diff --git a/doc/api/next_api_changes/deprecations/30963-TH.rst b/doc/api/next_api_changes/deprecations/30963-TH.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ff4b22c8e822
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/api/next_api_changes/deprecations/30963-TH.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+``rcParams._get("backend")``
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+``rcParams._get("backend")`` is deprecated. Instead, use the public API
+``matplotlib.get_backend(auto_select=False)`` to retrieve the current
+backend without triggering backend resolution. This API is available since
+Matplotlib 3.10.
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
index 167d6924a72e..5769916de060 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
@@ -712,6 +712,14 @@ def _get(self, key):
 
         :meta public:
         """
+        if key == "backend":
+            _api.warn_deprecated(
+                "rcParams._get('backend') is deprecated since Matplotlib 3.11. "
+                "Use matplotlib.get_backend(auto_select=False) instead, which is "
+                "available since Matplotlib 3.10.",
+            )
+            # TODO: When removing this, also remove the suppression context in
+            #       RcParams.copy
         return dict.__getitem__(self, key)
 
     def _update_raw(self, other_params):
@@ -813,8 +821,11 @@ def find_all(self, pattern):
     def copy(self):
         """Copy this RcParams instance."""
         rccopy = self.__class__()
-        for k in self:  # Skip deprecations and revalidation.
-            rccopy._set(k, self._get(k))
+        with _api.suppress_matplotlib_deprecation_warning():
+            # the suppression context is specifically for _get("backend"). This
+            # can be removed again, when "backend" is not a valid rcParam anymore.
+            for k in self:  # Skip deprecations and revalidation.
+                rccopy._set(k, self._get(k))
         return rccopy
 
 
@@ -1278,11 +1289,6 @@ def get_backend(*, auto_select=True):
 
         .. versionadded:: 3.10
 
-        .. admonition:: Provisional
-
-           The *auto_select* flag is provisional. It may be changed or removed
-           without prior warning.
-
     See Also
     --------
     matplotlib.use
@@ -1290,11 +1296,7 @@ def get_backend(*, auto_select=True):
     if auto_select:
         return rcParams['backend']
     else:
-        backend = rcParams._get('backend')
-        if backend is rcsetup._auto_backend_sentinel:
-            return None
-        else:
-            return backend
+        return rcParams._get_backend_or_none()
 
 
 def interactive(b):