diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 90b9b8f76..37032735e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 # 2022-09-15
 
-## (Potential Backward Compatibility Break) Major changes to Synapse workers
+## (Potential Backward Compatibility Break) Major improvements to Synapse workers
 
 People who are interested in running a Synapse worker setup should know that **our Synapse worker implementation is much more powerful now**:
 
 - we've added support for [Stream writers](#stream-writers-support)
 - we've added support for [multiple federation sender workers](#multiple-federation-sender-workers-support)
 - we've added support for [multiple pusher workers](#multiple-pusher-workers-support)
+- we've restored support for [`appservice` workers](#appservice-worker-support-is-back)
+- we've restored support for [`user_dir` workers](#user-directory-worker-support-is-back)
 - see the [Potential Backward Incompatibilities after these Synapse worker changes](#potential-backward-incompatibilities-after-these-synapse-worker-changes)
 
 ### Stream writers support
@@ -38,6 +40,25 @@ From now on, you can have as many as you want to help with your federation traff
 Until now, we only supported a single `pusher` worker (`matrix_synapse_workers_pusher_workers_count` could either be `0` or `1`).
 From now on, you can have as many as you want to help with pushing notifications out.
 
+### Appservice worker support is back
+
+We previously had an `appservice` worker type, which [Synapse deprecated in v1.59.0](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/v1.59.0/docs/upgrade.md#deprecation-of-the-synapseappappservice-and-synapseappuser_dir-worker-application-types). So did we, at the time.
+
+The new way to implement such workers is by using a `generic_worker` and dedicating it to the task of talking to Application Services.
+From now on, we have support for this.
+
+With `matrix_synapse_workers_preset: one-of-each`, you'll get one `appserice` worker automatically.
+You can also control the `appserice` workers count with `matrix_synapse_workers_appserice_workers_count`. Only  `0` or `1` workers of this type are supported by Synapse.
+
+### User Directory worker support is back
+
+We previously had a `user_dir` worker type, which [Synapse deprecated in v1.59.0](https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/v1.59.0/docs/upgrade.md#deprecation-of-the-synapseappappservice-and-synapseappuser_dir-worker-application-types). So did we, at the time.
+
+The new way to implement such workers is by using a `generic_worker` and dedicating it to the task of serving the user directory.
+From now on, we have support for this.
+
+With `matrix_synapse_workers_preset: one-of-each`, you'll get one `user_dir` worker automatically.
+You can also control the `user_dir` workers count with `matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_workers_count`. Only  `0` or `1` workers of this type are supported by Synapse.
 
 ### Potential Backward Incompatibilities after these Synapse worker changes
 
@@ -45,6 +66,8 @@ Below we'll discuss **potential backward incompatibilities**.
 
 - **Worker names** (container names, systemd services, worker configuration files) **have changed**. Workers are now labeled sequentially (e.g. `matrix-synapse-worker_generic_worker-18111` -> `matrix-synapse-worker-generic-0`). The playbook will handle these changes automatically.
 
+- Due to increased worker types support above, people who use `matrix_synapse_workers_preset: one-of-each` should be aware that with these changes, **the playbook will deploy 8 additional workers** (6 stream writers, 1 `appservice` worker, 1 `user_dir` worker). This **may increase RAM/CPU usage**, etc. If you find your server struggling, consider disabling some workers with the appropriate `matrix_synapse_workers_*_workers_count` variables.
+
 - **Metric endpoints have also changed** (`/metrics/synapse/worker/generic_worker-18111` -> `/metrics/synapse/worker/generic-worker-0`). If you're [collecting metrics to an external Prometheus server](docs/configuring-playbook-prometheus-grafana.md#collecting-metrics-to-an-external-prometheus-server), consider revisiting our [Collecting Synapse worker metrics to an external Prometheus server](docs/configuring-playbook-prometheus-grafana.md#collecting-synapse-worker-metrics-to-an-external-prometheus-server) docs and updating your Prometheus configuration. **If you're collecting metrics to the integrated Prometheus server** (not enabled by default), **your Prometheus configuration will be updated automatically**. Old data (from before this change) may stick around though.
 
 - **the format of `matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list` has changed**. You were never advised to use this variable for directly creating workers (we advise people to control workers using `matrix_synapse_workers_preset` or by tweaking `matrix_synapse_workers_*_workers_count` variables only), but some people may have started using the `matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list` variable to gain more control over workers. If you're one of them, you'll need to adjust its value. See `roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml` for more information on the new format. The playbook will also do basic validation and complain if you got something wrong.
diff --git a/group_vars/matrix_servers b/group_vars/matrix_servers
index e891a3d9a..78d1ed68a 100755
--- a/group_vars/matrix_servers
+++ b/group_vars/matrix_servers
@@ -1766,7 +1766,7 @@ matrix_nginx_proxy_synapse_stream_writer_account_data_stream_worker_client_serve
 matrix_nginx_proxy_synapse_stream_writer_receipts_stream_worker_client_server_locations: "{{ matrix_synapse_workers_stream_writer_receipts_stream_worker_client_server_endpoints }}"
 matrix_nginx_proxy_synapse_stream_writer_presence_stream_worker_client_server_locations: "{{ matrix_synapse_workers_stream_writer_presence_stream_worker_client_server_endpoints }}"
 matrix_nginx_proxy_synapse_media_repository_locations: "{{matrix_synapse_workers_media_repository_endpoints|default([]) }}"
-matrix_nginx_proxy_synapse_user_dir_locations: "{{ matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_endpoints|default([]) }}"
+matrix_nginx_proxy_synapse_user_dir_locations: "{{ matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_worker_client_server_endpoints|default([]) }}"
 
 matrix_nginx_proxy_systemd_wanted_services_list: |
   {{
diff --git a/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/templates/nginx/conf.d/matrix-synapse.conf.j2 b/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/templates/nginx/conf.d/matrix-synapse.conf.j2
index bbce7462b..488ced5a8 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/templates/nginx/conf.d/matrix-synapse.conf.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/templates/nginx/conf.d/matrix-synapse.conf.j2
@@ -133,8 +133,9 @@ server {
 		{% endif %}
 
 		{% if user_dir_workers | length > 0 %}
-			# FIXME: obsolete if matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_user_directory_search_enabled is set
-			# https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/master/docs/workers.md#synapseappuser_dir
+			# https://matrix-org.github.io/synapse/latest/workers.html#updating-the-user-directory
+			# If matrix_nginx_proxy_proxy_matrix_user_directory_search_enabled is set, requests may not reach here,
+			# but could be captured early on (see `matrix-domain.conf.j2`) and forwarded elsewhere (to an identity server, etc.).
 			{{ render_locations_to_upstream(matrix_nginx_proxy_synapse_user_dir_locations, 'user_dir_workers_upstream') }}
 		{% endif %}
 		{# Workers redirects END #}
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
index 05cd767a6..7f6ce40fa 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/defaults/main.yml
@@ -394,9 +394,9 @@ matrix_synapse_workers_presets:
   little-federation-helper:
     generic_workers_count: 0
     pusher_workers_count: 0
-    appservice_workers_count: 0
     federation_sender_workers_count: 1
     media_repository_workers_count: 0
+    appservice_workers_count: 0
     user_dir_workers_count: 0
     stream_writer_events_stream_workers_count: 0
     stream_writer_typing_stream_workers_count: 0
@@ -407,14 +407,10 @@ matrix_synapse_workers_presets:
   one-of-each:
     generic_workers_count: 1
     pusher_workers_count: 1
-    # appservice workers are deprecated since Synapse v1.59. This will be removed.
-    appservice_workers_count: 0
     federation_sender_workers_count: 1
     media_repository_workers_count: 1
-    # Disabled until https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/8787 is resolved.
-    # user_dir workers are deprecated since Synapse v1.59. This will be removed.
-    # See: https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/v1.59.0/docs/upgrade.md#deprecation-of-the-synapseappappservice-and-synapseappuser_dir-worker-application-types
-    user_dir_workers_count: 0
+    appservice_workers_count: 1
+    user_dir_workers_count: 1
     stream_writer_events_stream_workers_count: 1
     stream_writer_typing_stream_workers_count: 1
     stream_writer_to_device_stream_workers_count: 1
@@ -513,12 +509,6 @@ matrix_synapse_federation_pusher_instances: []
 # Adjusting this value manually is generally not necessary.
 matrix_synapse_start_pushers: "{{ not matrix_synapse_workers_enabled or (matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list | selectattr('type', 'equalto', 'pusher') | list | length > 0) }}"
 
-# matrix_synapse_workers_appservice_workers_count can only be 0 or 1. More instances are not supported.
-# appservice workers are deprecated since Synapse v1.59. This will be removed.
-# See: https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/v1.59.0/docs/upgrade.md#deprecation-of-the-synapseappappservice-and-synapseappuser_dir-worker-application-types
-matrix_synapse_workers_appservice_workers_count: 0
-matrix_synapse_workers_appservice_workers_metrics_range_start: 19300
-
 # matrix_synapse_workers_federation_sender_workers_count controls the number of federation sender workers to spawn.
 # See https://matrix-org.github.io/synapse/latest/workers.html#synapseappfederation_sender
 matrix_synapse_workers_federation_sender_workers_count: "{{ matrix_synapse_workers_presets[matrix_synapse_workers_preset]['federation_sender_workers_count'] }}"
@@ -543,13 +533,27 @@ matrix_synapse_workers_media_repository_workers_metrics_range_start: 19551
 # Adjusting this value manually is generally not necessary.
 matrix_synapse_enable_media_repo: "{{ not matrix_synapse_workers_enabled or (matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list | selectattr('type', 'equalto', 'media_repository') | list | length > 0) }}"
 
-# Disabled until https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/8787 is resolved.
-# user_dir workers are deprecated since Synapse v1.59. This will be removed.
-# See: https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/v1.59.0/docs/upgrade.md#deprecation-of-the-synapseappappservice-and-synapseappuser_dir-worker-application-types
-matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_workers_count: 0
+# matrix_synapse_workers_appservice_workers_count can only be 0 or 1. More instances are not supported.
+# appservice workers were deprecated since Synapse v1.59 (see: https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/v1.59.0/docs/upgrade.md#deprecation-of-the-synapseappappservice-and-synapseappuser_dir-worker-application-types).
+# Our implementation uses generic worker services and assigns them to perform appservice work using the `notify_appservices_from_worker` Synapse option.
+matrix_synapse_workers_appservice_workers_count: "{{ matrix_synapse_workers_presets[matrix_synapse_workers_preset]['appservice_workers_count'] }}"
+matrix_synapse_workers_appservice_workers_metrics_range_start: 19300
+
+# matrix_synapse_notify_appservices_from_worker populates the `notify_appservices_from_worker` Synapse configuration used when Synapse workers are in use (`matrix_synapse_workers_enabled`).
+# `notify_appservices_from_worker` is meant to point to a worker, which is dedicated to sending output traffic to Application Services.
+matrix_synapse_notify_appservices_from_worker: "{{ (matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list | selectattr('type', 'equalto', 'appservice') | list)[0].name if (matrix_synapse_workers_enabled and matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list | selectattr('type', 'equalto', 'appservice') | list | length > 0) else '' }}"
+
+# matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_workers_count can only be 0 or 1. More instances are not supported.
+# user_dir workers were deprecated since Synapse v1.59 (see: https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/v1.59.0/docs/upgrade.md#deprecation-of-the-synapseappappservice-and-synapseappuser_dir-worker-application-types).
+# Our implementation uses generic worker services and assigns them to perform appservice work using the `update_user_directory_from_worker` Synapse option.
+matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_workers_count: "{{ matrix_synapse_workers_presets[matrix_synapse_workers_preset]['user_dir_workers_count'] }}"
 matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_workers_port_range_start: 18661
 matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_workers_metrics_range_start: 19661
 
+# matrix_synapse_update_user_directory_from_worker populates the `update_user_directory_from_worker` Synapse configuration used when Synapse workers are in use (`matrix_synapse_workers_enabled`).
+# `update_user_directory_from_worker` is meant to point to a worker, which is dedicated to updating the user directory and servicing some user directory URL endpoints (`matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_worker_client_server_endpoints`).
+matrix_synapse_update_user_directory_from_worker: "{{ (matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list | selectattr('type', 'equalto', 'user_dir') | list)[0].name if (matrix_synapse_workers_enabled and matrix_synapse_workers_enabled_list | selectattr('type', 'equalto', 'user_dir') | list | length > 0) else '' }}"
+
 # Default list of workers to spawn.
 #
 # Unless you populate this manually, this list is dynamically generated
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/synapse/workers/init.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/synapse/workers/init.yml
index 6ab6784f3..c5a532979 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/synapse/workers/init.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/synapse/workers/init.yml
@@ -58,8 +58,6 @@
     matrix_synapse_federation_sender_instances: "{{ matrix_synapse_federation_sender_instances + [item.ansible_facts.worker.name] }}"
   with_items: "{{ matrix_synapse_workers_list_results_federation_sender_workers.results }}"
 
-- debug: var="matrix_synapse_federation_sender_instances"
-
 # This type of worker can only have a count of 1, at most
 - name: Build pusher workers
   ansible.builtin.set_fact:
@@ -81,13 +79,27 @@
       id: "appservice-{{ item }}"
       name: "matrix-synapse-worker-appservice-{{ item }}"
       type: 'appservice'
-      app: 'appservice'
+      app: 'generic_worker'
       webserving: false
       port: 0
       metrics_port: "{{ matrix_synapse_workers_appservice_workers_metrics_range_start + item }}"
   register: "matrix_synapse_workers_list_results_appservice_workers"
   loop: "{{ range(0, matrix_synapse_workers_appservice_workers_count | int) | list }}"
 
+# This type of worker can only have a count of 1, at most
+- name: Build user_dir workers
+  ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+    worker:
+      id: "user-dir-{{ item }}"
+      name: "matrix-synapse-worker-user-dir-{{ item }}"
+      type: 'user_dir'
+      app: 'generic_worker'
+      webserving: true
+      port: "{{ matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_workers_port_range_start + item }}"
+      metrics_port: "{{ matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_workers_metrics_range_start + item }}"
+  register: "matrix_synapse_workers_list_results_user_dir_workers"
+  loop: "{{ range(0, matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_workers_count | int) | list }}"
+
 - name: Build media_repository workers
   ansible.builtin.set_fact:
     worker:
@@ -115,6 +127,8 @@
       +
       matrix_synapse_workers_list_results_appservice_workers.results
       +
+      matrix_synapse_workers_list_results_user_dir_workers.results
+      +
       matrix_synapse_workers_list_results_media_repository_workers.results
     }}
 
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/synapse/workers/util/inject_worker.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/synapse/workers/util/inject_worker.yml
index 4f6b43986..0a52db327 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/synapse/workers/util/inject_worker.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/synapse/workers/util/inject_worker.yml
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
     matrix_synapse_webserving_workers_systemd_services_list: "{{ matrix_synapse_webserving_workers_systemd_services_list + [matrix_synapse_worker_details.name + '.service'] }}"
   when: matrix_synapse_worker_details.webserving | bool
 
-# Inject stream writers and various other background workers into the instance map.
+# Inject stream writers into the instance map.
 - ansible.builtin.set_fact:
     matrix_synapse_instance_map: "{{ matrix_synapse_instance_map | combine({matrix_synapse_worker_details.name: {'host': matrix_synapse_worker_details.name, 'port': matrix_synapse_worker_details.replication_port}}) }}"
   when: matrix_synapse_worker_details.type in matrix_synapse_known_instance_map_eligible_worker_types
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/validate_config.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/validate_config.yml
index faab7daa1..f6b1fe688 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/validate_config.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/tasks/validate_config.yml
@@ -12,24 +12,14 @@
     - "matrix_synapse_database_password"
     - "matrix_synapse_database_database"
 
-- name: Fail if asking to configure deprecated workers (appservice, userdir)
-  ansible.builtin.fail:
-    msg: >-
-      `{{ item }}` cannot be more than 0.
-      This type of worker has been deprecated since Synapse v1.59.
-      Please remove your `{{ item }}` configuration to solve this problem.
-      See: https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/blob/v1.59.0/docs/upgrade.md#deprecation-of-the-synapseappappservice-and-synapseappuser_dir-worker-application-types
-  when: "vars[item]|int != 0"
-  with_items:
-    - "matrix_synapse_workers_appservice_workers_count"
-    - "matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_workers_count"
-
 - name: Fail if asking for more than 1 instance of single-instance workers
   ansible.builtin.fail:
     msg: >-
       `{{ item }}` cannot be more than 1. This is a single-instance worker.
   when: "vars[item]|int > 1"
   with_items:
+    - "matrix_synapse_workers_appservice_workers_count"
+    - "matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_workers_count"
     - "matrix_synapse_workers_stream_writer_typing_stream_workers_count"
     - "matrix_synapse_workers_stream_writer_to_device_stream_workers_count"
     - "matrix_synapse_workers_stream_writer_account_data_stream_workers_count"
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/homeserver.yaml.j2 b/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/homeserver.yaml.j2
index a635559f2..ef8684abd 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/homeserver.yaml.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/templates/synapse/homeserver.yaml.j2
@@ -2874,6 +2874,14 @@ instance_map: {{ matrix_synapse_instance_map | to_json }}
 #  typing: worker1
 stream_writers: {{ matrix_synapse_stream_writers | to_json }}
 
+{% if matrix_synapse_notify_appservices_from_worker != '' %}
+notify_appservices_from_worker: {{ matrix_synapse_notify_appservices_from_worker | to_json }}
+{% endif %}
+
+{% if matrix_synapse_update_user_directory_from_worker != '' %}
+update_user_directory_from_worker: {{ matrix_synapse_update_user_directory_from_worker | to_json }}
+{% endif %}
+
 # The worker that is used to run background tasks (e.g. cleaning up expired
 # data). If not provided this defaults to the main process.
 #
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/vars/main.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/vars/main.yml
index e8b0e49c6..2dc00feaf 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/vars/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/vars/main.yml
@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ matrix_synapse_workers_stream_writer_receipts_stream_worker_client_server_endpoi
 matrix_synapse_workers_stream_writer_presence_stream_worker_client_server_endpoints:
   - ^/_matrix/client/(api/v1|r0|v3|unstable)/presence/
 
+# matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_worker_client_server_endpoints contains the endpoints serviced by the `type = user_dir` (`app = generic_worker`) worker.
+# See: https://matrix-org.github.io/synapse/latest/workers.html#updating-the-user-directory
+matrix_synapse_workers_user_dir_worker_client_server_endpoints:
+  - ^/_matrix/client/(r0|v3|unstable)/user_directory/search$
+
 # matrix_synapse_workers_known_stream_writer_stream_types contains the list of stream writer stream types that the playbook recognizes.
 # This is used for validation purposes. If adding support for a new type, besides adding it to this list,
 # don't forget to actually configure it where appropriate (see worker.yaml.j2`, the nginx proxy configuration, etc).
@@ -79,13 +84,25 @@ matrix_synapse_workers_webserving_stream_writer_types: ['typing', 'to_device', '
 matrix_synapse_webserving_workers_systemd_services_list: []
 
 # matrix_synapse_known_worker_types contains the list of known worker types.
+#
 # A worker type is different than a worker app (e.g. `generic_worker`).
 # For example, the `stream_writer` worker type is served by the `generic_worker` app, but is a separate type that we recognize.
+#
+# Some other types (`appservice` and `user_dir`) used to be Synapse worker apps, which got subsequently deprecated.
+# We still allow these types of workers and map them to the `generic_worker` app,
+# which is why we make sure they're part of the list below.
+# We use the `unique` filter because they're part of `matrix_synapse_workers_avail_list` too (for now; scheduled for removal).
 matrix_synapse_known_worker_types: |
   {{
-    matrix_synapse_workers_avail_list
-    +
-    ['stream_writer']
+    (
+      matrix_synapse_workers_avail_list
+      +
+      ['stream_writer']
+      +
+      ['appservice']
+      +
+      ['user_dir']
+    ) | unique
   }}
 
 # matrix_synapse_known_instance_map_eligible_worker_types contains the list of worker types that are to be injected into `matrix_synapse_instance_map`.
diff --git a/roles/matrix-synapse/vars/workers.yml b/roles/matrix-synapse/vars/workers.yml
index 3f34bcb2d..bc49e8354 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-synapse/vars/workers.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-synapse/vars/workers.yml
@@ -90,7 +90,9 @@ matrix_synapse_workers_generic_worker_endpoints:
 #  - ^/_matrix/client/(api/v1|r0|v3|unstable)/presence/
 
   # User directory search requests
-  - ^/_matrix/client/(r0|v3|unstable)/user_directory/search$
+  # Any worker can handle these, but we have a dedicated user_dir worker for this,
+  # so we'd like for other generic workers to not try and capture these requests.
+  # - ^/_matrix/client/(r0|v3|unstable)/user_directory/search$
 
   # Additionally, the following REST endpoints can be handled for GET requests: