diff --git a/.github/workflows/prepare-release.yml b/.github/workflows/prepare-release.yml
index 815aec4..7a1b70f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/prepare-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/prepare-release.yml
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ name: Prepare release
 # a `release/vX.Y.Z` branch, stamps the version into the shipped package.json
 # files (lockstep: extension + gateway share one version), commits, and opens a
 # PR to main. Review + merge, then cut the release by tagging:
-#     git tag -s vX.Y.Z -m "vX.Y.Z" && git push origin vX.Y.Z
-# Sign with a key registered on GitHub so the release tag shows Verified.
+#     git tag vX.Y.Z && git push origin vX.Y.Z      # → release.yml publishes
+# Optionally sign the tag with `git tag -s` if a verified TAG is desired.
 #
 # The release branch is a durable record of each cut (not just the tag).
 on:
@@ -55,5 +55,5 @@ jobs:
             echo ""
             echo "1. **Open the PR:** [$URL]($URL)"
             echo "2. Review + merge it into \`main\`."
-            echo "3. On a machine with a GitHub-registered signing key, cut the release: \`git tag -s v$VERSION -m 'v$VERSION' && git push origin v$VERSION\` → the Release workflow verifies the tag matches the committed version, then builds and publishes to the gated targets."
+            echo "3. Cut the release: \`git tag v$VERSION && git push origin v$VERSION\` → the Release workflow verifies the tag matches the committed version, then builds and publishes to the gated targets. A signed tag is optional."
           } >> "$GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 8dd2889..3194aa3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 name: Release
 
-# Fires on a version tag (prefer `git tag -s v0.1.0 -m "v0.1.0"` for a Verified tag).
+# Fires on a version tag (e.g. `git tag v0.1.0 && git push origin v0.1.0`).
 # Builds + tests, then packages and PUBLISHES to the MVP targets:
 #   • extension .vsix  → GitHub Release  (+ VS Code Marketplace when VSCE_PAT is set)
 #   • gateway          → GitHub Release tarball (+ npm when NPM_TOKEN is set)
diff --git a/docs/05-roadmap-and-open-questions.md b/docs/05-roadmap-and-open-questions.md
index 93e6eeb..e7c64ff 100644
--- a/docs/05-roadmap-and-open-questions.md
+++ b/docs/05-roadmap-and-open-questions.md
@@ -244,10 +244,11 @@ strings. A pre-release _extension_ lane (Microsoft's odd-minor convention / `vsc
    your own PR, so a solo maintainer merges the (mechanical, CI-green) release PR with
    **`gh pr merge <n> --admin --merge`** — `enforce_admins` is deliberately off for exactly this.
    That is also why the release merges are merge commits despite `required_linear_history`.
-3. On a machine with a signing key registered with GitHub, update `main` after the merge, then
-   **sign and push** the tag: `git tag -s vX.Y.Z -m "vX.Y.Z" && git push origin vX.Y.Z`.
-   Confirm GitHub reports the tag as Verified; a Verified merge commit does **not** verify an
-   unsigned tag. `release.yml` **verifies the tag matches the committed version** (fails on drift),
+3. Update `main` after the merge, then tag and push:
+   `git tag vX.Y.Z && git push origin vX.Y.Z`. Signing the tag is optional
+   (`git tag -s vX.Y.Z -m "vX.Y.Z"` with a key registered on GitHub) if you want the **tag itself**
+   to show Verified; a Verified commit does not imply a Verified tag. Neither badge is required
+   for publishing. `release.yml` **verifies the tag matches the committed version** (fails on drift),
    then builds → tests → packages the `.vsix` + gateway tarball → GitHub Release (always) → gated
    Marketplace / npm / Docker publishes. Docker/tarball are named from the tag; the `.vsix`/npm
    version come from `package.json`.
diff --git a/docs/06-field-notes.md b/docs/06-field-notes.md
index d767f84..b335ada 100644
--- a/docs/06-field-notes.md
+++ b/docs/06-field-notes.md
@@ -108,11 +108,12 @@ Base: `~/.vscode-server/data/User/`
 
 ## Build, tooling & agent gotchas (durable — the committed home; `/memories/` is ephemeral)
 
-- **Release tag verification (2026-09-30).** `v1.0.0` points to a Verified merge commit, but its
-  annotated tag itself reports `verification.reason=unsigned`, so the release tag has no Verified
-  badge. `git tag -a` alone does not sign. For future cuts, use `git tag -s vX.Y.Z -m "vX.Y.Z"` on
-  a machine with a GPG/SSH signing key registered on GitHub, then verify the tag's signature
-  status after pushing. Never replace a published release tag just to change its badge.
+- **Release verification (2026-09-30).** Every earlier release tag points to a Verified commit,
+  but the tags themselves are either lightweight or unsigned annotated tags (`v1.0.0` reports
+  `verification.reason=unsigned`). GitHub's commit badge is distinct from tag verification;
+  neither requires a signing key to publish. Signing a tag with a GitHub-registered key is optional
+  if a Verified tag is specifically wanted. Never replace a published release tag just to
+  change its badge.
 
 > Non-obvious traps that cost real time. This is the **committed** replacement for the assistant's
 > ephemeral `/memories/` store (a container rebuild wipes that). Add a bullet here whenever a
diff --git a/scripts/release.mjs b/scripts/release.mjs
index 039b8f8..b02b489 100644
--- a/scripts/release.mjs
+++ b/scripts/release.mjs
@@ -94,9 +94,8 @@ try {
 console.log(
   `\nNext:\n` +
     `  1. Review + merge the release/v${version} PR it opens.\n` +
-    `  2. On a machine with a GitHub-registered signing key:\n` +
-    `     git tag -s v${version} -m "v${version}" && git push origin v${version}\n` +
-    `     → the Release workflow publishes.`,
+    `  2. git tag v${version} && git push origin v${version}   → the Release workflow publishes.\n` +
+    `     A signed tag is optional if you want the tag itself to show Verified.`,
 );
 
 /** @returns {string} the committed root package.json version (fallback 0.0.0). */