diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c315d09a..5a2a91b9 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
 	"name": "task-genius",
-	"version": "9.8.0-beta.0",
+	"version": "9.7.6",
 	"description": "Comprehensive task management plugin for Obsidian with progress bars, task status cycling, and advanced task tracking features.",
 	"main": "main.js",
 	"scripts": {
 		"dev": "node esbuild.config.mjs",
 		"build": "tsc -noEmit -skipLibCheck && node esbuild.config.mjs production",
-		"version": "node version-bump.mjs && git add manifest.json versions.json",
+		"version": "node version-bump.mjs && git add manifest.json manifest-beta.json versions.json",
 		"e-t": "cross-env node scripts/extract-translations.cjs",
 		"g-l": "cross-env node scripts/generate-locale-files.cjs",
 		"test": "jest",
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@
 		"release:minor": "release-it minor",
 		"release:major": "release-it major",
 		"release:dry": "release-it --dry-run",
-		"release:beta": "release-it --config .release-it.beta.cjs --preRelease=beta",
-		"release:beta:patch": "release-it patch --config .release-it.beta.cjs --preRelease=beta",
-		"release:beta:minor": "release-it minor --config .release-it.beta.cjs --preRelease=beta",
-		"release:beta:major": "release-it major --config .release-it.beta.cjs --preRelease=beta",
-		"release:beta:dry": "release-it --config .release-it.beta.cjs --preRelease=beta --dry-run"
+		"release:beta": "node scripts/smart-beta-release.mjs",
+		"release:beta:continue": "node scripts/smart-beta-release.mjs continue",
+		"release:beta:patch": "node scripts/smart-beta-release.mjs patch",
+		"release:beta:minor": "node scripts/smart-beta-release.mjs minor",
+		"release:beta:major": "node scripts/smart-beta-release.mjs major",
+		"release:beta:dry": "node scripts/smart-beta-release.mjs --dry-run"
 	},
 	"keywords": [
 		"obsidian",
diff --git a/scripts/smart-beta-release.mjs b/scripts/smart-beta-release.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..19206dbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/smart-beta-release.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import { execSync } from 'child_process';
+import { readFileSync } from 'fs';
+import semver from 'semver';
+
+// Get the current version from package.json
+const packageJson = JSON.parse(readFileSync('package.json', 'utf8'));
+const currentVersion = packageJson.version;
+
+// Parse command line arguments
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+const increment = args[0]; // 'patch', 'minor', 'major', or undefined
+
+// Check if we're already on a beta version
+const isCurrentlyBeta = semver.prerelease(currentVersion) !== null;
+
+let releaseCommand = 'npx release-it --config .release-it.beta.cjs';
+
+if (isCurrentlyBeta && (!increment || increment === 'continue')) {
+	// If already on beta and no increment specified, just bump the prerelease
+	console.log(`📦 Current version: ${currentVersion} (beta)`);
+	console.log('🔄 Continuing beta sequence...');
+	releaseCommand += ' --preRelease';
+} else if (increment === 'patch' || increment === 'minor' || increment === 'major') {
+	// If increment is specified, create new beta.0 for that version
+	console.log(`📦 Current version: ${currentVersion}`);
+	console.log(`🚀 Creating new ${increment} beta version...`);
+	releaseCommand += ` ${increment} --preRelease=beta`;
+} else if (!isCurrentlyBeta) {
+	// If not on beta and no increment, default to patch
+	console.log(`📦 Current version: ${currentVersion} (stable)`);
+	console.log('🚀 Creating new patch beta version...');
+	releaseCommand += ' patch --preRelease=beta';
+} else {
+	// Default to continuing prerelease
+	console.log(`📦 Current version: ${currentVersion} (beta)`);
+	console.log('🔄 Continuing beta sequence...');
+	releaseCommand += ' --preRelease';
+}
+
+// Add any additional arguments
+const additionalArgs = args.slice(1).join(' ');
+if (additionalArgs) {
+	releaseCommand += ' ' + additionalArgs;
+}
+
+console.log(`\n📝 Executing: ${releaseCommand}\n`);
+
+try {
+	execSync(releaseCommand, { stdio: 'inherit' });
+} catch (error) {
+	console.error('❌ Release failed:', error.message);
+	process.exit(1);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/version-bump.mjs b/version-bump.mjs
index d409fa0e..e7a6b189 100644
--- a/version-bump.mjs
+++ b/version-bump.mjs
@@ -1,14 +1,34 @@
-import { readFileSync, writeFileSync } from "fs";
+import { readFileSync, writeFileSync, existsSync } from "fs";
+import semverPrerelease from "semver/functions/prerelease.js";
 
 const targetVersion = process.env.npm_package_version;
 
-// read minAppVersion from manifest.json and bump version to target version
-let manifest = JSON.parse(readFileSync("manifest.json", "utf8"));
+// Check if this is a prerelease (beta) version
+const isPreRelease = semverPrerelease(targetVersion) !== null;
+
+// Determine which manifest file to read and update
+const manifestFile = isPreRelease ? "manifest-beta.json" : "manifest.json";
+
+// For beta releases, read from manifest-beta.json if it exists, otherwise from manifest.json
+let sourceManifestFile = manifestFile;
+if (isPreRelease && !existsSync("manifest-beta.json")) {
+	sourceManifestFile = "manifest.json";
+}
+
+// read minAppVersion from the appropriate manifest and bump version
+let manifest = JSON.parse(readFileSync(sourceManifestFile, "utf8"));
 const { minAppVersion } = manifest;
 manifest.version = targetVersion;
-writeFileSync("manifest.json", JSON.stringify(manifest, null, "\t"));
 
-// update versions.json with target version and minAppVersion from manifest.json
+// Only update the appropriate manifest file
+// For beta releases: only update manifest-beta.json
+// For stable releases: update manifest.json (and sync to manifest-beta.json is handled by ob-bumper)
+writeFileSync(manifestFile, JSON.stringify(manifest, null, "\t"));
+
+// Always update versions.json with target version and minAppVersion
 let versions = JSON.parse(readFileSync("versions.json", "utf8"));
 versions[targetVersion] = minAppVersion;
 writeFileSync("versions.json", JSON.stringify(versions, null, "\t"));
+
+console.log(`Version bumped to ${targetVersion} (${isPreRelease ? 'beta' : 'stable'} release)`);
+console.log(`Updated: ${manifestFile}, versions.json`);