diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2505.section.md b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2505.section.md
index ae954b6750df..a6f796885f96 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2505.section.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2505.section.md
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
   Users on old macOS versions should consider upgrading to a supported version (potentially using [OpenCore Legacy Patcher](https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/) for old hardware) or installing NixOS.
   If neither of those options are viable and you require new versions of software, [MacPorts](https://www.macports.org/) supports versions back to Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.
 
+- The default kernel package has been updated from 6.6 to 6.12. All supported kernels remain available.
+
 - GCC has been updated from GCC 13 to GCC 14.
   This introduces some backwards‐incompatible changes; see the [upstream porting guide](https://gcc.gnu.org/gcc-14/porting_to.html) for details.
 
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/linux-kernels.nix b/pkgs/top-level/linux-kernels.nix
index 7939e8df371c..7ca5e9d36441 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/linux-kernels.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/linux-kernels.nix
@@ -709,7 +709,7 @@ in {
   });
 
   packageAliases = {
-    linux_default = packages.linux_6_6;
+    linux_default = packages.linux_6_12;
     # Update this when adding the newest kernel major version!
     linux_latest = packages.linux_6_12;
     linux_rt_default = packages.linux_rt_5_15;