diff --git a/source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.h b/source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.h
index 99a16ff8e60..dff57df3555 100644
--- a/source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.h
+++ b/source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.h
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ bool AS_asset_representation_is_local_id(const AssetRepresentation *asset) ATTR_
 bool AS_asset_representation_is_never_link(const AssetRepresentation *asset)
     ATTR_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT;
 
+bool AS_asset_representation_may_override_import_method(const AssetRepresentation *asset);
+bool AS_asset_representation_use_relative_path_get(const AssetRepresentation *asset);
+
 /**
  * C version of #AssetRepresentation::make_weak_reference. Returned pointer needs freeing with
  * #MEM_delete() or #BKE_asset_weak_reference_free().
diff --git a/source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.hh b/source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.hh
index 7b9cb4b3994..9f0a5174bb4 100644
--- a/source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.hh
+++ b/source/blender/asset_system/AS_asset_representation.hh
@@ -130,5 +130,3 @@ std::string AS_asset_representation_full_path_get(const ::AssetRepresentation *a
 std::string AS_asset_representation_full_library_path_get(const ::AssetRepresentation *asset);
 std::optional<eAssetImportMethod> AS_asset_representation_import_method_get(
     const ::AssetRepresentation *asset_handle);
-bool AS_asset_representation_may_override_import_method(const ::AssetRepresentation *asset_handle);
-bool AS_asset_representation_use_relative_path_get(const ::AssetRepresentation *asset_handle);
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/asset/intern/asset_list.cc b/source/blender/editors/asset/intern/asset_list.cc
index f2f531a8a2a..a61bfe7695c 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/asset/intern/asset_list.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/asset/intern/asset_list.cc
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #include "../space_file/file_indexer.h"
 #include "../space_file/filelist.h"
 
-#include "ED_asset_handle.h"
 #include "ED_asset_indexer.h"
 #include "ED_asset_list.h"
 #include "ED_asset_list.hh"
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/include/UI_interface.h b/source/blender/editors/include/UI_interface.h
index da1f640643a..f4fec3abac9 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/include/UI_interface.h
+++ b/source/blender/editors/include/UI_interface.h
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ extern "C" {
 
 struct ARegion;
 struct AssetFilterSettings;
-struct AssetHandle;
+struct AssetRepresentation;
 struct AutoComplete;
 struct EnumPropertyItem;
 struct FileSelectParams;
@@ -1813,8 +1813,7 @@ void UI_but_drag_attach_image(uiBut *but, struct ImBuf *imb, float scale);
  * \param asset: May be passed from a temporary variable, drag data only stores a copy of this.
  */
 void UI_but_drag_set_asset(uiBut *but,
-                           const struct AssetHandle *asset,
-                           const char *path,
+                           const struct AssetRepresentation *asset,
                            int import_type, /* eAssetImportType */
                            int icon,
                            struct ImBuf *imb,
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_drag.cc b/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_drag.cc
index 9ed9bbfef00..e26d0659e17 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_drag.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_drag.cc
@@ -30,14 +30,13 @@ void UI_but_drag_attach_image(uiBut *but, ImBuf *imb, const float scale)
 }
 
 void UI_but_drag_set_asset(uiBut *but,
-                           const AssetHandle *asset_handle,
-                           const char *path,
+                           const AssetRepresentation *asset,
                            int import_type,
                            int icon,
                            ImBuf *imb,
                            float scale)
 {
-  wmDragAsset *asset_drag = WM_drag_create_asset_data(asset_handle, path, import_type);
+  wmDragAsset *asset_drag = WM_drag_create_asset_data(asset, import_type);
 
   /* FIXME: This is temporary evil solution to get scene/view-layer/etc in the copy callback of the
    * #wmDropBox.
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_template_asset_view.cc b/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_template_asset_view.cc
index d5676b38f90..a4102bc45d9 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_template_asset_view.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/interface/interface_template_asset_view.cc
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  * \ingroup edinterface
  */
 
+#include "AS_asset_representation.h"
 #include "AS_asset_representation.hh"
 
 #include "DNA_space_types.h"
@@ -46,28 +47,20 @@ struct AssetViewListData {
 
 static void asset_view_item_but_drag_set(uiBut *but, AssetHandle *asset_handle)
 {
-  ID *id = ED_asset_handle_get_local_id(asset_handle);
+  AssetRepresentation *asset = ED_asset_handle_get_representation(asset_handle);
+
+  ID *id = AS_asset_representation_local_id_get(asset);
   if (id != nullptr) {
     UI_but_drag_set_id(but, id);
     return;
   }
 
-  char blend_path[FILE_MAX_LIBEXTRA];
-  ED_asset_handle_get_full_library_path(asset_handle, blend_path);
-
   const eAssetImportMethod import_method =
-      ED_asset_handle_get_import_method(asset_handle).value_or(ASSET_IMPORT_APPEND_REUSE);
+      AS_asset_representation_import_method_get(asset).value_or(ASSET_IMPORT_APPEND_REUSE);
 
-  if (blend_path[0]) {
-    ImBuf *imbuf = ED_assetlist_asset_image_get(asset_handle);
-    UI_but_drag_set_asset(but,
-                          asset_handle,
-                          BLI_strdup(blend_path),
-                          import_method,
-                          ED_asset_handle_get_preview_icon_id(asset_handle),
-                          imbuf,
-                          1.0f);
-  }
+  ImBuf *imbuf = ED_assetlist_asset_image_get(asset_handle);
+  UI_but_drag_set_asset(
+      but, asset, import_method, ED_asset_handle_get_preview_icon_id(asset_handle), imbuf, 1.0f);
 }
 
 static void asset_view_draw_item(uiList *ui_list,
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/space_file/file_draw.cc b/source/blender/editors/space_file/file_draw.cc
index a174221283e..ebe2b2ac173 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/space_file/file_draw.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/space_file/file_draw.cc
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@
 #include "RNA_access.h"
 #include "RNA_prototypes.h"
 
-#include "ED_asset_handle.h"
 #include "ED_fileselect.h"
 #include "ED_screen.h"
 
@@ -156,17 +155,10 @@ static void file_but_enable_drag(uiBut *but,
   }
   else if (sfile->browse_mode == FILE_BROWSE_MODE_ASSETS &&
            (file->typeflag & FILE_TYPE_ASSET) != 0) {
-    char blend_path[FILE_MAX_LIBEXTRA];
-    if (BKE_blendfile_library_path_explode(path, blend_path, nullptr, nullptr)) {
-      const int import_method = ED_fileselect_asset_import_method_get(sfile, file);
-      BLI_assert(import_method > -1);
+    const int import_method = ED_fileselect_asset_import_method_get(sfile, file);
+    BLI_assert(import_method > -1);
 
-      AssetHandle asset{};
-      asset.file_data = file;
-
-      UI_but_drag_set_asset(
-          but, &asset, BLI_strdup(blend_path), import_method, icon, preview_image, scale);
-    }
+    UI_but_drag_set_asset(but, file->asset, import_method, icon, preview_image, scale);
   }
   else if (preview_image) {
     UI_but_drag_set_image(but, path, icon, preview_image, scale);
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/space_view3d/CMakeLists.txt b/source/blender/editors/space_view3d/CMakeLists.txt
index f3cafb1254a..4ebdfcbd6d6 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/space_view3d/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/source/blender/editors/space_view3d/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 set(INC
   ../include
+  ../../asset_system
   ../../blenfont
   ../../blenkernel
   ../../blenlib
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/space_view3d/space_view3d.cc b/source/blender/editors/space_view3d/space_view3d.cc
index b86bce4ff68..c44e14e5dc0 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/space_view3d/space_view3d.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/space_view3d/space_view3d.cc
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 #include <cstdio>
 #include <cstring>
 
+#include "AS_asset_representation.h"
+
 #include "DNA_collection_types.h"
 #include "DNA_defaults.h"
 #include "DNA_gpencil_legacy_types.h"
@@ -496,7 +498,7 @@ static ID_Type view3d_drop_id_in_main_region_poll_get_id_type(bContext *C,
 
   wmDragAsset *asset_drag = WM_drag_get_asset_data(drag, 0);
   if (asset_drag) {
-    return ID_Type(asset_drag->id_type);
+    return AS_asset_representation_id_type_get(asset_drag->asset);
   }
 
   return ID_Type(0);
@@ -731,7 +733,8 @@ static bool view3d_geometry_nodes_drop_poll(bContext *C, wmDrag *drag, const wmE
     if (!asset_data) {
       return false;
     }
-    const IDProperty *tree_type = BKE_asset_metadata_idprop_find(asset_data->metadata, "type");
+    const AssetMetaData *metadata = AS_asset_representation_metadata_get(asset_data->asset);
+    const IDProperty *tree_type = BKE_asset_metadata_idprop_find(metadata, "type");
     if (!tree_type || IDP_Int(tree_type) != NTREE_GEOMETRY) {
       return false;
     }
diff --git a/source/blender/windowmanager/WM_api.h b/source/blender/windowmanager/WM_api.h
index 38587abe548..70f79cf3e36 100644
--- a/source/blender/windowmanager/WM_api.h
+++ b/source/blender/windowmanager/WM_api.h
@@ -1444,8 +1444,7 @@ bool WM_drag_is_ID_type(const struct wmDrag *drag, int idcode);
 /**
  * \note Does not store \a asset in any way, so it's fine to pass a temporary.
  */
-wmDragAsset *WM_drag_create_asset_data(const struct AssetHandle *asset,
-                                       const char *path,
+wmDragAsset *WM_drag_create_asset_data(const struct AssetRepresentation *asset,
                                        int /* #eAssetImportMethod */ import_type);
 struct wmDragAsset *WM_drag_get_asset_data(const struct wmDrag *drag, int idcode);
 struct AssetMetaData *WM_drag_get_asset_meta_data(const struct wmDrag *drag, int idcode);
@@ -1475,7 +1474,7 @@ struct wmDragAssetCatalog *WM_drag_get_asset_catalog_data(const struct wmDrag *d
 /**
  * \note Does not store \a asset in any way, so it's fine to pass a temporary.
  */
-void WM_drag_add_asset_list_item(wmDrag *drag, const struct AssetHandle *asset);
+void WM_drag_add_asset_list_item(wmDrag *drag, const struct AssetRepresentation *asset);
 const ListBase *WM_drag_asset_list_get(const wmDrag *drag);
 
 const char *WM_drag_get_item_name(struct wmDrag *drag);
diff --git a/source/blender/windowmanager/WM_types.h b/source/blender/windowmanager/WM_types.h
index 3f7b8938c38..e329f2b4a39 100644
--- a/source/blender/windowmanager/WM_types.h
+++ b/source/blender/windowmanager/WM_types.h
@@ -1095,16 +1095,8 @@ typedef struct wmDragID {
 } wmDragID;
 
 typedef struct wmDragAsset {
-  /* NOTE: Can't store the #AssetHandle here, since the #FileDirEntry it wraps may be freed while
-   * dragging. So store necessary data here directly. */
-
-  char name[64]; /* MAX_NAME */
-  /* Always freed. */
-  const char *path;
-  int id_type;
-  struct AssetMetaData *metadata;
   int import_method; /* eAssetImportType */
-  bool use_relative_path;
+  const struct AssetRepresentation *asset;
 
   /* FIXME: This is temporary evil solution to get scene/view-layer/etc in the copy callback of the
    * #wmDropBox.
diff --git a/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_dragdrop.cc b/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_dragdrop.cc
index 44ee394ed49..df46cab44a5 100644
--- a/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_dragdrop.cc
+++ b/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_dragdrop.cc
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@
 
 #include <cstring>
 
+#include "AS_asset_representation.h"
+#include "AS_asset_representation.hh"
+
 #include "DNA_asset_types.h"
 #include "DNA_screen_types.h"
 #include "DNA_space_types.h"
@@ -212,7 +215,7 @@ wmDrag *WM_drag_data_create(
       LISTBASE_FOREACH (const CollectionPointerLink *, link, &asset_file_links) {
         const FileDirEntry *asset_file = static_cast<const FileDirEntry *>(link->ptr.data);
         const AssetHandle asset_handle = {asset_file};
-        WM_drag_add_asset_list_item(drag, &asset_handle);
+        WM_drag_add_asset_list_item(drag, ED_asset_handle_get_representation(&asset_handle));
       }
       BLI_freelistN(&asset_file_links);
       break;
@@ -566,23 +569,18 @@ bool WM_drag_is_ID_type(const wmDrag *drag, int idcode)
   return WM_drag_get_local_ID(drag, idcode) || WM_drag_get_asset_data(drag, idcode);
 }
 
-wmDragAsset *WM_drag_create_asset_data(const AssetHandle *asset, const char *path, int import_type)
+wmDragAsset *WM_drag_create_asset_data(const AssetRepresentation *asset, int import_type)
 {
   wmDragAsset *asset_drag = MEM_new<wmDragAsset>(__func__);
 
-  STRNCPY(asset_drag->name, ED_asset_handle_get_name(asset));
-  asset_drag->metadata = ED_asset_handle_get_metadata(asset);
-  asset_drag->path = path;
-  asset_drag->id_type = ED_asset_handle_get_id_type(asset);
+  asset_drag->asset = asset;
   asset_drag->import_method = import_type;
-  asset_drag->use_relative_path = ED_asset_handle_get_use_relative_path(asset);
 
   return asset_drag;
 }
 
 static void wm_drag_free_asset_data(wmDragAsset **asset_data)
 {
-  MEM_freeN((char *)(*asset_data)->path);
   MEM_SAFE_FREE(*asset_data);
 }
 
@@ -593,14 +591,15 @@ wmDragAsset *WM_drag_get_asset_data(const wmDrag *drag, int idcode)
   }
 
   wmDragAsset *asset_drag = static_cast<wmDragAsset *>(drag->poin);
-  return ELEM(idcode, 0, asset_drag->id_type) ? asset_drag : nullptr;
+  ID_Type asset_idcode = AS_asset_representation_id_type_get(asset_drag->asset);
+  return ELEM(idcode, 0, asset_idcode) ? asset_drag : nullptr;
 }
 
 AssetMetaData *WM_drag_get_asset_meta_data(const wmDrag *drag, int idcode)
 {
   wmDragAsset *drag_asset = WM_drag_get_asset_data(drag, idcode);
   if (drag_asset) {
-    return drag_asset->metadata;
+    return AS_asset_representation_metadata_get(drag_asset->asset);
   }
 
   ID *local_id = WM_drag_get_local_ID(drag, idcode);
@@ -618,8 +617,10 @@ ID *WM_drag_asset_id_import(wmDragAsset *asset_drag, const int flag_extra)
   eFileSel_Params_Flag flag = static_cast<eFileSel_Params_Flag>(flag_extra) |
                               FILE_ACTIVE_COLLECTION;
 
-  const char *name = asset_drag->name;
-  ID_Type idtype = static_cast<ID_Type>(asset_drag->id_type);
+  const char *name = AS_asset_representation_name_get(asset_drag->asset);
+  const std::string blend_path = AS_asset_representation_full_library_path_get(asset_drag->asset);
+  const ID_Type idtype = AS_asset_representation_id_type_get(asset_drag->asset);
+  const bool use_relative_path = AS_asset_representation_use_relative_path_get(asset_drag->asset);
 
   /* FIXME: Link/Append should happens in the operator called at the end of drop process, not from
    * here. */
@@ -629,15 +630,13 @@ ID *WM_drag_asset_id_import(wmDragAsset *asset_drag, const int flag_extra)
   ViewLayer *view_layer = CTX_data_view_layer(asset_drag->evil_C);
   View3D *view3d = CTX_wm_view3d(asset_drag->evil_C);
 
-  const bool use_relative_path = asset_drag->use_relative_path;
-
   switch (eAssetImportMethod(asset_drag->import_method)) {
     case ASSET_IMPORT_LINK:
       return WM_file_link_datablock(bmain,
                                     scene,
                                     view_layer,
                                     view3d,
-                                    asset_drag->path,
+                                    blend_path.c_str(),
                                     idtype,
                                     name,
                                     flag | (use_relative_path ? FILE_RELPATH : 0));
@@ -646,7 +645,7 @@ ID *WM_drag_asset_id_import(wmDragAsset *asset_drag, const int flag_extra)
                                       scene,
                                       view_layer,
                                       view3d,
-                                      asset_drag->path,
+                                      blend_path.c_str(),
                                       idtype,
                                       name,
                                       flag | BLO_LIBLINK_APPEND_RECURSIVE |
@@ -657,7 +656,7 @@ ID *WM_drag_asset_id_import(wmDragAsset *asset_drag, const int flag_extra)
           scene,
           view_layer,
           view3d,
-          asset_drag->path,
+          blend_path.c_str(),
           idtype,
           name,
           flag | BLO_LIBLINK_APPEND_RECURSIVE | BLO_LIBLINK_APPEND_ASSET_DATA_CLEAR |
@@ -708,10 +707,11 @@ void WM_drag_free_imported_drag_ID(Main *bmain, wmDrag *drag, wmDropBox *drop)
     return;
   }
 
+  ID_Type asset_id_type = AS_asset_representation_id_type_get(asset_drag->asset);
   /* Try to find the imported ID. For this to work either a "session_uuid" or "name" property must
    * have been defined (see #WM_operator_properties_id_lookup()). */
   ID *id = WM_operator_properties_id_lookup_from_name_or_session_uuid(
-      bmain, drop->ptr, static_cast<ID_Type>(asset_drag->id_type));
+      bmain, drop->ptr, asset_id_type);
   if (id != nullptr) {
     /* Do not delete the dragged ID if it has any user, otherwise if it is a 're-used' ID it will
      * cause #95636. Note that we need first to add the user that we want to remove in
@@ -730,7 +730,7 @@ wmDragAssetCatalog *WM_drag_get_asset_catalog_data(const wmDrag *drag)
   return static_cast<wmDragAssetCatalog *>(drag->poin);
 }
 
-void WM_drag_add_asset_list_item(wmDrag *drag, const AssetHandle *asset)
+void WM_drag_add_asset_list_item(wmDrag *drag, const AssetRepresentation *asset)
 {
   BLI_assert(drag->type == WM_DRAG_ASSET_LIST);
 
@@ -738,17 +738,14 @@ void WM_drag_add_asset_list_item(wmDrag *drag, const AssetHandle *asset)
 
   /* Add to list. */
   wmDragAssetListItem *drag_asset = MEM_cnew<wmDragAssetListItem>(__func__);
-  ID *local_id = ED_asset_handle_get_local_id(asset);
+  ID *local_id = AS_asset_representation_local_id_get(asset);
   if (local_id) {
     drag_asset->is_external = false;
     drag_asset->asset_data.local_id = local_id;
   }
   else {
-    char asset_blend_path[FILE_MAX_LIBEXTRA];
-    ED_asset_handle_get_full_library_path(asset, asset_blend_path);
     drag_asset->is_external = true;
-    drag_asset->asset_data.external_info = WM_drag_create_asset_data(
-        asset, BLI_strdup(asset_blend_path), ASSET_IMPORT_APPEND);
+    drag_asset->asset_data.external_info = WM_drag_create_asset_data(asset, ASSET_IMPORT_APPEND);
   }
   BLI_addtail(&drag->asset_items, drag_asset);
 }
@@ -844,7 +841,7 @@ const char *WM_drag_get_item_name(wmDrag *drag)
     }
     case WM_DRAG_ASSET: {
       const wmDragAsset *asset_drag = WM_drag_get_asset_data(drag, 0);
-      return asset_drag->name;
+      return AS_asset_representation_name_get(asset_drag->asset);
     }
     case WM_DRAG_PATH: {
       const wmDragPath *path_drag_data = static_cast<const wmDragPath *>(drag->poin);