md
index 017659e7ecc..e3a06451eb7 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.md
@@ -1550,7 +1550,7 @@ interface StoreObject {
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "AsStoreObject" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public (undocumented)
-type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<infer Item extends Record<string, any>> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
+type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<Record<string, any>> ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item> ? Item extends Record<string, any> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : never : never : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 type StoreValue = number | string | string[] | Reference | Reference[] | null | undefined | void | Object;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.md
index 110739c8df9..a26e8bd68a5 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.md
@@ -1752,7 +1752,7 @@ interface StoreObject {
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "AsStoreObject" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public (undocumented)
-type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<infer Item extends Record<string, any>> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
+type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<Record<string, any>> ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item> ? Item extends Record<string, any> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : never : never : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 type StoreValue = number | string | string[] | Reference | Reference[] | null | undefined | void | Object;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.md
index 5b11d65622a..5e51549fce7 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.md
@@ -1516,7 +1516,7 @@ interface StoreObject {
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "AsStoreObject" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public (undocumented)
-type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<infer Item extends Record<string, any>> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
+type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<Record<string, any>> ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item> ? Item extends Record<string, any> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : never : never : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 type StoreValue = number | string | string[] | Reference | Reference[] | null | undefined | void | Object;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-testing.md b/.api-reports/api-report-testing.md
index bdbed73258e..9d175464835 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-testing.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-testing.md
@@ -1548,7 +1548,7 @@ interface StoreObject {
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "AsStoreObject" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public (undocumented)
-type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<infer Item extends Record<string, any>> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
+type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<Record<string, any>> ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item> ? Item extends Record<string, any> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : never : never : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 type StoreValue = number | string | string[] | Reference | Reference[] | null | undefined | void | Object;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.md b/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.md
index f5de976f0c6..a95a55f8e2a 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.md
@@ -1504,7 +1504,7 @@ interface StoreObject {
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "AsStoreObject" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public (undocumented)
-type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<infer Item extends Record<string, any>> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
+type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<Record<string, any>> ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item> ? Item extends Record<string, any> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : never : never : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 type StoreValue = number | string | string[] | Reference | Reference[] | null | undefined | void | Object;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.md b/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.md
index 742cf060348..90e3cbaae41 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.md
@@ -2298,7 +2298,7 @@ export interface StoreObject {
 }
 
 // @public (undocumented)
-type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<infer Item extends Record<string, any>> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
+type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<Record<string, any>> ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item> ? Item extends Record<string, any> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : never : never : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 export type StoreValue = number | string | string[] | Reference | Reference[] | null | undefined | void | Object;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report.md b/.api-reports/api-report.md
index 3004669da51..c73cfb60ec7 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report.md
@@ -2462,7 +2462,7 @@ export interface StoreObject {
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "AsStoreObject" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public (undocumented)
-type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<infer Item extends Record<string, any>> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
+type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<Record<string, any>> ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item> ? Item extends Record<string, any> ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference> : never : never : StoreVal extends Record<string, any> ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference : StoreVal;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 export type StoreValue = number | string | string[] | Reference | Reference[] | null | undefined | void | Object;
diff --git a/.changeset/stupid-chairs-wait.md b/.changeset/stupid-chairs-wait.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fb7c32fd1be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/stupid-chairs-wait.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+"@apollo/client": patch
+---
+
+#11206 used the TypeScript syntax `infer X extends Y` that was introduced in TS 4.8.
+This caused some problems for some users, so we are rolling back to a more backwars-compatible (albeit slightly less performant) type.
diff --git a/src/cache/core/types/common.ts b/src/cache/core/types/common.ts
index 19200d4845e..9dc18d9197f 100644
--- a/src/cache/core/types/common.ts
+++ b/src/cache/core/types/common.ts
@@ -106,9 +106,13 @@ export type Modifier<T> = (
 ) => T | DeleteModifier | InvalidateModifier;
 
 type StoreObjectValueMaybeReference<StoreVal> = StoreVal extends Array<
-  infer Item extends Record<string, any>
+  Record<string, any>
 >
-  ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference>
+  ? StoreVal extends Array<infer Item>
+    ? Item extends Record<string, any>
+      ? ReadonlyArray<AsStoreObject<Item> | Reference>
+      : never
+    : never
   : StoreVal extends Record<string, any>
   ? AsStoreObject<StoreVal> | Reference
   : StoreVal;