diff --git a/.releaserc.json b/.releaserc.json
index ef0917bc1..22889c80c 100644
--- a/.releaserc.json
+++ b/.releaserc.json
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 {
   "branches": [
     {
-      "name": "release-v14",
+      "name": "master",
       "channel": "latest"
     },
     {
-      "name": "master",
-      "prerelease": "rc",
-      "channel": "rc"
+      "name": "release-v14",
+      "channel": "v14",
+      "range": "14.x"
     }
   ],
   "plugins": [
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index e34e3a28c..184481e15 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Agents should prioritize API stability and high test coverage when changing code
 
 Stream's React Chat SDK — React components, hooks and contexts for building chat UIs on the Stream Chat API. The published package (`stream-chat-react`) lives at the repo root; `examples/*` are private Yarn workspaces consuming it via `workspace:^`.
 
-This is the **v15** line, developed on `master` and published as release candidates (npm `rc`). The stable v14 line lives on `release-v14` (npm `latest`). It is built on `stream-chat` v10 (the "LLC"), which owns message, thread and composer state; this package renders it.
+This is the **v15** line, developed on `master` and published under npm `latest`. The v14 maintenance line lives on `release-v14` (npm `release-v14`). It is built on `stream-chat` v10 (the "LLC"), which owns message, thread and composer state; this package renders it.
 
 ## Tech & toolchain
 
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ Implement MediaRecorder API integration with MP3 encoding.
 Closes #123
 ```
 
-- v15 is a major release line: a change that breaks the v14 API is marked with `!` and a `BREAKING CHANGE:` footer, and gets an entry in `ai-docs/ai-migration-v14-v15.md`.
+- `master` publishes v15 under `latest`, so a commit marked with `!` or a `BREAKING CHANGE:` footer releases 16.0.0. Mark a commit as breaking only when the next major is planned (see `developers/BRANCHES.md`).
 - Never commit directly to `master` or `release-v14`; always create a feature branch (see `developers/BRANCHES.md`). v15 work targets `master`; v14 fixes target `release-v14`.
 - Never commit unless explicitly requested.
 
diff --git a/developers/BRANCHES.md b/developers/BRANCHES.md
index dae75e781..06aee03fd 100644
--- a/developers/BRANCHES.md
+++ b/developers/BRANCHES.md
@@ -2,21 +2,25 @@
 
 We have two base branches:
 
-- `master` — the v15 line. Releases from it are published as release candidates (`15.0.0-rc.N`) under the npm `rc` tag.
-- `release-v14` — the stable v14 line. Releases from it are published under the npm `latest` tag.
+- `master` — the v15 line. Releases from it are published under the npm `latest` tag.
+- `release-v14` — the v14 maintenance line. Releases from it are published under the npm `release-v14` tag (`npm install stream-chat-react@release-v14`).
+
+Older lines (`release-v13`, `release-v12`, …) are maintenance branches as well, published under the npm `release-v13`, `release-v12`, … tags.
 
 If you want to implement a solution, create a branch from the base branch it belongs to: `master` for v15 work, `release-v14` for a v14 fix. A base branch should receive updates only through squash-merging feature branches - each of these squashed commits should be up to date with its base branch and should be passing CI requirements.
 
 A fix that applies to both lines is merged into `release-v14` and ported to `master`.
 
-`release-v14` must not receive breaking changes (`!` or a `BREAKING CHANGE:` footer). It is the release branch in `.releaserc.json`, which semantic-release cannot limit to `14.x`, so a breaking change there would publish v15 under `latest`.
+`release-v14` accepts only 14.x releases and must not receive breaking changes. It is a maintenance branch in `.releaserc.json` (`"range": "14.x"`), so semantic-release refuses a release that would leave 14.x: a `fix:` or `feat:` commit with a `BREAKING CHANGE:` footer makes the release fail with `EINVALIDNEXTVERSION` instead of publishing v15. Its commit analyzer uses the `angular` preset, which does not read `!` in a header, so a `fix!:` commit on `release-v14` releases nothing.
+
+A breaking change on `master` releases the next major (16.0.0) under `latest`. Mark a commit on `master` as breaking only when the next major is planned.
 
 The branch architecture in this repository is as follows:
 
 ```shell
-NPM (rc)     <--- master      <--- branch_solution_x
-                              <--- branch_solution_y
-                              ...
-NPM (latest) <--- release-v14 <--- branch_fix_x
-                              ...
+NPM (latest)      <--- master      <--- branch_solution_x
+                                   <--- branch_solution_y
+                                   ...
+NPM (release-v14) <--- release-v14 <--- branch_fix_x
+                                   ...
 ```
diff --git a/developers/RELEASE.md b/developers/RELEASE.md
index 74bdd012d..6f617fcd8 100644
--- a/developers/RELEASE.md
+++ b/developers/RELEASE.md
@@ -9,13 +9,29 @@ The `stream-chat-react` package follows semantic versioning and the release is t
 
 In order to get the above generated outputs, each contributor should follow [Angular's Commit Message Format rules](https://github.com/angular/angular/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md#-commit-message-format).
 
+## Branches and npm dist-tags
+
+The Release workflow runs `semantic-release` on the branch you pick, so that branch's own `.releaserc.json` decides where its releases go. `master` and `release-v14` keep the same `branches` list:
+
+| Branch        | Entry in `branches`                                            | Versions | npm dist-tag  |
+| ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- | ------------- |
+| `master`      | `{ "name": "master", "channel": "latest" }`                    | 15.x     | `latest`      |
+| `release-v14` | `{ "name": "release-v14", "channel": "v14", "range": "14.x" }` | 14.x     | `release-v14` |
+
+`@semantic-release/npm` publishes a release under its channel as the dist-tag, and prefixes a channel that reads as a version range with `release-`: the `v14` channel publishes under `release-v14`. Older maintenance branches work the same way (`release-v13` publishes under `release-v13`).
+
+A maintenance branch only publishes versions inside its `range`. If its commits call for a version outside it, for example 15.0.0 from a breaking change on `release-v14`, the release fails with `EINVALIDNEXTVERSION` and nothing is published.
+
 ## Major version release preparations
 
-We need to:
+While the next major is in prerelease, `master` is a prerelease branch, for example `{ "name": "master", "prerelease": "rc", "channel": "rc" }`, and the previous line's branch (for example `release-v14`) is the release branch on `latest`. When the major goes GA:
 
-1. Convert the current latest branch to a version branch by creating a PR with adjusted `.releaserc.json`. Example PR: https://github.com/GetStream/stream-chat-react/pull/2507
+1. Make the previous line a maintenance branch. On that branch, set the `branches` list in `.releaserc.json` to `master` on `latest` plus the branch with its own channel and range, as in the table above. Merge this first: once it is in, a release from that branch can no longer move `latest`. Example PR: https://github.com/GetStream/stream-chat-react/pull/3122
+2. On `master`, replace the prerelease entry with `{ "name": "master", "channel": "latest" }` and list the maintenance branch next to it, the same list as in step 1. Example PR: https://github.com/GetStream/stream-chat-react/pull/3121
+3. Run the Release workflow on `master`, with a dry run first. A release branch ignores the `-rc.N` tags, so `semantic-release` compares `master` with its last stable tag. The breaking commits since then make the release `X.0.0`, published under `latest`. No extra commit is needed.
+4. Run the Release workflow on the maintenance branch once, at any time after step 1. With no new fixes it only adds the branch's last version to the branch's dist-tag (for example `14.16.1` to `release-v14`), so `npm install stream-chat-react@release-v14` works before the first maintenance release. The workflow publishes through npm trusted publishing (OIDC). If this step fails with `E401` on `npm dist-tag`, the package's trusted publisher settings on npmjs.com do not allow `npm dist-tag`: allow it, or add the tag by hand with `npm dist-tag add stream-chat-react@14.16.1 release-v14`. A re-run does not retry the step.
 
-2. Configure the `master` branch back from `prerelease` to `latest` and add a config for the next version branch also designated as `latest`. Example PR: https://github.com/GetStream/stream-chat-react/pull/2506.
+If step 3 runs before step 1, the next release from the previous line's branch publishes under `latest` and replaces the new major there.
 
 ## Required steps
 
@@ -23,9 +39,9 @@ At the moment these manual actions have to be taken to achieve a successful rele
 
 1. make sure that all the new required features and bug fixes in peer dependency repositories `@stream-io/stream-chat-css` and `stream-chat-js` are released
 2. make sure that the peer dependencies `@stream-io/stream-chat-css` and `stream-chat-js` are installed at their latest version (see `package.json`, `yarn.lock`) (if applicable)
-3. squash-merge required pull requests to `master` branch with appropriate message name, for example: `fix(scope): new feature`, if this feature is breaking, make sure to include `BREAKING CHANGE: <reason>` in the message footer
+3. squash-merge required pull requests to their base branch (`master` or `release-v14`) with appropriate message name, for example: `fix(scope): new feature`. A breaking change (`!` or a `BREAKING CHANGE: <reason>` footer) releases a new major from `master`, so merge one only when the next major is planned (see `developers/BRANCHES.md`)
 4. navigate to ["Actions"](https://github.com/GetStream/stream-chat-react/actions) and in the left bar select the "Release" workflow
-5. click "Run workflow" and select the branch you want to release from then adjust the prompt options and click "Run workflow", note that allowed branches are branch names starting with `release`, `rc` and `master` (a dry run can use any branch), extend the workflow condition and `.releaserc.json` as needed. The `master` branch is the release-candidate branch.
+5. click "Run workflow" and select the branch you want to release from then adjust the prompt options and click "Run workflow", note that allowed branches are branch names starting with `release`, `rc` and `master` (a dry run can use any branch), extend the workflow condition and `.releaserc.json` as needed. Releases from `master` go to `latest`, releases from `release-v14` to `release-v14` (see [Branches and npm dist-tags](#branches-and-npm-dist-tags)).
 
 ## Available release prompt options
 
diff --git a/examples/ai-chatbot/package.json b/examples/ai-chatbot/package.json
index b86d4558c..8761a810f 100644
--- a/examples/ai-chatbot/package.json
+++ b/examples/ai-chatbot/package.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     "next": "^16.2.4",
     "react": "^19.2.6",
     "react-dom": "^19.2.6",
-    "stream-chat": "10.0.0-rc.34",
+    "stream-chat": "^10.0.0",
     "stream-chat-react": "workspace:^"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/examples/cookbook/package.json b/examples/cookbook/package.json
index d0a6e7283..e5bc996c8 100644
--- a/examples/cookbook/package.json
+++ b/examples/cookbook/package.json
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
     "react": "^19.2.6",
     "react-dom": "^19.2.6",
     "react-leaflet": "^5.0.0",
-    "stream-chat": "10.0.0-rc.34",
+    "stream-chat": "^10.0.0",
     "stream-chat-react": "workspace:^"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/examples/tutorial/package.json b/examples/tutorial/package.json
index 490d9424e..f10c2e936 100644
--- a/examples/tutorial/package.json
+++ b/examples/tutorial/package.json
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     "emoji-mart": "^5.6.0",
     "react": "^19.2.6",
     "react-dom": "^19.2.6",
-    "stream-chat": "10.0.0-rc.34",
+    "stream-chat": "^10.0.0",
     "stream-chat-react": "workspace:^"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/examples/vite/package.json b/examples/vite/package.json
index 87935e5b0..35248b300 100644
--- a/examples/vite/package.json
+++ b/examples/vite/package.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     "modern-normalize": "^3.0.1",
     "react": "^19.2.6",
     "react-dom": "^19.2.6",
-    "stream-chat": "10.0.0-rc.34",
+    "stream-chat": "^10.0.0",
     "stream-chat-react": "workspace:^"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 387fbd8cc..6f0579f5f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@
     "modern-normalize": "^3.0.1",
     "react": "^19.0.0 || ^18.0.0 || ^17.0.0",
     "react-dom": "^19.0.0 || ^18.0.0 || ^17.0.0",
-    "stream-chat": "^10.0.0-rc.34"
+    "stream-chat": "^10.0.0"
   },
   "peerDependenciesMeta": {
     "@a2ui/react": {
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@
     "react-dom": "^19.2.6",
     "sass": "^1.100.0",
     "semantic-release": "^25.0.3",
-    "stream-chat": "10.0.0-rc.34",
+    "stream-chat": "^10.0.0",
     "typescript": "^6.0.3",
     "typescript-eslint": "^8.59.4",
     "vite": "^8.1.3",
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index da9370a81..a2d8701e5 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -3288,7 +3288,7 @@ __metadata:
     react: "npm:^19.2.6"
     react-dom: "npm:^19.2.6"
     sass: "npm:^1.100.0"
-    stream-chat: "npm:10.0.0-rc.34"
+    stream-chat: "npm:^10.0.0"
     stream-chat-react: "workspace:^"
     typescript: "npm:^6.0.3"
   languageName: unknown
@@ -3332,7 +3332,7 @@ __metadata:
     react: "npm:^19.2.6"
     react-dom: "npm:^19.2.6"
     react-leaflet: "npm:^5.0.0"
-    stream-chat: "npm:10.0.0-rc.34"
+    stream-chat: "npm:^10.0.0"
     stream-chat-react: "workspace:^"
     typescript: "npm:^6.0.3"
     vite: "npm:^8.1.3"
@@ -3350,7 +3350,7 @@ __metadata:
     emoji-mart: "npm:^5.6.0"
     react: "npm:^19.2.6"
     react-dom: "npm:^19.2.6"
-    stream-chat: "npm:10.0.0-rc.34"
+    stream-chat: "npm:^10.0.0"
     stream-chat-react: "workspace:^"
     typescript: "npm:^6.0.3"
     vite: "npm:^8.1.3"
@@ -3378,7 +3378,7 @@ __metadata:
     react: "npm:^19.2.6"
     react-dom: "npm:^19.2.6"
     sass: "npm:^1.100.0"
-    stream-chat: "npm:10.0.0-rc.34"
+    stream-chat: "npm:^10.0.0"
     stream-chat-react: "workspace:^"
     typescript: "npm:^6.0.3"
     vite: "npm:^8.1.3"
@@ -12058,7 +12058,7 @@ __metadata:
     remark-parse: "npm:^11.0.0"
     sass: "npm:^1.100.0"
     semantic-release: "npm:^25.0.3"
-    stream-chat: "npm:10.0.0-rc.34"
+    stream-chat: "npm:^10.0.0"
     typescript: "npm:^6.0.3"
     typescript-eslint: "npm:^8.59.4"
     unified: "npm:^11.0.5"
@@ -12081,7 +12081,7 @@ __metadata:
     modern-normalize: ^3.0.1
     react: ^19.0.0 || ^18.0.0 || ^17.0.0
     react-dom: ^19.0.0 || ^18.0.0 || ^17.0.0
-    stream-chat: ^10.0.0-rc.34
+    stream-chat: ^10.0.0
   dependenciesMeta:
     "@parcel/watcher":
       built: true
@@ -12111,9 +12111,9 @@ __metadata:
   languageName: unknown
   linkType: soft
 
-"stream-chat@npm:10.0.0-rc.34":
-  version: 10.0.0-rc.34
-  resolution: "stream-chat@npm:10.0.0-rc.34"
+"stream-chat@npm:^10.0.0":
+  version: 10.0.0
+  resolution: "stream-chat@npm:10.0.0"
   dependencies:
     "@stream-io/logger": "npm:^2.1.0"
     "@stream-io/state-store": "npm:^1.2.0"
@@ -12124,7 +12124,7 @@ __metadata:
       built: true
     husky:
       built: true
-  checksum: 10c0/ab420864180b851b849e9abf69577d136cb341af302694cf7436dc81eee54cbbf51181cffff4a353f3417bd312a1d5c244f514c489f600e5fd3e01ef001957f9
+  checksum: 10c0/d44d6ddc3c417844f0d43b10ccf30dd483291fb7e7843173f00129759aa20020f05167e6037f6e8fbefc25f65c19a0c967058fa559bb4b23a4d8b255180a5b4c
   languageName: node
   linkType: hard