diff --git a/vllm/model_executor/models/config.py b/vllm/model_executor/models/config.py
index 7b4fa9252b50..954dbcc65590 100644
--- a/vllm/model_executor/models/config.py
+++ b/vllm/model_executor/models/config.py
@@ -56,21 +56,24 @@ def verify_and_update_model_config(model_config: "ModelConfig") -> None:
 class Gemma4Config(VerifyAndUpdateConfig):
     @staticmethod
     def verify_and_update_config(vllm_config: "VllmConfig") -> None:
-        """Force unified attention backend for models with heterogeneous
-        head dimensions.
-
-        Some Gemma4 variants use different head dimensions for
-        sliding window (head_dim) vs full attention (global_head_dim) layers.
-        When global_head_dim > 256, FlashAttention rejects those layers
-        (head_size <= 256 kernel limit), causing vLLM to select a different
-        backend for each layer type. This mixed-backend execution produces
-        numerical divergence and output corruption.
-
-        The fix detects heterogeneous head dimensions from the model config
-        and forces TRITON_ATTN (which has no head_size ceiling) for all
-        layers when the user hasn't explicitly chosen a backend.
-
-        TODO: Heterogeneous head_sizes (head_dim != global_head_dim)
+        """Allow per-layer attention backend selection for models with
+        heterogeneous head dimensions.
+
+        Gemma 4 uses different head dimensions for sliding-window
+        (head_dim, typically 256) vs full-attention (global_head_dim,
+        typically 512) layers.  Each ``Attention`` layer calls
+        ``get_attn_backend()`` with its own ``head_size``, and the
+        ``@cache``-decorated selector returns a distinct backend per
+        unique configuration.  This means sliding-window layers
+        (head_dim=256) automatically pick FlashAttention while
+        full-attention layers (global_head_dim=512, which exceeds FA's
+        head_size<=256 kernel limit) fall back to the next-best
+        backend (e.g. Triton).
+
+        Previously this method forced TRITON_ATTN globally, which
+        penalised the ~83% of layers that *can* run FlashAttention.
+
+        NOTE: Heterogeneous head_sizes (head_dim != global_head_dim)
         require NixlConnector changes to support per-layer KV transfer
         with different head dimensions for prefill-decode disaggregation.
         """
@@ -78,31 +81,60 @@ def verify_and_update_config(vllm_config: "VllmConfig") -> None:
         head_dim = getattr(hf_text_config, "head_dim", None)
         global_head_dim = getattr(hf_text_config, "global_head_dim", None)
 
-        # Only force Triton when head dimensions actually differ AND the
-        # larger one exceeds FlashAttention's kernel limit (head_size <= 256).
-        # This avoids unnecessary backend forcing on smaller models where
-        # the config carries global_head_dim but all layers can still use
-        # the same FA backend.
-        max_head_dim = max(head_dim or 0, global_head_dim or 0)
         if (
             head_dim is not None
             and global_head_dim is not None
             and head_dim != global_head_dim
-            and max_head_dim > 256
-            and vllm_config.attention_config.backend is None
         ):
-            from vllm.v1.attention.backends.registry import (
-                AttentionBackendEnum,
-            )
+            # Count sliding-window vs full-attention layers so users
+            # can see the expected backend split.
+            layer_types = getattr(hf_text_config, "layer_types", [])
+            n_full = sum(1 for t in layer_types if t == "full_attention")
+            n_sliding = len(layer_types) - n_full
+
+            max_head = max(head_dim, global_head_dim)
+            explicit_backend = vllm_config.attention_config.backend
+
+            if explicit_backend is None and max_head > 256:
+                # No user override and the larger head_dim exceeds
+                # FlashAttention's kernel limit (head_size <= 256).
+                # Per-layer selection will route sliding-window layers
+                # to FlashAttention and full-attention layers to a
+                # fallback backend (e.g. Triton).
+                logger.info(
+                    "Gemma4 model has heterogeneous head dimensions "
+                    "(head_dim=%d, global_head_dim=%d). %d sliding-window "
+                    "layers will use FlashAttention; %d full-attention "
+                    "layers will fall back to a compatible backend.",
+                    head_dim,
+                    global_head_dim,
+                    n_sliding,
+                    n_full,
+                )
+            else:
+                logger.info(
+                    "Gemma4 model has heterogeneous head dimensions "
+                    "(head_dim=%d, global_head_dim=%d).",
+                    head_dim,
+                    global_head_dim,
+                )
 
-            vllm_config.attention_config.backend = AttentionBackendEnum.TRITON_ATTN
-            logger.info(
-                "Gemma4 model has heterogeneous head dimensions "
-                "(head_dim=%d, global_head_dim=%d). Forcing TRITON_ATTN "
-                "backend to prevent mixed-backend numerical divergence.",
-                head_dim,
-                global_head_dim,
-            )
+            # If the user explicitly forced a single backend, warn when
+            # it cannot handle the larger head dimension.  The per-layer
+            # selector would raise at model init time anyway; surfacing
+            # the conflict early gives a clearer diagnostic.
+            if explicit_backend is not None:
+                backend_cls = explicit_backend.get_class()
+                if not backend_cls.supports_head_size(max_head):
+                    logger.warning(
+                        "Explicitly selected backend %s does not support "
+                        "head_size=%d (required by full-attention layers). "
+                        "Those layers will fail at runtime. Consider "
+                        "removing --attention-backend to let each layer "
+                        "auto-select the optimal backend.",
+                        explicit_backend.name,
+                        max_head,
+                    )
 
 
 class GptOssForCausalLMConfig(VerifyAndUpdateConfig):