@@ -1,14 +1,23 @@
-# Version 7.4.0-beta.3 2026-09-24
+# Version 7.4.0-rc.1 2026-10-07
 
-Unraid OS 7.4.0-beta.3 is a beta release with security updates and Linux kernel 6.18.52, alongside Docker and storage improvements, expanded hardware and Hyper-V support, and WebGUI enhancements including a shared task tray.
+Unraid OS 7.4.0-rc.1 is a release candidate for the upcoming 7.4.0 stable release. The 7.4 series includes security updates, Docker and storage improvements, expanded hardware and Hyper-V support, and WebGUI enhancements including a shared task tray.
 
-## What's new in beta.3
+## Community contributions
 
-* Fix: Mover now preserves hard links during progress-enabled moves, including files in separate subfolders of the same share.
-* Fix: `shfs` no longer deadlocks under concurrent file-lock requests or crashes on an internal unlink assertion that could make `/mnt/user` unavailable.
-* Includes package updates and security fixes.
+Thanks to the community contributors whose changes are included in the 7.4 series:
 
-We recommend beta testers upgrade to receive the security fixes included in this release and help validate the changes before stable availability.
+* **junkerderprovinz** — [Stream CR-only progress ticks in run() instead of buffering them into one message](https://linear.app/lime-technology/review/stream-cr-only-progress-ticks-in-run-instead-of-buffering-them-into-40891dbca39f): live plugin installation progress.
+* **Mainfrezzer** — [Send user agent for docker update checks](https://linear.app/lime-technology/review/send-user-agent-for-docker-update-checks-a42ad4f07860): registry User-Agent; [Add OCI image manifest support in DockerClient](https://linear.app/lime-technology/review/add-oci-image-manifest-support-in-dockerclient-154d05bbefee): OCI image support.
+* **Joly0** — [fix: guard the dashboard's docker icon onerror fallback](https://linear.app/lime-technology/review/fix-guard-the-dashboards-docker-icon-onerror-fallback-c535201f44f3): Docker icon fallback loop fix.
+* **chodeus** — [webgui #2693](<https://github.com/unraid/webgui/pull/2693>): preserve the shared Docker icon; [fix: restore the orphan image row's Created date to the Uptime column](https://linear.app/lime-technology/review/fix-restore-the-orphan-image-rows-created-date-to-the-uptime-column-cf9ece017ace): correct the orphan image row date.
+* **Sacred-Shadow** — [Remove -k flag from notification agents using public APIs](https://linear.app/lime-technology/review/remove-k-flag-from-notification-agents-using-public-apis-9528fc403117): remove `curl -k` from public notification agents.
+
+## What's new in rc.1
+
+* Updated platform baseline compared with beta.3: Linux kernel 6.18.54, Docker 29.8.2, PHP 8.4.26, and Unraid API 4.37.5-2, with ZFS rebuilt for the newer kernel.
+* Updated QEMU VM helper messaging. VM users should test their usual workflows and report unexpected behavior.
+
+**Test systems only:** This is a pre-release build, not a stable release. Use it on test systems to help validate existing workflows before stable availability.
 
 ## Upgrading
 
@@ -36,7 +45,7 @@ For step-by-step instructions, see [Updating Unraid](/unraid-os/updating-unraid/
 * New: Docker container templates support multiple custom networks, and additional network attachments are retained when containers are recreated or updated.
 * New: Docker Add/Edit forms show a live preview of the container icon URL, with a fallback when the URL is empty or invalid.
 * New: Advanced View includes a Memory limit field for Docker containers.
-* Improvement: Docker registry update checks accept OCI image manifests and indexes and identify the Unraid client.
+* Improvement: Docker registry update checks accept OCI image manifests and indexes, identify the Unraid client, and refresh local image information when checking for updates.
 * Fix: Dashboard Docker icon fallback handling no longer retries indefinitely when the fallback image is unavailable.
 
 ### Storage
@@ -46,6 +55,7 @@ For step-by-step instructions, see [Updating Unraid](/unraid-os/updating-unraid/
 * Improvement: Pressing Enter in an encrypted array passphrase field starts the array when the passphrase is valid.
 * Fix: Mover handles files with hard links within the same share across separate subfolders.
 * Fix: File Manager moves between user shares on different pools or drives no longer silently remove the source file when a transfer fails.
+* Fix: File Manager keeps exclusive shares on `/mnt/user` rather than changing the view to a disk or pool path.
 * Fix: `shfs` no longer deadlocks when concurrent file-lock requests exhaust the FUSE worker pool.
 * Fix: `shfs` no longer crashes on an internal unlink assertion that could make `/mnt/user` unavailable.
 * Fix: A stopped array no longer shows 100% utilization; it shows offline and filesystem status instead.
@@ -85,7 +95,7 @@ For step-by-step instructions, see [Updating Unraid](/unraid-os/updating-unraid/
 
 ### Downgraded packages (1)
 
-* shared-mime-info: version 2.5.1 -> 2.4-3 (Slackware maintainer downgrade)
+* shared-mime-info: version 2.5.1 -> 2.4-3 (intentional Slackware maintainer downgrade; the maintainer described the newer version as unnecessary maintenance)
 
 ### Added packages (1)