diff --git a/.github/actions/prepare-hermes-v1-app/action.yml b/.github/actions/prepare-hermes-v1-app/action.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 24f40d0fbac..00000000000
--- a/.github/actions/prepare-hermes-v1-app/action.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-name: prepare-hermes-v1-app
-description: Prepares a React Native app with Hermes V1 enabled
-inputs:
-  retry-count:
-    description: 'Number of times to retry the yarn install on failure'
-runs:
-  using: composite
-  steps:
-    - name: Create new app
-      shell: bash
-      run: |
-        cd /tmp
-        npx @react-native-community/cli init RNApp --skip-install --version nightly
-
-    - name: Select latest Hermes V1 version
-      shell: bash
-      run: |
-        node "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/.github/workflow-scripts/selectLatestHermesV1Version.js"
-
-    - name: Apply patch to enable Hermes V1
-      shell: bash
-      run: |
-        cd /tmp/RNApp
-        git apply --binary --3way --whitespace=nowarn "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/.github/workflow-scripts/hermes-v1.patch"
-        echo "✅ Patch applied successfully"
-
-    - name: Install app dependencies with retry
-      uses: nick-fields/retry@v3
-      with:
-        timeout_minutes: 10
-        max_attempts: ${{ inputs.retry-count }}
-        retry_wait_seconds: 15
-        shell: bash
-        command: |
-          cd /tmp/RNApp
-          yarn install
-        on_retry_command: |
-          echo "Cleaning up for yarn retry..."
-          cd /tmp/RNApp
-          rm -rf node_modules yarn.lock || true
-          yarn cache clean || true
diff --git a/.github/workflow-scripts/__tests__/createDraftRelease-test.js b/.github/workflow-scripts/__tests__/createDraftRelease-test.js
index b1b330acd87..55b73771424 100644
--- a/.github/workflow-scripts/__tests__/createDraftRelease-test.js
+++ b/.github/workflow-scripts/__tests__/createDraftRelease-test.js
@@ -121,8 +121,12 @@ describe('Create Draft Release', () => {
   });
 
   describe('#_computeBody', () => {
-    it('computes body for release when no hermes versions are passed', async () => {
+    it('falls back to HERMES_VERSION_NAME from version.properties when no hermes version is passed', async () => {
       const version = '0.77.1';
+      const hermesVersion = '250829098.0.13';
+      jest.spyOn(fs, 'readFileSync').mockImplementationOnce(() => {
+        return `HERMES_VERSION_NAME=${hermesVersion}\n`;
+      });
       const changelog = `## v${version}
 ### Breaking Changes
 - [PR #9012](https://github.com/facebook/react-native/pull/9012) - Some other change
@@ -140,13 +144,9 @@ describe('Create Draft Release', () => {
 
 ---
 
-Hermes dSYMS:
-- [Debug](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${version}/hermes-ios-${version}-hermes-framework-dSYM-debug.tar.gz)
-- [Release](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${version}/hermes-ios-${version}-hermes-framework-dSYM-release.tar.gz)
-
 Hermes V1 dSYMS:
-- [Debug](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${version}/hermes-ios-${version}-hermes-framework-dSYM-debug.tar.gz)
-- [Release](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${version}/hermes-ios-${version}-hermes-framework-dSYM-release.tar.gz)
+- [Debug](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${hermesVersion}/hermes-ios-${hermesVersion}-hermes-framework-dSYM-debug.tar.gz)
+- [Release](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${hermesVersion}/hermes-ios-${hermesVersion}-hermes-framework-dSYM-release.tar.gz)
 
 ReactNativeDependencies dSYMs:
 - [Debug](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/react/react-native-artifacts/${version}/react-native-artifacts-${version}-reactnative-dependencies-dSYM-debug.tar.gz)
@@ -172,7 +172,6 @@ View the whole changelog in the [CHANGELOG.md file](https://github.com/facebook/
     it('computes body for release when hermes versions are passed', async () => {
       const version = '0.77.1';
       const hermesVersion = '0.15.0';
-      const hermesV1Version = '250829098.0.2';
       const changelog = `## v${version}
 ### Breaking Changes
 - [PR #9012](https://github.com/facebook/react-native/pull/9012) - Some other change
@@ -184,25 +183,16 @@ View the whole changelog in the [CHANGELOG.md file](https://github.com/facebook/
 #### iOS
 - [PR #3436](https://github.com/facebook/react-native/pull/3436) - Some other change
 - [PR #3437](https://github.com/facebook/react-native/pull/3437) - Some other change`;
-      const body = _computeBody(
-        changelog,
-        version,
-        hermesVersion,
-        hermesV1Version,
-      );
+      const body = _computeBody(changelog, version, hermesVersion);
 
       expect(body).toEqual(`${changelog}
 
 ---
 
-Hermes dSYMS:
+Hermes V1 dSYMS:
 - [Debug](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${hermesVersion}/hermes-ios-${hermesVersion}-hermes-framework-dSYM-debug.tar.gz)
 - [Release](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${hermesVersion}/hermes-ios-${hermesVersion}-hermes-framework-dSYM-release.tar.gz)
 
-Hermes V1 dSYMS:
-- [Debug](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${hermesV1Version}/hermes-ios-${hermesV1Version}-hermes-framework-dSYM-debug.tar.gz)
-- [Release](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${hermesV1Version}/hermes-ios-${hermesV1Version}-hermes-framework-dSYM-release.tar.gz)
-
 ReactNativeDependencies dSYMs:
 - [Debug](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/react/react-native-artifacts/${version}/react-native-artifacts-${version}-reactnative-dependencies-dSYM-debug.tar.gz)
 - [Release](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/react/react-native-artifacts/${version}/react-native-artifacts-${version}-reactnative-dependencies-dSYM-release.tar.gz)
diff --git a/.github/workflow-scripts/createDraftRelease.js b/.github/workflow-scripts/createDraftRelease.js
index ca9771b713c..c3d7ef72447 100644
--- a/.github/workflow-scripts/createDraftRelease.js
+++ b/.github/workflow-scripts/createDraftRelease.js
@@ -40,21 +40,33 @@ function _extractChangelog(version) {
   return changelog.slice(changelogStarts, changelogEnds).join('\n').trim();
 }
 
-function _computeBody(changelog, version, hermesVersion, hermesV1Version) {
-  hermesVersion = hermesVersion ?? version;
-  hermesV1Version = hermesV1Version ?? version;
+function _readHermesVersionFromProperties() {
+  const propertiesPath =
+    'packages/react-native/sdks/hermes-engine/version.properties';
+  const content = String(fs.readFileSync(propertiesPath, 'utf8'));
+  const match = content.match(/^HERMES_VERSION_NAME=(.+)$/m);
+  if (!match) {
+    throw new Error(`HERMES_VERSION_NAME not found in ${propertiesPath}`);
+  }
+  return match[1].trim();
+}
+
+function _computeBody(changelog, version, hermesVersion) {
+  // The workflow input is optional and arrives as an empty string when unset,
+  // so treat both missing and empty as "fall back to version.properties".
+  // Falling back to ${version} would produce 404 dSYMS URLs since Hermes V1
+  // versions (e.g. 250829098.0.13) don't track RN versions.
+  if (hermesVersion == null || hermesVersion === '') {
+    hermesVersion = _readHermesVersionFromProperties();
+  }
   return `${changelog}
 
 ---
 
-Hermes dSYMS:
+Hermes V1 dSYMS:
 - [Debug](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${hermesVersion}/hermes-ios-${hermesVersion}-hermes-framework-dSYM-debug.tar.gz)
 - [Release](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${hermesVersion}/hermes-ios-${hermesVersion}-hermes-framework-dSYM-release.tar.gz)
 
-Hermes V1 dSYMS:
-- [Debug](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${hermesV1Version}/hermes-ios-${hermesV1Version}-hermes-framework-dSYM-debug.tar.gz)
-- [Release](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/hermes/hermes-ios/${hermesV1Version}/hermes-ios-${hermesV1Version}-hermes-framework-dSYM-release.tar.gz)
-
 ReactNativeDependencies dSYMs:
 - [Debug](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/react/react-native-artifacts/${version}/react-native-artifacts-${version}-reactnative-dependencies-dSYM-debug.tar.gz)
 - [Release](https://repo1.maven.org/maven2/com/facebook/react/react-native-artifacts/${version}/react-native-artifacts-${version}-reactnative-dependencies-dSYM-release.tar.gz)
@@ -123,13 +135,7 @@ function moveToChangelogBranch(version) {
   run(`git checkout -b changelog/v${version}`);
 }
 
-async function createDraftRelease(
-  version,
-  latest,
-  token,
-  hermesVersion,
-  hermesV1Version,
-) {
+async function createDraftRelease(version, latest, token, hermesVersion) {
   if (version.startsWith('v')) {
     version = version.substring(1);
   }
@@ -137,7 +143,7 @@ async function createDraftRelease(
   _verifyTagExists(version);
   moveToChangelogBranch(version);
   const changelog = _extractChangelog(version);
-  const body = _computeBody(changelog, version, hermesVersion, hermesV1Version);
+  const body = _computeBody(changelog, version, hermesVersion);
   const release = await _createDraftReleaseOnGitHub(
     version,
     body,
@@ -155,4 +161,5 @@ module.exports = {
   _extractChangelog,
   _computeBody,
   _createDraftReleaseOnGitHub,
+  _readHermesVersionFromProperties,
 };
diff --git a/.github/workflow-scripts/hermes-v1.patch b/.github/workflow-scripts/hermes-v1.patch
deleted file mode 100644
index 213020381fc..00000000000
--- a/.github/workflow-scripts/hermes-v1.patch
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-diff --git a/android/settings.gradle b/android/settings.gradle
-index 63b5d4e..6359ec3 100644
---- a/android/settings.gradle
-+++ b/android/settings.gradle
-@@ -4,3 +4,11 @@ extensions.configure(com.facebook.react.ReactSettingsExtension){ ex -> ex.autoli
- rootProject.name = 'RNApp'
- include ':app'
- includeBuild('../node_modules/@react-native/gradle-plugin')
-+
-+includeBuild('../node_modules/react-native') {
-+  dependencySubstitution {
-+    substitute(module("com.facebook.react:react-android")).using(project(":packages:react-native:ReactAndroid"))
-+    substitute(module("com.facebook.react:react-native")).using(project(":packages:react-native:ReactAndroid"))
-+    substitute(project(":packages:react-native:ReactAndroid:hermes-engine")).using(module("com.facebook.hermes:hermes-android:$HERMES_V1_VERSION"))
-+  }
-+}
-diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
-index f05d51b..69938af 100644
---- a/package.json
-+++ b/package.json
-@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@
-     "react-test-renderer": "19.2.0",
-     "typescript": "^5.8.3"
-   },
-+  "resolutions": {
-+    "hermes-compiler": "$HERMES_V1_VERSION"
-+  },
-   "engines": {
-     "node": ">=20"
-   }
diff --git a/.github/workflow-scripts/selectLatestHermesV1Version.js b/.github/workflow-scripts/selectLatestHermesV1Version.js
deleted file mode 100644
index db11b9278c1..00000000000
--- a/.github/workflow-scripts/selectLatestHermesV1Version.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates.
- *
- * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
- * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
- */
-
-const { execSync } = require('child_process');
-const fs = require('fs');
-const path = require('path');
-
-const PATCH_FILE_PATH = path.join(__dirname, 'hermes-v1.patch');
-
-function getLatestHermesV1Version() {
-  const npmString = "npm view hermes-compiler@latest-v1 version";
-
-  try {
-    const result = execSync(npmString, { stdio: ['ignore', 'pipe', 'ignore'] }).toString().trim();
-    return result;
-  } catch (error) {
-    throw new Error(`Failed to get package version for hermes-compiler@latest-v1`);
-  }
-}
-
-function setHermesV1VersionInPatch(version) {
-  if (!fs.existsSync(PATCH_FILE_PATH)) {
-    throw new Error(`Patch file not found at path: ${PATCH_FILE_PATH}`);
-  }
-
-  let patchContent = fs.readFileSync(PATCH_FILE_PATH, 'utf8');
-  const updatedContent = patchContent.replaceAll(
-    "$HERMES_V1_VERSION",
-    version
-  );
-  fs.writeFileSync(PATCH_FILE_PATH, updatedContent, 'utf8');
-}
-
-setHermesV1VersionInPatch(getLatestHermesV1Version());
diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-draft-release.yml b/.github/workflows/create-draft-release.yml
index ca947dc267c..d45a3a5e99f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create-draft-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create-draft-release.yml
@@ -6,11 +6,7 @@ on:
       hermesVersion:
         required: false
         type: string
-        description: The version of Hermes to use for this release (eg. 0.15.0). If not specified, it will use React Native Version
-      hermesV1Version:
-        required: false
-        type: string
-        description: The version of Hermes V1 to use for this release (eg. 250829098.0.2). If not specified, it will use React Native Version
+        description: The version of Hermes to use for this release (eg. 250829098.0.2). If not specified, it will read HERMES_VERSION_NAME from version.properties
 
 jobs:
   create-draft-release:
@@ -37,7 +33,7 @@ jobs:
             const {createDraftRelease} = require('./.github/workflow-scripts/createDraftRelease.js');
             const version = '${{ github.ref_name }}';
             const {isLatest} = require('./.github/workflow-scripts/publishTemplate.js');
-            return (await createDraftRelease(version, isLatest(), '${{secrets.REACT_NATIVE_BOT_GITHUB_TOKEN}}', '${{ inputs.hermesVersion }}', '${{ inputs.hermesV1Version }}')).id;
+            return (await createDraftRelease(version, isLatest(), '${{secrets.REACT_NATIVE_BOT_GITHUB_TOKEN}}', '${{ inputs.hermesVersion }}')).id;
           result-encoding: string
       - name: Upload release assets for DotSlash
         uses: actions/github-script@v8
diff --git a/.github/workflows/prebuild-ios-core.yml b/.github/workflows/prebuild-ios-core.yml
index fabddff5509..6edd91afcd0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/prebuild-ios-core.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/prebuild-ios-core.yml
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set Hermes version
         shell: bash
         run: |
+          # Nightly RN builds resolve Hermes from npm's latest-v1 dist-tag (TODO:
+          # rename to 'latest' once V1 is the only Hermes on npm). Stable builds
+          # use the version pinned in version.properties.
           if [ "${{ inputs.use-hermes-nightly }}" == "true" ]; then
             HERMES_VERSION="latest-v1"
           else
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
index 2433cef6842..0e87cc895cb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-release.yml
@@ -19,26 +19,19 @@ jobs:
           echo "Setting release type to release"
           echo "RELEASE_TYPE=release" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
-  set_hermes_versions:
+  set_hermes_version:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     if: github.repository == 'facebook/react-native'
     outputs:
-      HERMES_VERSION: ${{ steps.set_hermes_versions.outputs.HERMES_VERSION }}
-      HERMES_V1_VERSION: ${{ steps.set_hermes_versions.outputs.HERMES_V1_VERSION }}
+      HERMES_VERSION: ${{ steps.set_hermes_version.outputs.HERMES_VERSION }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      - id: set_hermes_versions
+      - id: set_hermes_version
         run: |
-          echo "Setting hermes versions to latest"
           hermes_version=$(grep -oE 'HERMES_VERSION_NAME=([0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+)' packages/react-native/sdks/hermes-engine/version.properties | cut -d'=' -f2)
-
           echo "HERMES_VERSION=$hermes_version" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-          echo "HERMES_V1_VERSION=$hermes_version" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-      - name: Print hermes versions
-        run: |
-          echo "HERMES_VERSION=${{ steps.set_hermes_versions.outputs.HERMES_VERSION }}"
-          echo "HERMES_V1_VERSION=${{ steps.set_hermes_versions.outputs.HERMES_V1_VERSION }}"
+          echo "HERMES_VERSION=$hermes_version"
 
   prebuild_apple_dependencies:
     if: github.repository == 'facebook/react-native'
@@ -142,9 +135,8 @@ jobs:
     secrets: inherit
 
   create_draft_release:
-    needs: [generate_changelog, set_hermes_versions]
+    needs: [generate_changelog, set_hermes_version]
     uses: ./.github/workflows/create-draft-release.yml
     secrets: inherit
     with:
-      hermesVersion: ${{ needs.set_hermes_versions.outputs.HERMES_VERSION }}
-      hermesV1Version: ${{ needs.set_hermes_versions.outputs.HERMES_V1_VERSION }}
+      hermesVersion: ${{ needs.set_hermes_version.outputs.HERMES_VERSION }}