diff --git a/lib/private/AllConfig.php b/lib/private/AllConfig.php
index b2ebe322d9eef..b639067a69547 100644
--- a/lib/private/AllConfig.php
+++ b/lib/private/AllConfig.php
@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@
  */
 namespace OC;
 
+use OC\Config\UserPreferences;
 use OCP\Cache\CappedMemoryCache;
+use OCP\Config\Exceptions\TypeConflictException;
+use OCP\Config\IUserPreferences;
+use OCP\Config\ValueType;
 use OCP\IConfig;
 use OCP\IDBConnection;
 use OCP\PreConditionNotMetException;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions\TypeConflictException;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\IUserPreferences;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\ValueType;
 
 /**
  * Class to combine all the configuration options ownCloud offers
@@ -380,7 +381,7 @@ public function getUserValueForUsers($appName, $key, $userIds) {
 	 * @deprecated 31.0.0 - use {@see IUserPreferences::searchUsersByValueString} directly
 	 */
 	public function getUsersForUserValue($appName, $key, $value) {
-		return \OCP\Server::get(IUserPreferences::class)->searchUsersByValueDeprecated($appName, $key, $value);
+		return iterator_to_array(\OCP\Server::get(IUserPreferences::class)->searchUsersByValueString($appName, $key, $value));
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -397,7 +398,7 @@ public function getUsersForUserValueCaseInsensitive($appName, $key, $value) {
 			return $this->getUsersForUserValue($appName, $key, strtolower($value));
 		}
 
-		return \OCP\Server::get(IUserPreferences::class)->searchUsersByValueDeprecated($appName, $key, $value, true);
+		return iterator_to_array(\OCP\Server::get(IUserPreferences::class)->searchUsersByValueString($appName, $key, $value, true));
 	}
 
 	public function getSystemConfig() {
diff --git a/lib/private/UserPreferences.php b/lib/private/Config/UserPreferences.php
similarity index 97%
rename from lib/private/UserPreferences.php
rename to lib/private/Config/UserPreferences.php
index 22313292e94af..97fbcbe3592d2 100644
--- a/lib/private/UserPreferences.php
+++ b/lib/private/Config/UserPreferences.php
@@ -6,21 +6,22 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
  */
 
-namespace OC;
+namespace OC\Config;
 
+use Generator;
 use InvalidArgumentException;
 use JsonException;
+use OCP\Config\Exceptions\IncorrectTypeException;
+use OCP\Config\Exceptions\TypeConflictException;
+use OCP\Config\Exceptions\UnknownKeyException;
+use OCP\Config\IUserPreferences;
+use OCP\Config\ValueType;
 use OCP\DB\Exception as DBException;
 use OCP\DB\IResult;
 use OCP\DB\QueryBuilder\IQueryBuilder;
 use OCP\IConfig;
 use OCP\IDBConnection;
 use OCP\Security\ICrypto;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions\IncorrectTypeException;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions\TypeConflictException;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions\UnknownKeyException;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\IUserPreferences;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\ValueType;
 use Psr\Log\LoggerInterface;
 
 /**
@@ -393,29 +394,13 @@ public function getValuesByUsers(
 	 * @param string $value preference value
 	 * @param bool $caseInsensitive non-case-sensitive search, only works if $value is a string
 	 *
-	 * @return list<string>
+	 * @return Generator<string>
 	 * @since 31.0.0
 	 */
-	public function searchUsersByValueString(string $app, string $key, string $value, bool $caseInsensitive = false): array {
+	public function searchUsersByValueString(string $app, string $key, string $value, bool $caseInsensitive = false): Generator {
 		return $this->searchUsersByTypedValue($app, $key, $value, $caseInsensitive);
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * @inheritDoc
-	 *
-	 * @param string $app id of the app
-	 * @param string $key preference key
-	 * @param string $value preference value
-	 * @param bool $caseInsensitive non-case-sensitive search, only works if $value is a string
-	 * @internal
-	 * @deprecated since 31.0.0 - {@see }
-	 * @return list<string>
-	 * @since 31.0.0
-	 */
-	public function searchUsersByValueDeprecated(string $app, string $key, string $value, bool $caseInsensitive = false): array {
-		return $this->searchUsersByTypedValue($app, $key, $value, $caseInsensitive, true);
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * @inheritDoc
 	 *
@@ -423,10 +408,10 @@ public function searchUsersByValueDeprecated(string $app, string $key, string $v
 	 * @param string $key preference key
 	 * @param int $value preference value
 	 *
-	 * @return list<string>
+	 * @return Generator<string>
 	 * @since 31.0.0
 	 */
-	public function searchUsersByValueInt(string $app, string $key, int $value): array {
+	public function searchUsersByValueInt(string $app, string $key, int $value): Generator {
 		return $this->searchUsersByValueString($app, $key, (string)$value);
 	}
 
@@ -437,10 +422,10 @@ public function searchUsersByValueInt(string $app, string $key, int $value): arr
 	 * @param string $key preference key
 	 * @param array $values list of preference values
 	 *
-	 * @return list<string>
+	 * @return Generator<string>
 	 * @since 31.0.0
 	 */
-	public function searchUsersByValues(string $app, string $key, array $values): array {
+	public function searchUsersByValues(string $app, string $key, array $values): Generator {
 		return $this->searchUsersByTypedValue($app, $key, $values);
 	}
 
@@ -451,10 +436,10 @@ public function searchUsersByValues(string $app, string $key, array $values): ar
 	 * @param string $key preference key
 	 * @param bool $value preference value
 	 *
-	 * @return list<string>
+	 * @return Generator<string>
 	 * @since 31.0.0
 	 */
-	public function searchUsersByValueBool(string $app, string $key, bool $value): array {
+	public function searchUsersByValueBool(string $app, string $key, bool $value): Generator {
 		$values = ['0', 'off', 'false', 'no'];
 		if ($value) {
 			$values = ['1', 'on', 'true', 'yes'];
@@ -470,11 +455,10 @@ public function searchUsersByValueBool(string $app, string $key, bool $value): a
 	 * @param string $key
 	 * @param string|array $value
 	 * @param bool $caseInsensitive
-	 * @param bool $withinNotIndexedField DEPRECATED: should only be used to stay compatible with not-indexed/pre-31 preferences value
 	 *
-	 * @return list<string>
+	 * @return Generator<string>
 	 */
-	private function searchUsersByTypedValue(string $app, string $key, string|array $value, bool $caseInsensitive = false): array {
+	private function searchUsersByTypedValue(string $app, string $key, string|array $value, bool $caseInsensitive = false): Generator {
 		$this->assertParams('', $app, $key, allowEmptyUser: true);
 
 		$qb = $this->connection->getQueryBuilder();
@@ -515,15 +499,10 @@ private function searchUsersByTypedValue(string $app, string $key, string|array
 		}
 
 		$qb->andWhere($where);
-
-		$userIds = [];
 		$result = $qb->executeQuery();
-		$rows = $result->fetchAll();
-		foreach ($rows as $row) {
-			$userIds[] = $row['userid'];
+		while ($row = $result->fetch()) {
+			yield $row['userid'];
 		}
-
-		return $userIds;
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/lib/private/Server.php b/lib/private/Server.php
index 81cca81bbb162..17495bfe3c2ca 100644
--- a/lib/private/Server.php
+++ b/lib/private/Server.php
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@
 use OCP\Collaboration\Reference\IReferenceManager;
 use OCP\Command\IBus;
 use OCP\Comments\ICommentsManager;
+use OCP\Config\IUserPreferences;
 use OCP\Contacts\ContactsMenu\IActionFactory;
 use OCP\Contacts\ContactsMenu\IContactsStore;
 use OCP\Defaults;
@@ -237,7 +238,6 @@
 use OCP\User\Events\UserLoggedInWithCookieEvent;
 use OCP\User\Events\UserLoggedOutEvent;
 use OCP\User\IAvailabilityCoordinator;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\IUserPreferences;
 use Psr\Container\ContainerExceptionInterface;
 use Psr\Container\ContainerInterface;
 use Psr\Log\LoggerInterface;
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ public function __construct($webRoot, \OC\Config $config) {
 		});
 
 		$this->registerAlias(IAppConfig::class, \OC\AppConfig::class);
-		$this->registerAlias(IUserPreferences::class, \OC\UserPreferences::class);
+		$this->registerAlias(IUserPreferences::class, \OC\Config\UserPreferences::class);
 
 		$this->registerService(IFactory::class, function (Server $c) {
 			return new \OC\L10N\Factory(
diff --git a/lib/public/UserPreferences/Exceptions/UserPreferencesException.php b/lib/public/Config/Exceptions/IncorrectTypeException.php
similarity index 68%
rename from lib/public/UserPreferences/Exceptions/UserPreferencesException.php
rename to lib/public/Config/Exceptions/IncorrectTypeException.php
index 664181d420b7e..dafbbacff78d2 100644
--- a/lib/public/UserPreferences/Exceptions/UserPreferencesException.php
+++ b/lib/public/Config/Exceptions/IncorrectTypeException.php
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
  */
 
-namespace OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions;
+namespace OCP\Config\Exceptions;
 
 use Exception;
 
 /**
  * @since 31.0.0
  */
-class UserPreferencesException extends Exception {
+class IncorrectTypeException extends Exception {
 }
diff --git a/lib/public/UserPreferences/Exceptions/TypeConflictException.php b/lib/public/Config/Exceptions/TypeConflictException.php
similarity index 64%
rename from lib/public/UserPreferences/Exceptions/TypeConflictException.php
rename to lib/public/Config/Exceptions/TypeConflictException.php
index b67113fbba757..0b3c903cb385f 100644
--- a/lib/public/UserPreferences/Exceptions/TypeConflictException.php
+++ b/lib/public/Config/Exceptions/TypeConflictException.php
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
  */
 
-namespace OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions;
+namespace OCP\Config\Exceptions;
+
+use Exception;
 
 /**
  * @since 31.0.0
  */
-class TypeConflictException extends UserPreferencesException {
+class TypeConflictException extends Exception {
 }
diff --git a/lib/public/UserPreferences/Exceptions/UnknownKeyException.php b/lib/public/Config/Exceptions/UnknownKeyException.php
similarity index 64%
rename from lib/public/UserPreferences/Exceptions/UnknownKeyException.php
rename to lib/public/Config/Exceptions/UnknownKeyException.php
index 3df666899641c..2150246f1d2ad 100644
--- a/lib/public/UserPreferences/Exceptions/UnknownKeyException.php
+++ b/lib/public/Config/Exceptions/UnknownKeyException.php
@@ -6,10 +6,12 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
  */
 
-namespace OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions;
+namespace OCP\Config\Exceptions;
+
+use Exception;
 
 /**
  * @since 31.0.0
  */
-class UnknownKeyException extends UserPreferencesException {
+class UnknownKeyException extends Exception {
 }
diff --git a/lib/public/UserPreferences/IUserPreferences.php b/lib/public/Config/IUserPreferences.php
similarity index 95%
rename from lib/public/UserPreferences/IUserPreferences.php
rename to lib/public/Config/IUserPreferences.php
index f2635c0ffafbf..fd828f5f9c83a 100644
--- a/lib/public/UserPreferences/IUserPreferences.php
+++ b/lib/public/Config/IUserPreferences.php
@@ -6,14 +6,30 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
  */
 
-namespace OCP\UserPreferences;
+namespace OCP\Config;
 
-use OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions\IncorrectTypeException;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions\UnknownKeyException;
+use Generator;
+use OCP\Config\Exceptions\IncorrectTypeException;
+use OCP\Config\Exceptions\UnknownKeyException;
 
 /**
+ * This class provides an easy way for apps to store user preferences in the
+ * database.
+ * Supports **lazy loading**
+ *
+ * ### What is lazy loading ?
+ * In order to avoid loading useless user preferences into memory for each request,
+ * only non-lazy values are now loaded.
+ *
+ * Once a value that is lazy is requested, all lazy values will be loaded.
+ *
+ * Similarly, some methods from this class are marked with a warning about ignoring
+ * lazy loading. Use them wisely and only on parts of the code that are called
+ * during specific requests or actions to avoid loading the lazy values all the time.
+ *
  * @since 31.0.0
  */
+
 interface IUserPreferences {
 	public const FLAG_SENSITIVE = 1;   // value is sensitive
 	public const FLAG_INDEXED = 2;    // value should be indexed
@@ -191,10 +207,10 @@ public function getValuesByUsers(string $app, string $key, ?ValueType $typedAs =
 	 * @param string $value preference value
 	 * @param bool $caseInsensitive non-case-sensitive search, only works if $value is a string
 	 *
-	 * @return list<string>
+	 * @return Generator<string>
 	 * @since 31.0.0
 	 */
-	public function searchUsersByValueString(string $app, string $key, string $value, bool $caseInsensitive = false): array;
+	public function searchUsersByValueString(string $app, string $key, string $value, bool $caseInsensitive = false): Generator;
 
 	/**
 	 * List all users storing a specific preference key/value pair.
@@ -206,10 +222,10 @@ public function searchUsersByValueString(string $app, string $key, string $value
 	 * @param string $key preference key
 	 * @param int $value preference value
 	 *
-	 * @return list<string>
+	 * @return Generator<string>
 	 * @since 31.0.0
 	 */
-	public function searchUsersByValueInt(string $app, string $key, int $value): array;
+	public function searchUsersByValueInt(string $app, string $key, int $value): Generator;
 
 	/**
 	 * List all users storing a specific preference key/value pair.
@@ -221,10 +237,10 @@ public function searchUsersByValueInt(string $app, string $key, int $value): arr
 	 * @param string $key preference key
 	 * @param array $values list of possible preference values
 	 *
-	 * @return list<string>
+	 * @return Generator<string>
 	 * @since 31.0.0
 	 */
-	public function searchUsersByValues(string $app, string $key, array $values): array;
+	public function searchUsersByValues(string $app, string $key, array $values): Generator;
 
 	/**
 	 * List all users storing a specific preference key/value pair.
@@ -236,10 +252,10 @@ public function searchUsersByValues(string $app, string $key, array $values): ar
 	 * @param string $key preference key
 	 * @param bool $value preference value
 	 *
-	 * @return list<string>
+	 * @return Generator<string>
 	 * @since 31.0.0
 	 */
-	public function searchUsersByValueBool(string $app, string $key, bool $value): array;
+	public function searchUsersByValueBool(string $app, string $key, bool $value): Generator;
 
 	/**
 	 * Get user preference assigned to a preference key.
diff --git a/lib/public/UserPreferences/ValueType.php b/lib/public/Config/ValueType.php
similarity index 89%
rename from lib/public/UserPreferences/ValueType.php
rename to lib/public/Config/ValueType.php
index 280dc5a8b4248..717ad1d6be860 100644
--- a/lib/public/UserPreferences/ValueType.php
+++ b/lib/public/Config/ValueType.php
@@ -6,15 +6,14 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
  */
 
-namespace OCP\UserPreferences;
+namespace OCP\Config;
 
-use OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions\IncorrectTypeException;
+use OCP\Config\Exceptions\IncorrectTypeException;
 use UnhandledMatchError;
 
 /**
- * Listing of available value type for user preferences
+ * Listing of available value type for typed config value
  *
- * @see IUserPreferences
  * @since 31.0.0
  */
 enum ValueType: int {
diff --git a/lib/public/UserPreferences/Exceptions/IncorrectTypeException.php b/lib/public/UserPreferences/Exceptions/IncorrectTypeException.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 5c8f83dee5efe..0000000000000
--- a/lib/public/UserPreferences/Exceptions/IncorrectTypeException.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-/**
- * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2024 Nextcloud GmbH and Nextcloud contributors
- * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
- */
-
-namespace OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions;
-
-/**
- * @since 31.0.0
- */
-class IncorrectTypeException extends UserPreferencesException {
-}
diff --git a/tests/lib/UserPreferencesTest.php b/tests/lib/UserPreferencesTest.php
index bf3353646f5f1..6d6dd3b3324d7 100644
--- a/tests/lib/UserPreferencesTest.php
+++ b/tests/lib/UserPreferencesTest.php
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@
  */
 namespace lib;
 
-use OC\UserPreferences;
+use OC\Config\UserPreferences;
+use OCP\Config\Exceptions\TypeConflictException;
+use OCP\Config\Exceptions\UnknownKeyException;
+use OCP\Config\IUserPreferences;
+use OCP\Config\ValueType;
 use OCP\IDBConnection;
 use OCP\Security\ICrypto;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions\TypeConflictException;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\Exceptions\UnknownKeyException;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\IUserPreferences;
-use OCP\UserPreferences\ValueType;
 use Psr\Log\LoggerInterface;
 use Test\TestCase;
 
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ protected function tearDown(): void {
 	 * @return IUserPreferences
 	 */
 	private function generateUserPreferences(array $preLoading = []): IUserPreferences {
-		$preferences = new \OC\UserPreferences(
+		$preferences = new \OC\Config\UserPreferences(
 			$this->connection,
 			$this->logger,
 			$this->crypto,