diff --git a/.bazelrc b/.bazelrc
index 1acff8b9f..29c13b257 100644
--- a/.bazelrc
+++ b/.bazelrc
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 # Required by googletest 1.17.
 common --cxxopt=-std=c++17
+common --incompatible_autoload_externally=+@rules_cc
diff --git a/cc/private/rules_impl/cc_toolchain.bzl b/cc/private/rules_impl/cc_toolchain.bzl
index 16c13ea9b..2db25f37d 100644
--- a/cc/private/rules_impl/cc_toolchain.bzl
+++ b/cc/private/rules_impl/cc_toolchain.bzl
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ load("//cc/common:cc_helper.bzl", "cc_helper")
 load("//cc/common:semantics.bzl", "semantics")
 load("//cc/private/rules_impl/fdo:fdo_context.bzl", "create_fdo_context")
 load("//cc/toolchains:cc_toolchain_config_info.bzl", "CcToolchainConfigInfo")
+load("//cc/toolchains:cc_toolchain_info.bzl", "ToolConfigInfo")
+load("//cc/toolchains/impl:collect.bzl", "collect_action_types")
+load("//cc/toolchains/impl:toolchain_config.bzl", "CC_TOOLCHAIN_CONFIG_PUBLIC_ATTRS", "cc_toolchain_config_impl_helper")
 load(":cc_toolchain_provider_helper.bzl", "get_cc_toolchain_provider")
 
 ToolchainInfo = platform_common.ToolchainInfo
@@ -74,6 +77,38 @@ def _single_file(ctx, attr_name):
         return files[0]
     return None
 
+# Taken from https://bazel.build/docs/cc-toolchain-config-reference#actions
+# TODO: This is best-effort. Update this with the correct file groups once we
+#  work out what actions correspond to what file groups.
+LEGACY_FILE_GROUPS = {
+    "ar_files": [
+        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:ar_actions"),
+    ],
+    "as_files": [
+        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:assembly_actions"),
+    ],
+    "compiler_files": [
+        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:cc_flags_make_variable"),
+        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:c_compile"),
+        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:cpp_compile"),
+        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:cpp_header_parsing"),
+    ],
+    # There are no actions listed for coverage and objcopy in action_names.bzl.
+    "coverage_files": [],
+    "dwp_files": [
+        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:dwp"),
+    ],
+    "linker_files": [
+        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:cpp_link_dynamic_library"),
+        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:cpp_link_nodeps_dynamic_library"),
+        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:cpp_link_executable"),
+    ],
+    "objcopy_files": [],
+    "strip_files": [
+        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:strip"),
+    ],
+}
+
 def _attributes(ctx):
     grep_includes = None
     if not semantics.is_bazel:
@@ -81,42 +116,72 @@ def _attributes(ctx):
 
     latebound_libc = _latebound_libc(ctx, "libc_top", "_libc_top")
 
-    all_files = _files(ctx, "all_files")
+    if ctx.attr.toolchain_config:
+        for key in CC_TOOLCHAIN_CONFIG_PUBLIC_ATTRS.keys():
+            if getattr(ctx.attr, key):
+                fail("Must not pass %s when passing `toolchain_config`" % key)
+
+        cc_toolchain_config_info = ctx.attr.toolchain_config[CcToolchainConfigInfo]
+        all_files = _files(ctx, "all_files")
+
+        legacy_file_groups = {
+            "as_files": _files(ctx, "as_files"),
+            "ar_files": _files(ctx, "ar_files"),
+            "dwp_files": _files(ctx, "dwp_files"),
+            "compiler_files": _files(ctx, "compiler_files"),
+            "strip_files": _files(ctx, "strip_files"),
+            "objcopy_files": _files(ctx, "objcopy_files"),
+            "coverage_files": _files(ctx, "coverage_files") or all_files,
+        }
+
+        linker_files = _files(ctx, "linker_files")
+
+    else:
+        if not ctx.attr.tool_map:
+            fail("Must pass `tool_map` when not passing `toolchain_config`")
+        toolchain_config_info, cc_toolchain_config_info = cc_toolchain_config_impl_helper(ctx)
+
+        legacy_file_groups = {}
+        for group, actions in LEGACY_FILE_GROUPS.items():
+            legacy_file_groups[group] = depset(transitive = [
+                toolchain_config_info.files[action]
+                for action in collect_action_types(actions).to_list()
+                if action in toolchain_config_info.files
+            ])
+
+        all_files = depset(transitive = [legacy_file_groups.values()])
+        legacy_file_groups["coverage_files"] = legacy_file_groups["coverage_files"] or all_files
+        linker_files = legacy_file_groups.pop("linker_files")
+
     return struct(
         supports_param_files = ctx.attr.supports_param_files,
         runtime_solib_dir_base = "_solib__" + cc_common.escape_label(label = ctx.label),
-        cc_toolchain_config_info = _provider(ctx.attr.toolchain_config, CcToolchainConfigInfo),
+        cc_toolchain_config_info = cc_toolchain_config_info,
         static_runtime_lib = ctx.attr.static_runtime_lib,
         dynamic_runtime_lib = ctx.attr.dynamic_runtime_lib,
         supports_header_parsing = ctx.attr.supports_header_parsing,
         all_files = all_files,
-        compiler_files = _files(ctx, "compiler_files"),
-        strip_files = _files(ctx, "strip_files"),
-        objcopy_files = _files(ctx, "objcopy_files"),
         link_dynamic_library_tool = ctx.file._link_dynamic_library_tool,
         grep_includes = grep_includes,
         aggregate_ddi = _single_file(ctx, "_aggregate_ddi"),
         generate_modmap = _single_file(ctx, "_generate_modmap"),
         module_map = ctx.attr.module_map,
-        as_files = _files(ctx, "as_files"),
-        ar_files = _files(ctx, "ar_files"),
-        dwp_files = _files(ctx, "dwp_files"),
         module_map_artifact = _single_file(ctx, "module_map"),
-        all_files_including_libc = depset(transitive = [_files(ctx, "all_files"), _files(ctx, latebound_libc)]),
+        all_files_including_libc = depset(transitive = [all_files, _files(ctx, latebound_libc)]),
         zipper = ctx.file._zipper,
         linker_files = _full_inputs_for_link(
             ctx,
-            _files(ctx, "linker_files"),
+            linker_files,
             _files(ctx, latebound_libc),
         ),
         cc_toolchain_label = ctx.label,
-        coverage_files = _files(ctx, "coverage_files") or all_files,
         compiler_files_without_includes = _files(ctx, "compiler_files_without_includes"),
         libc = _files(ctx, latebound_libc),
         libc_top_label = _label(ctx, latebound_libc),
         if_so_builder = ctx.file._interface_library_builder,
         allowlist_for_layering_check = _package_specification_provider(ctx, "disabling_parse_headers_and_layering_check_allowed"),
         build_info_files = _provider(ctx.attr._build_info_translator, OutputGroupInfo),
+        **legacy_file_groups
     )
 
 def _cc_toolchain_impl(ctx):
@@ -200,7 +265,6 @@ crosstool_config.toolchain.
         ),
         "all_files": attr.label(
             allow_files = True,
-            mandatory = True,
             doc = """
 Collection of all cc_toolchain artifacts. These artifacts will be added as inputs to all
 rules_cc related actions (with the exception of actions that are using more precise sets of
@@ -214,7 +278,6 @@ rules using C++ toolchain.</p>""",
         ),
         "compiler_files": attr.label(
             allow_files = True,
-            mandatory = True,
             doc = """
 Collection of all cc_toolchain artifacts required for compile actions.""",
         ),
@@ -226,13 +289,11 @@ input discovery is supported (currently Google-only).""",
         ),
         "strip_files": attr.label(
             allow_files = True,
-            mandatory = True,
             doc = """
 Collection of all cc_toolchain artifacts required for strip actions.""",
         ),
         "objcopy_files": attr.label(
             allow_files = True,
-            mandatory = True,
             doc = """
 Collection of all cc_toolchain artifacts required for objcopy actions.""",
         ),
@@ -248,13 +309,11 @@ Collection of all cc_toolchain artifacts required for archiving actions.""",
         ),
         "linker_files": attr.label(
             allow_files = True,
-            mandatory = True,
             doc = """
 Collection of all cc_toolchain artifacts required for linking actions.""",
         ),
         "dwp_files": attr.label(
             allow_files = True,
-            mandatory = True,
             doc = """
 Collection of all cc_toolchain artifacts required for dwp actions.""",
         ),
@@ -307,7 +366,6 @@ Set to True when cc_toolchain supports header parsing actions.""",
         ),
         "toolchain_config": attr.label(
             allow_files = False,
-            mandatory = True,
             providers = [CcToolchainConfigInfo],
             doc = """
 The label of the rule providing <code>cc_toolchain_config_info</code>.""",
@@ -340,5 +398,12 @@ The label of the rule providing <code>cc_toolchain_config_info</code>.""",
             default = semantics.BUILD_INFO_TRANLATOR_LABEL,
             providers = [OutputGroupInfo],
         ),
+    } | CC_TOOLCHAIN_CONFIG_PUBLIC_ATTRS | {
+        # Override tool_map to make it optional.
+        "tool_map": attr.label(
+            cfg = "exec",
+            providers = [ToolConfigInfo],
+        ),
+        "_builtin_features": attr.label(default = "//cc/toolchains/features:all_builtin_features"),
     } | semantics.cpp_modules_tools(),  # buildifier: disable=unsorted-dict-items
 )
diff --git a/cc/toolchains/BUILD b/cc/toolchains/BUILD
index 5ebf9c8f3..365b3fef2 100644
--- a/cc/toolchains/BUILD
+++ b/cc/toolchains/BUILD
@@ -22,12 +22,15 @@ bzl_library(
         "//cc:action_names_bzl",
         "//cc:cc_toolchain_config_lib_bzl",
         "//cc:find_cc_toolchain_bzl",
+        "//cc/common:cc_helper_bzl",
+        "//cc/common:semantics_bzl",
         "//cc/private:paths_bzl",
         "//cc/private/rules_impl:cc_flags_supplier_lib_bzl",
         "//cc/private/rules_impl:native_bzl",
         "//cc/private/rules_impl:toolchain_rules",
         "//cc/private/rules_impl/fdo:fdo_rules",
         "//cc/toolchains/impl:toolchain_impl_rules",
+        "@bazel_features//:features",
         "@bazel_skylib//rules/directory:glob",
         "@cc_compatibility_proxy//:proxy_bzl",
     ],
diff --git a/cc/toolchains/cc_toolchain_info.bzl b/cc/toolchains/cc_toolchain_info.bzl
index 38148b463..3f2ae55b4 100644
--- a/cc/toolchains/cc_toolchain_info.bzl
+++ b/cc/toolchains/cc_toolchain_info.bzl
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # Once it's stabilized, we *may* consider opening up parts of the API, or we may
 # decide to just require users to use the public user-facing rules.
 visibility([
+    "//cc/private/rules_impl/...",
     "//cc/toolchains/...",
     "//tests/rule_based_toolchain/...",
 ])
diff --git a/cc/toolchains/impl/collect.bzl b/cc/toolchains/impl/collect.bzl
index 671bb65b4..de06c8791 100644
--- a/cc/toolchains/impl/collect.bzl
+++ b/cc/toolchains/impl/collect.bzl
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ load(
 )
 
 visibility([
+    "//cc/private/rules_impl/...",
     "//cc/toolchains/...",
     "//tests/rule_based_toolchain/...",
 ])
diff --git a/cc/toolchains/impl/toolchain_config.bzl b/cc/toolchains/impl/toolchain_config.bzl
index 1f6efefe5..0057c0f1f 100644
--- a/cc/toolchains/impl/toolchain_config.bzl
+++ b/cc/toolchains/impl/toolchain_config.bzl
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ load(":legacy_converter.bzl", "convert_toolchain")
 load(":toolchain_config_info.bzl", "toolchain_config_info")
 
 visibility([
+    "//cc/private/rules_impl/...",
     "//cc/toolchains/...",
     "//tests/rule_based_toolchain/...",
 ])
@@ -50,7 +51,14 @@ cc_legacy_file_group = rule(
     },
 )
 
-def _cc_toolchain_config_impl(ctx):
+def cc_toolchain_config_impl_helper(ctx):
+    """Main implementation for _cc_toolchain_config_impl, reused for rules-based toolchains
+
+    Args:
+      ctx: Rule context
+    Returns:
+        toolchain_config_info and cc_toolchain_config_info providers"""
+
     if ctx.attr.features:
         fail("Features is a reserved attribute in bazel. Did you mean 'known_features' or 'enabled_features'?")
 
@@ -66,7 +74,7 @@ def _cc_toolchain_config_impl(ctx):
 
     legacy = convert_toolchain(toolchain_config)
 
-    return [
+    return (
         toolchain_config,
         cc_common.create_cc_toolchain_config_info(
             ctx = ctx,
@@ -90,6 +98,13 @@ def _cc_toolchain_config_impl(ctx):
             abi_version = "",
             abi_libc_version = "",
         ),
+    )
+
+def _cc_toolchain_config_impl(ctx):
+    toolchain_config, cc_toolchain_config_info = cc_toolchain_config_impl_helper(ctx)
+    return [
+        toolchain_config,
+        cc_toolchain_config_info,
         # This allows us to support all_files.
         # If all_files was simply an alias to
         # //cc/toolchains/actions:all_actions,
@@ -98,19 +113,21 @@ def _cc_toolchain_config_impl(ctx):
         DefaultInfo(files = depset(transitive = toolchain_config.files.values())),
     ]
 
+CC_TOOLCHAIN_CONFIG_PUBLIC_ATTRS = {
+    # Attributes new to this rule.
+    "compiler": attr.string(default = ""),
+    "cpu": attr.string(default = ""),
+    "tool_map": attr.label(providers = [ToolConfigInfo], mandatory = True),
+    "args": attr.label_list(providers = [ArgsListInfo]),
+    "known_features": attr.label_list(providers = [FeatureSetInfo]),
+    "enabled_features": attr.label_list(providers = [FeatureSetInfo]),
+    "artifact_name_patterns": attr.label_list(providers = [ArtifactNamePatternInfo]),
+    "make_variables": attr.label_list(providers = [MakeVariableInfo]),
+}
+
 cc_toolchain_config = rule(
     implementation = _cc_toolchain_config_impl,
-    # @unsorted-dict-items
-    attrs = {
-        # Attributes new to this rule.
-        "compiler": attr.string(default = ""),
-        "cpu": attr.string(default = ""),
-        "tool_map": attr.label(providers = [ToolConfigInfo], mandatory = True),
-        "args": attr.label_list(providers = [ArgsListInfo]),
-        "known_features": attr.label_list(providers = [FeatureSetInfo]),
-        "enabled_features": attr.label_list(providers = [FeatureSetInfo]),
-        "artifact_name_patterns": attr.label_list(providers = [ArtifactNamePatternInfo]),
-        "make_variables": attr.label_list(providers = [MakeVariableInfo]),
+    attrs = CC_TOOLCHAIN_CONFIG_PUBLIC_ATTRS | {
         "_builtin_features": attr.label(default = "//cc/toolchains/features:all_builtin_features"),
     },
     provides = [ToolchainConfigInfo],
diff --git a/cc/toolchains/toolchain.bzl b/cc/toolchains/toolchain.bzl
index fa41163ab..8fb3dbe84 100644
--- a/cc/toolchains/toolchain.bzl
+++ b/cc/toolchains/toolchain.bzl
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 """Implementation of the cc_toolchain rule."""
 
+load("@bazel_features//private:util.bzl", _bazel_version_ge = "ge")
+load("//cc/private/rules_impl:cc_toolchain.bzl", "LEGACY_FILE_GROUPS")
 load("//cc/toolchains:cc_toolchain.bzl", _cc_toolchain = "cc_toolchain")
 load(
     "//cc/toolchains/impl:toolchain_config.bzl",
@@ -22,38 +24,6 @@ load(
 
 visibility("public")
 
-# Taken from https://bazel.build/docs/cc-toolchain-config-reference#actions
-# TODO: This is best-effort. Update this with the correct file groups once we
-#  work out what actions correspond to what file groups.
-_LEGACY_FILE_GROUPS = {
-    "ar_files": [
-        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:ar_actions"),
-    ],
-    "as_files": [
-        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:assembly_actions"),
-    ],
-    "compiler_files": [
-        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:cc_flags_make_variable"),
-        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:c_compile"),
-        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:cpp_compile"),
-        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:cpp_header_parsing"),
-    ],
-    # There are no actions listed for coverage and objcopy in action_names.bzl.
-    "coverage_files": [],
-    "dwp_files": [
-        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:dwp"),
-    ],
-    "linker_files": [
-        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:cpp_link_dynamic_library"),
-        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:cpp_link_nodeps_dynamic_library"),
-        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:cpp_link_executable"),
-    ],
-    "objcopy_files": [],
-    "strip_files": [
-        Label("//cc/toolchains/actions:strip"),
-    ],
-}
-
 def cc_toolchain(
         *,
         name,
@@ -161,9 +131,40 @@ def cc_toolchain(
         **kwargs: [common attributes](https://bazel.build/reference/be/common-definitions#common-attributes)
             that should be applied to all rules created by this macro.
     """
+
     cc_toolchain_visibility = kwargs.pop("visibility", default = None)
 
-    for group in _LEGACY_FILE_GROUPS:
+    if _bazel_version_ge("9.0.0-pre.20250911"):
+        _cc_toolchain(
+            name = name,
+            tool_map = tool_map,
+            args = args,
+            artifact_name_patterns = artifact_name_patterns,
+            make_variables = make_variables,
+            known_features = known_features,
+            enabled_features = enabled_features,
+            compiler = compiler,
+            cpu = select({
+                Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:darwin_aarch64"): "darwin_arm64",
+                Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:darwin_x86_64"): "darwin_x86_64",
+                Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:linux_aarch64"): "aarch64",
+                Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:linux_x86_64"): "k8",
+                Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:windows_x86_32"): "win32",
+                Label("//cc/toolchains/impl:windows_x86_64"): "win64",
+                "//conditions:default": "",
+            }),
+            dynamic_runtime_lib = dynamic_runtime_lib,
+            libc_top = libc_top,
+            module_map = module_map,
+            static_runtime_lib = static_runtime_lib,
+            supports_header_parsing = supports_header_parsing,
+            supports_param_files = supports_param_files,
+            visibility = cc_toolchain_visibility,
+            **kwargs
+        )
+        return
+
+    for group in LEGACY_FILE_GROUPS:
         if group in kwargs:
             fail("Don't use legacy file groups such as %s. Instead, associate files with `cc_tool` or `cc_args` rules." % group)
 
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ def cc_toolchain(
 
     # Provides ar_files, compiler_files, linker_files, ...
     legacy_file_groups = {}
-    for group, actions in _LEGACY_FILE_GROUPS.items():
+    for group, actions in LEGACY_FILE_GROUPS.items():
         group_name = "_{}_{}".format(name, group)
         cc_legacy_file_group(
             name = group_name,
diff --git a/examples/rule_based_toolchain/.bazelversion b/examples/rule_based_toolchain/.bazelversion
index b26a34e47..5c9df55c0 100644
--- a/examples/rule_based_toolchain/.bazelversion
+++ b/examples/rule_based_toolchain/.bazelversion
@@ -1 +1 @@
-7.2.1
+9.0.0rc3
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/rule_based_toolchain/toolchain_config/BUILD b/tests/rule_based_toolchain/toolchain_config/BUILD
index 08b5f8380..4a83f1826 100644
--- a/tests/rule_based_toolchain/toolchain_config/BUILD
+++ b/tests/rule_based_toolchain/toolchain_config/BUILD
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ load("//cc/toolchains:tool.bzl", "cc_tool")
 load("//cc/toolchains:tool_map.bzl", "cc_tool_map")
 load("//cc/toolchains/args:sysroot.bzl", "cc_sysroot")
 load("//cc/toolchains/impl:external_feature.bzl", "cc_external_feature")
-load("//cc/toolchains/impl:toolchain_config.bzl", "cc_legacy_file_group", "cc_toolchain_config")
+load("//cc/toolchains/impl:toolchain_config.bzl", "cc_toolchain_config")
 load("//tests/rule_based_toolchain:analysis_test_suite.bzl", "analysis_test_suite")
 load(":toolchain_config_test.bzl", "TARGETS", "TESTS")
 
@@ -74,20 +74,6 @@ util.helper_target(
     tool_map = ":compile_tool_map",
 )
 
-util.helper_target(
-    cc_legacy_file_group,
-    name = "collects_files_c_compile",
-    actions = ["//tests/rule_based_toolchain/actions:c_compile"],
-    config = ":collects_files_toolchain_config",
-)
-
-util.helper_target(
-    cc_legacy_file_group,
-    name = "collects_files_cpp_compile",
-    actions = ["//tests/rule_based_toolchain/actions:cpp_compile"],
-    config = ":collects_files_toolchain_config",
-)
-
 util.helper_target(
     cc_args,
     name = "compile_args",
diff --git a/tests/rule_based_toolchain/toolchain_config/toolchain_config_test.bzl b/tests/rule_based_toolchain/toolchain_config/toolchain_config_test.bzl
index 1047203c4..2b9b286fc 100644
--- a/tests/rule_based_toolchain/toolchain_config/toolchain_config_test.bzl
+++ b/tests/rule_based_toolchain/toolchain_config/toolchain_config_test.bzl
@@ -178,13 +178,6 @@ def _toolchain_collects_files_test(env, targets):
     tc.files().get(targets.c_compile[ActionTypeInfo]).contains_exactly(_COLLECTED_C_COMPILE_FILES)
     tc.files().get(targets.cpp_compile[ActionTypeInfo]).contains_exactly(_COLLECTED_CPP_COMPILE_FILES)
 
-    env.expect.that_target(
-        targets.collects_files_c_compile,
-    ).default_outputs().contains_exactly(_COLLECTED_C_COMPILE_FILES)
-    env.expect.that_target(
-        targets.collects_files_cpp_compile,
-    ).default_outputs().contains_exactly(_COLLECTED_CPP_COMPILE_FILES)
-
     legacy = convert_toolchain(tc.actual)
     env.expect.that_collection(legacy.features).contains_exactly([
         legacy_feature(
@@ -263,8 +256,6 @@ TARGETS = [
     "//tests/rule_based_toolchain/actions:cpp_compile",
     ":builtin_feature",
     ":compile_tool_map",
-    ":collects_files_c_compile",
-    ":collects_files_cpp_compile",
     ":collects_files_toolchain_config",
     ":compile_feature",
     ":c_compile_args",