diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2511.section.md b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2511.section.md
index 0ee33b960154..fa7194cf4b8a 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2511.section.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2511.section.md
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ and [release notes for v18](https://goteleport.com/docs/changelog/#1800-070325).
   - In all other cases, you'll need to set this option to `true` yourself.
   - `boot.isNspawnContainer` being `true` implies [](#opt-boot.isContainer) being `true`.
 
-- `users.users.*.linger` now defaults to `null` rather than `false`, meaning NixOS will not attempt to enable or disable lingering for that user account.  In practice, this is unlikely to make a difference for most people, as new users are created without lingering configured, but it means users who use `loginctl` commands to manage lingering imperatively will not have their changes overridden by default.  There is a new, related option, `users.manageLingering`, which can be used to prevent NixOS attempting to manage lingering entirely.
+- `users.users.*.linger` now defaults to `null` rather than `false`, meaning NixOS will not attempt to enable or disable lingering for that user account, instead allowing for imperative control over lingering using the `loginctl` commands. In practice, this is unlikely to make a difference for most people, as new users are created without lingering configured. There is a new, related option, `users.manageLingering`, which can be used to prevent NixOS attempting to manage lingering entirely.
 
 - Due to [deprecation of gnome-session X11 support](https://blogs.gnome.org/alatiera/2025/06/08/the-x11-session-removal/), `services.desktopManager.pantheon` now defaults to pantheon-wayland session. The X11 session has been removed, see [this issue](https://github.com/elementary/session-settings/issues/91) for details.
 
diff --git a/nixos/modules/config/users-groups.nix b/nixos/modules/config/users-groups.nix
index add0e9159231..defde2707ae7 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/config/users-groups.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/config/users-groups.nix
@@ -130,10 +130,6 @@ let
   '';
 
   userOpts =
-    let
-      # Pass state version through despite config being overwritten in the inner module
-      inherit (config.system) stateVersion;
-    in
     { name, config, ... }:
     {
 
@@ -463,8 +459,7 @@ let
         linger = mkOption {
           type = types.nullOr types.bool;
           example = true;
-          default = if versionOlder stateVersion "26.11" then false else null;
-          defaultText = literalExpression "if lib.versionOlder config.system.stateVersion \"25.11\" then false else null";
+          default = null;
           description = ''
             Whether to enable or disable lingering for this user.  Without
             lingering, user units will not be started until the user logs in,
@@ -472,8 +467,8 @@ let
             `logind.conf`.
 
             By default, NixOS will not manage lingering, new users will default
-            to not lingering, and you can change the linger setting using
-            `loginctl enable-linger` or `loginctl disable-linger`.  Setting
+            to not lingering, and lingering can be configured imperatively using
+            `loginctl enable-linger` or `loginctl disable-linger`. Setting
             this option to `true` or `false` is the declarative equivalent of
             running `loginctl enable-linger` or `loginctl disable-linger`
             respectively.