diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-nym-vpn-desktop-linux.yml b/.github/workflows/build-nym-vpn-desktop-linux.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 9a30dce10d..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/build-nym-vpn-desktop-linux.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,121 +0,0 @@
-name: build-nym-vpn-desktop-linux
-on:
-  workflow_dispatch:
-  workflow_call:
-    secrets:
-      TAURI_PRIVATE_KEY:
-        required: true
-      TAURI_KEY_PASSWORD:
-        required: true
-      DESKTOP_JS_SENTRY_DSN:
-        required: true
-    outputs:
-      UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX:
-        value: ${{ jobs.build-linux.outputs.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX }}
-      PKG_VERSION:
-        value: ${{ jobs.build-linux.outputs.PKG_VERSION }}
-      RUST_VERSION:
-        value: ${{ jobs.build-linux.outputs.RUST_VERSION }}
-
-env:
-  CARGO_TERM_COLOR: always
-  CARGO_TARGET: release
-  WG_GO_LIB_PATH: ${{ github.workspace }}/lib
-  WG_GO_LIB_NAME: wireguard-go_ubuntu-22.04_x86_64
-  UPDATER_BUNDLE_NAME: updater_linux_x86_64.AppImage.tar.gz
-  UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX: linux_artifacts
-
-jobs:
-  build-wireguard-go-linux:
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/build-wireguard-go-linux.yml
-
-  build-linux:
-    needs: build-wireguard-go-linux
-    runs-on: arc-ubuntu-22.04
-    outputs:
-      UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX: ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX }}
-      PKG_VERSION: ${{ steps.package-version.outputs.metadata }}
-      RUST_VERSION: ${{ steps.rust-version.outputs.rustc }}
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Install system dependencies
-        run: |
-          sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y libdbus-1-dev libmnl-dev libnftnl-dev protobuf-compiler libwebkit2gtk-4.0-dev build-essential curl wget libssl-dev libgtk-3-dev squashfs-tools libayatana-appindicator3-dev make libfuse2 librsvg2-dev file
-
-      - name: Install rust toolchain
-        uses: brndnmtthws/rust-action-rustup@v1
-        with:
-          toolchain: stable
-          components: rustfmt, clippy
-
-      - name: Install cargo-about
-        run: cargo install --locked cargo-about
-
-      - name: Install Node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-
-      - name: Get package version
-        id: package-version
-        uses: nicolaiunrein/cargo-get@master
-        with:
-          subcommand: package.version --entry nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri
-
-      - name: Download wireguard-go artifacts
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: ${{ env.WG_GO_LIB_NAME }}
-          path: ${{ env.WG_GO_LIB_PATH }}
-
-      # - name: Generate licenses file (Js & Rust) and install JS dependencies
-      #   working-directory: nym-vpn-desktop
-      #   run: |
-      #     npm i license-checker-rseidelsohn
-      #     rm public/licenses-js.json || true
-      #     npm run gen:licenses:js
-      #     rm public/licenses-rust.json || true
-      #     npm run gen:licenses:rust
-      #     npm ci
-
-      - name: Build desktop client
-        working-directory: nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri
-        env:
-          TAURI_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.TAURI_PRIVATE_KEY }}
-          TAURI_KEY_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.TAURI_KEY_PASSWORD }}
-          APP_SENTRY_DSN: ${{ secrets.DESKTOP_JS_SENTRY_DSN }}
-          RUSTFLAGS: "-L ${{ env.WG_GO_LIB_PATH }}"
-        run: |
-          npm ci
-          npm run tauri build --${{ env.CARGO_TARGET }}
-          ls -la target/release/ || true
-          ls -la target/release/bundle || true
-          ls -la target/release/bundle/* || true
-
-      - name: Get rust version used for build
-        id: rust-version
-        run: |
-          echo "rustc=$(rustc -V)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-
-      - name: Move things around to prepare for upload
-        env:
-          SRC_APPIMAGE: nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri/target/release/bundle/appimage/nym-vpn_${{ steps.package-version.outputs.metadata }}_amd64.AppImage
-          SRC_DEB: nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri/target/release/bundle/deb/nym-vpn_${{ steps.package-version.outputs.metadata }}_amd64.deb
-        run: |
-          mkdir ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX }}
-          echo "Move AppImage"
-          cp -vpr ${{ env.SRC_APPIMAGE }} ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX }}
-          echo "Move updater bundle and signature"
-          cp -vpr ${{ env.SRC_APPIMAGE }}.tar.gz     ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX }}/${{ env.UPDATER_BUNDLE_NAME }}
-          cp -vpr ${{ env.SRC_APPIMAGE }}.tar.gz.sig ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX }}/${{ env.UPDATER_BUNDLE_NAME }}.sig
-          echo "Move debian pkg"
-          cp -vpr ${{ env.SRC_DEB }} ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX }}
-
-      - name: Upload artifacts
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX }}
-          path: ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX }}
-          retention-days: 1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-nym-vpn-desktop-mac.yml b/.github/workflows/build-nym-vpn-desktop-mac.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 1f4eeeebbe..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/build-nym-vpn-desktop-mac.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,141 +0,0 @@
-name: build-nym-vpn-desktop-mac
-on:
-  workflow_dispatch:
-  workflow_call:
-    secrets:
-      TAURI_PRIVATE_KEY:
-        required: true
-      TAURI_KEY_PASSWORD:
-        required: true
-      DESKTOP_JS_SENTRY_DSN:
-        required: true
-      APPLE_DEVELOPER_ID_APPLICATION_CERT:
-        required: true
-      APPLE_DEVELOPER_ID_APPLICATION_CERT_PASS:
-        required: true
-      APPLE_SIGNING_IDENTITY:
-        required: true
-      APPLE_ID:
-        required: true
-      APPLE_ID_PASSWORD:
-        required: true
-      APPLE_TEAM_ID:
-        required: true
-    outputs:
-      UPLOAD_DIR_MAC:
-        value: ${{ jobs.build-mac.outputs.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC }}
-
-env:
-  CARGO_TERM_COLOR: always
-  CARGO_TARGET: release
-  WG_GO_LIB_PATH: ${{ github.workspace }}/lib
-  WG_GO_LIB_NAME: wireguard-go_apple_universal
-  UPLOAD_DIR_MAC: mac_artifacts
-  TAURI_SRC: '${{ github.workspace }}/nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri/'
-
-jobs:
-  build-wireguard-go-mac:
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/build-wireguard-go-mac.yml
-
-  build-mac:
-    needs: build-wireguard-go-mac
-    runs-on: macos-14
-    outputs:
-      UPLOAD_DIR_MAC: ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC }}
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Install rust toolchain
-        uses: brndnmtthws/rust-action-rustup@v1
-        with:
-          toolchain: stable
-          components: rustfmt, clippy
-
-      - name: Install x86_64-apple-darwin target for universal build
-        run: |
-          rustup target add x86_64-apple-darwin
-
-      - name: Install cargo-about
-        run: |
-          cargo install --locked cargo-about
-
-      - name: Install Node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-
-      - name: Get package version
-        id: package-version
-        uses: nicolaiunrein/cargo-get@master
-        with:
-          subcommand: package.version --entry nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri
-
-      - name: Install Protoc
-        uses: arduino/setup-protoc@v3
-        with:
-          repo-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-
-      - name: Download wireguard-go artifacts
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: ${{ env.WG_GO_LIB_NAME }}
-          path: ${{ env.WG_GO_LIB_PATH }}
-
-      # - name: Generate licenses file (Js & Rust) and install JS dependencies
-      #   working-directory: nym-vpn-desktop
-      #   run: |
-      #     npm i license-checker-rseidelsohn
-      #     rm public/licenses-js.json || true
-      #     npm run gen:licenses:js
-      #     rm public/licenses-rust.json || true
-      #     npm run gen:licenses:rust
-      #     npm ci
-
-      - name: Build desktop client
-        working-directory: nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri
-        env:
-          TAURI_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.TAURI_PRIVATE_KEY }}
-          TAURI_KEY_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.TAURI_KEY_PASSWORD }}
-          APP_SENTRY_DSN: ${{ secrets.DESKTOP_JS_SENTRY_DSN }}
-          RUSTFLAGS: "-L ${{ env.WG_GO_LIB_PATH }}"
-          # Apple stuff
-          APPLE_CERTIFICATE: ${{ secrets.APPLE_DEVELOPER_ID_APPLICATION_CERT }}
-          APPLE_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.APPLE_DEVELOPER_ID_APPLICATION_CERT_PASS }}
-          APPLE_SIGNING_IDENTITY: ${{ secrets.APPLE_SIGNING_IDENTITY }}
-          APPLE_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_ID }}
-          APPLE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.APPLE_ID_PASSWORD }}
-          APPLE_TEAM_ID: ${{ secrets.APPLE_TEAM_ID }}
-          # TODO try fixing `error running bundle_dmg.sh` (macos build)
-          NO_STRIP: 'true'
-        run: |
-          npm ci
-          npm run tauri build --${{ env.CARGO_TARGET }} -- --target universal-apple-darwin
-          ls -la target/ || true
-          ls -la target/release/ || true
-          ls -la target/release/bundle || true
-          ls -la target/release/bundle/* || true
-          ls -la target/universal-apple-darwin/release/ || true
-          ls -la target/universal-apple-darwin/release/bundle || true
-          ls -la target/universal-apple-darwin/release/bundle/* || true
-
-      - name: Move things around to prepare for upload
-        env:
-          MAC_UPDATER: ${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}/target/universal-apple-darwin/release/bundle/macos/nym-vpn.app.tar.gz
-          MAC_UPDATER_NAME: updater_macos_universal.app.tar.gz
-          BINARY: ${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}/target/universal-apple-darwin/release/bundle/dmg/nym-vpn_${{ steps.package-version.outputs.metadata }}_universal.dmg
-        run: |
-          echo "moving binaries into ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC }}"
-          rm -rf ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC }} || true
-          mkdir ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC }}
-          cp -vpr '${{ env.MAC_UPDATER }}'     ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC }}/${MAC_UPDATER_NAME}
-          cp -vpr '${{ env.MAC_UPDATER }}.sig' ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC }}/${MAC_UPDATER_NAME}.sig
-          cp -vpr '${{ env.BINARY }}' ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC }}/
-
-      - name: Upload artifact mac
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC }}
-          path: ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC }}
-          retention-days: 1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-nym-vpn-desktop-windows.yml b/.github/workflows/build-nym-vpn-desktop-windows.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 03572239c8..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/build-nym-vpn-desktop-windows.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,166 +0,0 @@
-name: build-nym-vpn-desktop-windows
-on:
-  workflow_dispatch:
-  workflow_call:
-    secrets:
-      WINDOWS_SIGNING_PFX_BASE64:
-        required: true
-      WINDOWS_SIGNING_PFX_PASSWORD:
-        required: true
-      TAURI_PRIVATE_KEY:
-        required: true
-      TAURI_KEY_PASSWORD:
-        required: true
-      DESKTOP_JS_SENTRY_DSN:
-        required: true
-    outputs:
-      UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS:
-        value: ${{ jobs.build-windows.outputs.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS }}
-
-env:
-  CARGO_TERM_COLOR: always
-  CARGO_TARGET: release
-  LIBS_PATH: '${{ github.workspace }}/lib'
-  WG_GO_LIB_NAME: wireguard-go_x86_64-pc-windows-msvc
-  MULLVAD_LIB_NAME: winfw
-  UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS: windows_artifacts
-  TAURI_SRC: '${{ github.workspace }}/nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri/'
-
-jobs:
-  build-wireguard-go-windows:
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/build-wireguard-go-windows.yml
-
-  build-mullvad-windows:
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/build-mullvad-windows.yml
-
-  build-windows:
-    needs: [build-wireguard-go-windows,build-mullvad-windows]
-    runs-on: custom-windows-11
-    env:
-      CPP_BUILD_MODES: ${{ needs.build-mullvad-windows.outputs.CPP_BUILD_MODES }}
-    outputs:
-      UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS: ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS }}
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Setup MSBuild.exe
-        uses: microsoft/setup-msbuild@v2
-
-      - name: Install rust toolchain
-        uses: brndnmtthws/rust-action-rustup@v1
-        with:
-          toolchain: stable
-          components: rustfmt, clippy
-
-      - name: Install cargo-about
-        run: cargo install --locked cargo-about
-
-      - name: Install Node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-
-      - name: Get package version
-        id: package-version
-        uses: nicolaiunrein/cargo-get@master
-        with:
-          subcommand: package.version --entry nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri
-
-      - name: Download wireguard-go-windows artifacts
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: ${{ env.WG_GO_LIB_NAME }}
-          path: ${{ env.LIBS_PATH }}/
-
-      - name: Download mullvad lib artifact (winfw.lib)
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: ${{ env.MULLVAD_LIB_NAME }}.lib
-          path: ${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}/
-
-      - name: Download mullvad lib artifact (winfw.lib)
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: ${{ env.MULLVAD_LIB_NAME }}.dll
-          path: ${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}/
-
-      - name: Download/Unzip/Move wintun.zip, winpcap.zip also move wireguard lib for windows
-        shell: bash
-        run: |
-          curl --output ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/wintun.zip https://www.wintun.net/builds/wintun-0.14.1.zip
-          curl --output ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/winpcap.zip https://www.winpcap.org/install/bin/WpdPack_4_1_2.zip
-          unzip ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/wintun.zip
-          unzip ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/winpcap.zip
-          mv ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/wintun/bin/amd64/wintun.dll '${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}'
-          mv ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/WpdPack/Lib/x64/Packet.lib '${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}'
-          mv '${{ env.LIBS_PATH }}/libwg.dll' '${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}'
-          mv '${{ env.LIBS_PATH }}/libwg.lib' '${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}'
-
-
-      - name: Install Protoc
-        uses: arduino/setup-protoc@v3
-        with:
-          repo-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-
-      # - name: Generate licenses file (Js & Rust) and install JS dependencies
-      #   working-directory: nym-vpn-desktop
-      #   shell: bash
-      #   run: |
-      #     npm i license-checker-rseidelsohn
-      #     rm public/licenses-js.json || true
-      #     npm run gen:licenses:js
-      #     rm public/licenses-rust.json || true
-      #     npm run gen:licenses:rust
-      #     npm ci
-
-      - name: Import signing certificate
-        env:
-          WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE: ${{ secrets.WINDOWS_SIGNING_PFX_BASE64 }}
-          WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.WINDOWS_SIGNING_PFX_PASSWORD }}
-        run: |
-          New-Item -ItemType directory -Path certificate
-          Set-Content -Path certificate/tempCert.txt -Value $env:WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE
-          certutil -decode certificate/tempCert.txt certificate/certificate.pfx
-          Remove-Item -path certificate -include tempCert.txt
-          Import-PfxCertificate -FilePath certificate/certificate.pfx -CertStoreLocation Cert:\CurrentUser\My -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString -String $env:WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD -Force -AsPlainText)
-
-      - name: Build desktop client
-        working-directory: nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri
-        shell: bash
-        env:
-          TAURI_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.TAURI_PRIVATE_KEY }}
-          TAURI_KEY_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.TAURI_KEY_PASSWORD }}
-          APP_SENTRY_DSN: ${{ secrets.DESKTOP_JS_SENTRY_DSN }}
-          RUSTFLAGS: "-L ${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}/x86_64-pc-windows-msvc -L ${{ env.TAURI_SRC }} -Clink-args=/LIBPATH:${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}/x64-${{ env.CPP_BUILD_MODES }}"
-          WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE: ${{ secrets.WINDOWS_SIGNING_PFX_BASE64 }}
-          WINDOWS_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.WINDOWS_SIGNING_PFX_PASSWORD }}
-        run: |
-          sed -i 's/"bundle": {/"bundle": {"resources": ["wintun.dll", "vcruntime140.dll", "libwg.dll", "winfw.dll"],/g' '${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}/tauri.conf.json'
-          npm ci
-          npm run tauri build --${{ env.CARGO_TARGET }}
-          ls -la target/release/ || true
-          ls -la target/release/bundle || true
-          ls -la target/release/bundle/* || true
-
-      - name: Move things around to prepare for upload
-        shell: bash
-        env:
-          WINDOWS_BUILT_NAME: ${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}/target/release/bundle/nsis/nym-vpn_${{ steps.package-version.outputs.metadata }}_x64-setup.nsis.zip
-          WINDOWS_UPDATER_NAME: updater_windows_x86_64.nsis.zip
-          BINARY: ${{ env.TAURI_SRC }}/target/release/bundle/nsis/nym-vpn_${{ steps.package-version.outputs.metadata }}_x64-setup.exe
-        run: |
-          echo "moving binaries into ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS }}"
-          rm -rf ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS }} || true
-          mkdir ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS }}
-          cp -vpr '${{ env.WINDOWS_BUILT_NAME }}'     ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS }}/${WINDOWS_UPDATER_NAME}
-          cp -vpr '${{ env.WINDOWS_BUILT_NAME }}.sig' ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS }}/${WINDOWS_UPDATER_NAME}.sig
-          cp -vpr '${{ env.BINARY }}' ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS }}/
-
-      - name: Upload artifact windows
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS }}
-          path: ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS }}
-          retention-days: 1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-release-nym-vpn-core.yml b/.github/workflows/create-release-nym-vpn-core.yml
index 815e6ed7cc..c251cfb894 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create-release-nym-vpn-core.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create-release-nym-vpn-core.yml
@@ -8,27 +8,33 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     outputs:
       is_admin: ${{ steps.check.outputs.is_admin }}
-
     steps:
       - name: Check if user has admin access
         id: check
         run: |
-          user_role=$(curl -s -H "Authorization: token ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" \
-            "https://api.github.com/repos/${{ github.repository }}/collaborators/${{ github.actor }}/permission" \
-            | jq -r '.permission')
+          user_role=$(curl -s -H "Authorization: Bearer ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" \
+            "https://api.github.com/repos/${{ github.repository }}/collaborators/${{ github.actor }}/permission")
+          permission=$(echo "$user_role" | jq -r '.permission')
 
-          if [ "$user_role" == "admin" ]; then
+          if [ "$permission" == "admin" ]; then
             echo "User ${{ github.actor }} is an admin."
-            echo "is_admin=true" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+            echo "is_admin=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           else
             echo "User ${{ github.actor }} is not an admin."
-            echo "is_admin=false" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+            echo "is_admin=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          fi
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
-  create_release:
+  set_release_version_and_create_branch:
+    needs: check_admin_permission
+    outputs:
+      branch_name: ${{ steps.create_branch.outputs.branch_name }}
     if: needs.check_admin_permission.outputs.is_admin == 'true'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+      pull-requests: write
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout Repository
@@ -39,51 +45,88 @@ jobs:
           git config --global user.name "GitHub Actions"
           git config --global user.email "actions@github.com"
 
-      - name: Create a new branch
+      - name: Setup branch name
         id: create_branch
         run: |
           BRANCH_NAME="release-nym-vpn-core-$(date +'%Y%m%d%H%M%S')"
           git checkout -b $BRANCH_NAME
-          echo "branch_name=$BRANCH_NAME" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "branch_name=$BRANCH_NAME" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
-      - name: Run release script
+      - name: Install cargo-edit, cargo-get
         run: |
-          ./scripts/create-nym-vpn-core-release.sh
+          cargo install --locked cargo-edit cargo-get
 
-      - name: Run bump to dev version script
+      - name: Run create-nym-vpn-core-release.sh
         run: |
-          ./scripts/bump-nym-vpn-core-to-next-dev-version.sh
+          ./scripts/create-nym-vpn-core-release.sh --yes
 
-      # - name: Commit bumped version
-      #   run: |
-      #     git add .
-      #     git commit -m "Bump version to next dev version"
-          # git push origin ${{ env.branch_name }}
+      - name: Push commit with version bump to new branch
+        run: |
+          git push origin HEAD:${{ steps.create_branch.outputs.branch_name }}
 
-      - name: Open a Pull Request
-        uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v7
+  update_nym_vpn_apple:
+    needs: set_release_version_and_create_branch
+    runs-on: macos-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout Repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
-          branch: ${{ env.branch_name }}
-          title: "Release: ${{ env.branch_name }}"
-          body: "Automated PR for the release."
+          ref: ${{ needs.set_release_version_and_create_branch.outputs.branch_name }}
+
+      - name: Set up Git user
+        run: |
+          git config --global user.name "GitHub Actions"
+          git config --global user.email "actions@github.com"
+
+      - name: Cache cargo packages
+        uses: actions/cache@v3
+        with:
+          path: ~/.cargo/registry
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-cargo-${{ hashFiles('**/Cargo.lock') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            ${{ runner.os }}-cargo-
 
-      # - name: Push the new branch and tags
-      #   run: |
-      #     git push origin ${{ env.branch_name }}
-      #     git push --tags
-
-      # - name: Commit and push the bumped version
-      #   run: |
-      #     git add .
-      #     git commit -m "Bump version to next dev version"
-      #     git push origin ${{ env.branch_name }}
-
-      # - name: Update PR with bumped version
-      #   uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v7
-      #   with:
-      #     branch: ${{ env.branch_name }}
-      #     title: "Release: ${{ env.branch_name }} (Bumped)"
-      #     body: "Automated PR with the bumped version."
-      #     committer: "GitHub <noreply@github.com>"
-      #     author: "GitHub Actions <actions@github.com>"
+      - name: Install cargo-edit, cargo-get
+        run: |
+          cargo install --locked cargo-edit cargo-get
 
+      - name: Run update-nym-vpn-apple-to-latest-core.sh
+        run: |
+          ./scripts/update-nym-vpn-apple-to-latest-core.sh
+          git diff
+          git commit -a -m "Update Info.plist"
+          git push origin HEAD:${{ needs.set_release_version_and_create_branch.outputs.branch_name }}
+
+  bump_to_dev_version_and_create_pull_request:
+    needs: [set_release_version_and_create_branch, update_nym_vpn_apple]
+    if: needs.check_admin_permission.outputs.is_admin == 'true'
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout Repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ needs.set_release_version_and_create_branch.outputs.branch_name }}
+
+      - name: Set up Git user
+        run: |
+          git config --global user.name "GitHub Actions"
+          git config --global user.email "actions@github.com"
+
+      - name: Install cargo-edit, cargo-get
+        run: |
+          cargo install --locked cargo-edit cargo-get
+
+      - name: Run bump-nym-vpn-core-to-next-dev-version.sh
+        run: |
+          ./scripts/bump-nym-vpn-core-to-next-dev-version.sh --yes
+
+      - name: Create PR
+        uses: peter-evans/create-pull-request@v7
+        with:
+          branch: ${{ needs.set_release_version_and_create_branch.outputs.branch_name }}
+          title: "Release: ${{ needs.set_release_version_and_create_branch.outputs.branch_name }}"
+          body: "Automated PR for the release."
+          base: "main"
+          draft: true
diff --git a/.github/workflows/generate-build-info-desktop.yml b/.github/workflows/generate-build-info-desktop.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index b06f2d6fc7..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/generate-build-info-desktop.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-name: generate-build-info-desktop
-on:
-  workflow_dispatch:
-  workflow_call:
-    inputs:
-      build-profile:
-        description: "Rust build profile"
-        required: true
-        default: Release
-        type: string
-      rust-version:
-        description: "Rust version"
-        required: true
-        type: string
-
-jobs:
-  generate-build-info-desktop:
-    runs-on: arc-ubuntu-22.04
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Install yq
-        run: |
-          sudo wget https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/releases/download/v4.44.1/yq_linux_amd64 -O /usr/bin/yq
-          sudo chmod +x /usr/bin/yq
-
-      - name: Get current date
-        id: date
-        run:
-          echo "date=$(date)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-
-      - name: Generate build-info
-        run: |
-          touch build-info.txt
-          echo "App name:      $(yq -oy '.productName' nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json)" >> build-info.txt
-          echo "Version:       $(yq -oy '.package.version' nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml)" >> build-info.txt
-          echo "Tauri version: $(yq -oy '.dependencies.tauri.version' nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml)" >> build-info.txt
-          echo "Rustc version: ${{ inputs.rust-version}}" >> build-info.txt
-          echo "Build profile: ${{ inputs.build-profile}}" >> build-info.txt
-          echo "Date:          ${{ steps.date.outputs.date }}" >> build-info.txt
-          cat build-info.txt
-
-      - name: Upload build-info
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: build-info
-          path: build-info.txt
-          retention-days: 1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-nym-vpn-desktop.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-nym-vpn-desktop.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 0654c1d74f..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-nym-vpn-desktop.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,163 +0,0 @@
-name: publish-nym-vpn-desktop
-on:
-  workflow_dispatch:
-    inputs:
-      tag_name:
-        description: "Tag name for release"
-        required: false
-        default: nightly-desktop
-      publish:
-        type: boolean
-        description: Publish Release
-        required: true
-        default: false
-  push:
-    tags:
-      - nym-vpn-desktop-v[0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+*
-
-jobs:
-  build-nym-vpn-desktop-linux:
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/build-nym-vpn-desktop-linux.yml
-    secrets: inherit
-  build-nym-vpn-desktop-mac:
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/build-nym-vpn-desktop-mac.yml
-    secrets: inherit
-  build-nym-vpn-desktop-windows:
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/build-nym-vpn-desktop-windows.yml
-    secrets: inherit
-
-  generate-build-info-desktop:
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/generate-build-info-desktop.yml
-    needs: build-nym-vpn-desktop-linux
-    with:
-      build-profile: release
-      rust-version: ${{ needs.build-nym-vpn-desktop-linux.outputs.RUST_VERSION }}
-
-  publish:
-    needs:
-      - build-nym-vpn-desktop-linux
-      - build-nym-vpn-desktop-mac
-      - build-nym-vpn-desktop-windows
-      - generate-build-info-desktop
-    runs-on: arc-ubuntu-22.04
-    outputs:
-      tag: ${{ steps.set_tag.outputs.tag }}
-    env:
-      # GH needed for gh cli
-      GH_REPO: ${{ github.repository }}
-      GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-      PKG_VERSION: ${{ needs.build-nym-vpn-desktop-linux.outputs.PKG_VERSION }}
-      UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX: ${{ needs.build-nym-vpn-desktop-linux.outputs.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX }}
-      UPLOAD_DIR_MAC: ${{ needs.build-nym-vpn-desktop-mac.outputs.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC }}
-      UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS: ${{ needs.build-nym-vpn-desktop-windows.outputs.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS }}
-    permissions: write-all
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      # Adding envsubst, gh cli
-      - name: Install system dependencies
-        run: |
-          sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y gettext-base gh
-
-      - name: Install rust toolchain
-        uses: brndnmtthws/rust-action-rustup@v1
-        with:
-          toolchain: stable
-          components: rustfmt, clippy
-
-      - name: Get package version
-        id: package-version
-        uses: nicolaiunrein/cargo-get@master
-        with:
-          subcommand: package.version --entry nym-vpn-desktop/src-tauri
-
-      - name: Check tag name consistency
-        if: github.event_name == 'push'
-        shell: bash
-        run: |
-          if [[ nym-vpn-desktop-v${{ steps.package-version.outputs.metadata }} != ${{ github.ref_name }} ]]; then
-            exit 1
-          fi
-
-      - name: Download artifacts
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
-
-      # Setup TAG_NAME, which is used as a general "name"
-      - if: github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
-        run: echo "TAG_NAME=${{ github.event.inputs.tag_name }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-      - if: github.event_name == 'schedule'
-        run: echo "TAG_NAME=nightly-desktop" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-      - if: github.event_name == 'push'
-        run: echo "TAG_NAME=${{ github.ref_name }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Set tag
-        id: set_tag
-        run: echo "tag=${{ env.TAG_NAME }}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
-
-      - name: Setting subject, prerelease and notes files
-        if: ${{ contains(env.TAG_NAME, 'nightly-desktop') }}
-        run: |
-          (echo "SUBJECT=nym-vpn-desktop-v${{ steps.package-version.outputs.metadata }} nightly prerelease build";
-           echo 'PRERELEASE=--prerelease';
-           echo 'NOTES_FILE=release-notes/release-notes-desktop-nightly.md') >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          gh release delete nightly-desktop --yes || true
-          git push origin :nightly-desktop || true
-
-      # Once we consider these actually release builds, remove --prerelease
-      # from PRERELEASE here
-      - name: Removing --prerelease if needed
-        if: ${{ !contains(env.TAG_NAME, 'nightly-desktop') }}
-        run: |
-          (echo "SUBJECT=$TAG_NAME"
-           echo 'PRERELEASE='
-           echo 'NOTES_FILE=release-notes/release-notes-desktop.md') >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Generate checksums
-        run: |
-          for f in ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX}}/*; do sha256sum ${f} > ${f}.sha256sum; done
-          for f in ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC}}/*; do sha256sum ${f} > ${f}.sha256sum; done
-          for f in ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS}}/*; do sha256sum ${f} > ${f}.sha256sum; done
-          echo 'SHA256_CHECKSUMS<<EOF' >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          cat ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX}}/*.sha256sum >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          cat ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC}}/*.sha256sum >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          cat ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS}}/*.sha256sum >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          echo 'EOF' >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: AppImage installer bump version
-        env:
-          appimg_installer: nym-vpn-desktop/scripts/appimage.sh
-        run: |
-          echo "tag: $TAG_NAME"
-          echo "version: $PKG_VERSION"
-          sed -i "s/^tag=.*$/tag=$TAG_NAME/" $appimg_installer
-          sed -i "s/^version=.*$/version=$PKG_VERSION/" $appimg_installer
-          mkdir installer
-          cp -v $appimg_installer installer
-
-      - name: Build info
-        run: |
-          echo 'BUILD_INFO<<EOF' >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          cat build-info/build-info.txt >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          echo 'EOF' >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Publish release
-        run: |
-          echo "build info"
-          echo "$BUILD_INFO"
-          echo "checksums"
-          echo "$SHA256_CHECKSUMS"
-          echo "Creating release notes"
-          envsubst < "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/.github/workflows/$NOTES_FILE" > "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-notes.md"
-          echo "Creating release nodes: output"
-          cat $RUNNER_TEMP/release-notes.md
-          echo "Creating release"
-          echo gh release create $TAG_NAME $PRERELEASE --notes-file "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-notes.md" --title "$SUBJECT" --target $GITHUB_SHA ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX}}/* ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC}}/* ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS}}/* installer/*
-          gh release create $TAG_NAME $PRERELEASE --notes-file "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-notes.md" --title "$SUBJECT" --target $GITHUB_SHA ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_LINUX}}/* ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_MAC}}/* ${{ env.UPLOAD_DIR_WINDOWS}}/* installer/*
-
-  gen-hashes:
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/gen-hashes-json.yml
-    needs: publish
-    with:
-      release_tag: ${{ needs.publish.outputs.tag }}
-    secrets: inherit
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-notes/release-notes-desktop-nightly.md b/.github/workflows/release-notes/release-notes-desktop-nightly.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 6bb0439e30..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/release-notes/release-notes-desktop-nightly.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-```
-${BUILD_INFO}
-```
-
-## Notes
-
-Nightly build of the latest development version of the desktop client.
-
-## SHA256 Checksums
-
-```
-${SHA256_CHECKSUMS}
-```
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-notes/release-notes-desktop.md b/.github/workflows/release-notes/release-notes-desktop.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 5bc9c46151..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/release-notes/release-notes-desktop.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-```
-${BUILD_INFO}
-```
-
-## Notes
-
-Release build.
-
-### Linux
-
-- `deb` package suitable for Debian and Ubuntu
-- AppImage bundle that should be compatible with most Linux distributions
-
-### Mac
-
-- Universal binary for both Intel and ARM architectures
-
-### Windows
-
-- Desktop client for Windows
-- Run as administrator
-
-## SHA256 Checksums
-
-```
-${SHA256_CHECKSUMS}
-```
diff --git a/scripts/bump-nym-vpn-app-to-next-dev-version.sh b/scripts/bump-nym-vpn-app-to-next-dev-version.sh
index 4bb26f5081..faf8af5f0d 100755
--- a/scripts/bump-nym-vpn-app-to-next-dev-version.sh
+++ b/scripts/bump-nym-vpn-app-to-next-dev-version.sh
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ run_npm_set_version() {
 main() {
     check_unstaged_changes
     confirm_root_directory
+    check_cargo_utils_installed
     local version=$(get_current_cargo_version)
     local next_version=$(increment_version "$version")
 
diff --git a/scripts/bump-nym-vpn-core-to-next-dev-version.sh b/scripts/bump-nym-vpn-core-to-next-dev-version.sh
index 7603e06be7..007ef9ca5e 100755
--- a/scripts/bump-nym-vpn-core-to-next-dev-version.sh
+++ b/scripts/bump-nym-vpn-core-to-next-dev-version.sh
@@ -22,6 +22,20 @@ for arg in "$@"; do
     esac
 done
 
+# Check if cargo set-version is installed
+if cargo set-version --help >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "cargo set-version is installed."
+else
+    echo "cargo set-version is not installed. Please install it by running 'cargo install --locked cargo-get'"
+fi
+
+# Check if cargo-get is installed
+if cargo get --help >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "cargo-get is installed."
+else
+    echo "cargo-get is not installed. Please install it by running 'cargo install --locked cargo-get'."
+fi
+
 get_current_version() {
     echo "$(cargo get workspace.package.version)"
 }
@@ -43,6 +57,8 @@ run_cargo_set_version() {
 main() {
     check_unstaged_changes
     confirm_root_directory
+    check_cargo_utils_installed
+
     cd $DIRNAME
     local version=$(get_current_version)
     local next_version=$(increment_version "$version")
diff --git a/scripts/common.sh b/scripts/common.sh
index 2798d22e30..09b1e45a3b 100644
--- a/scripts/common.sh
+++ b/scripts/common.sh
@@ -106,3 +106,21 @@ increment_version() {
 
     echo "$new_version"
 }
+
+check_cargo_utils_installed() {
+    # Check if cargo set-version is installed
+    if cargo set-version --help >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        echo "cargo set-version is installed."
+    else
+        echo "cargo set-version is not installed. Please install it by running 'cargo install --locked cargo-get'"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+
+    # Check if cargo-get is installed
+    if cargo get --help >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        echo "cargo-get is installed."
+    else
+        echo "cargo-get is not installed. Please install it by running 'cargo install --locked cargo-get'."
+        exit 1
+    fi
+}
diff --git a/scripts/create-nym-vpn-app-release.sh b/scripts/create-nym-vpn-app-release.sh
index 40d73ef2b5..c436f89d8b 100755
--- a/scripts/create-nym-vpn-app-release.sh
+++ b/scripts/create-nym-vpn-app-release.sh
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ tag_release() {
 main() {
     check_unstaged_changes
     confirm_root_directory
+    check_cargo_utils_installed
     cargo_version_bump
     npm_version_bump
     tag_release
diff --git a/scripts/create-nym-vpn-core-release.sh b/scripts/create-nym-vpn-core-release.sh
index 7fda800473..5cf5ed4874 100755
--- a/scripts/create-nym-vpn-core-release.sh
+++ b/scripts/create-nym-vpn-core-release.sh
@@ -32,6 +32,20 @@ for arg in "$@"; do
     esac
 done
 
+# Check if cargo set-version is installed
+if cargo set-version --help >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "cargo set-version is installed."
+else
+    echo "cargo set-version is not installed. Please install it by running 'cargo install --locked cargo-get'"
+fi
+
+# Check if cargo-get is installed
+if cargo get --help >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "cargo-get is installed."
+else
+    echo "cargo-get is not installed. Please install it by running 'cargo install --locked cargo-get'."
+fi
+
 cargo_version_bump() {
     cd $DIRNAME
     local package_flags="-p $PACKAGE"
@@ -53,6 +67,7 @@ tag_release() {
 main() {
     check_unstaged_changes
     confirm_root_directory
+    check_cargo_utils_installed
     cargo_version_bump
     tag_release
 }
diff --git a/scripts/update-nym-vpn-apple-to-latest-core.sh b/scripts/update-nym-vpn-apple-to-latest-core.sh
index ac10ccdd58..6f6b24d324 100755
--- a/scripts/update-nym-vpn-apple-to-latest-core.sh
+++ b/scripts/update-nym-vpn-apple-to-latest-core.sh
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ update_daemon_version_on_mac() {
 main() {
     check_unstaged_changes
     confirm_root_directory
+    check_cargo_utils_installed
 
     local core_version=$(cargo get --entry nym-vpn-core workspace.package.version)
     update_daemon_version_on_mac $core_version