diff --git a/.azure-pipelines/ci-build.yml b/.azure-pipelines/ci-build.yml
index 724b3dea..f7e4e884 100644
--- a/.azure-pipelines/ci-build.yml
+++ b/.azure-pipelines/ci-build.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ trigger:
       - support/v2
   tags:
     include:
-      - 'v*'
+      - 'v2.*'
 pr:
   branches:
     include:
@@ -56,6 +56,20 @@ extends:
               targetPath: '$(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'
           steps:
 
+          - pwsh: |
+              $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+              $version = ([xml](Get-Content -LiteralPath Directory.Build.props)).SelectSingleNode('/Project/PropertyGroup/Version').InnerText
+              if ($version -cnotmatch '^\d+\.\d+\.\d+(-[0-9A-Za-z.-]+)?$') { throw "Invalid OData project version: $version." }
+              $sourceBranch = $env:BUILD_SOURCEBRANCH
+              if ($sourceBranch.StartsWith('refs/tags/')) {
+                if ($sourceBranch -cnotmatch '^refs/tags/v2\.\d+\.\d+(-[0-9A-Za-z.-]+)?$') {
+                  throw "This pipeline only releases OData v2.* tags."
+                }
+                if ($sourceBranch -cne "refs/tags/v$version") { throw "OData tag must exactly match Directory.Build.props version." }
+              }
+              Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=ODataVersion]$version"
+            displayName: 'Verify OData component tag and project version'
+
           - task: UseDotNet@2
             displayName: 'Use .NET 6' # needed for ESRP signing
             inputs:
@@ -174,8 +188,13 @@ extends:
             displayName: 'pack'
             inputs:
               command: pack
-              projects: src/Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.Reader/Microsoft.OpenAPI.OData.Reader.csproj
-              arguments: '-o $(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory) --configuration $(BuildConfiguration) --no-build --include-symbols --include-source /p:SymbolPackageFormat=snupkg'
+              packagesToPack: src/Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.Reader/Microsoft.OpenAPI.OData.Reader.csproj
+              configuration: '$(BuildConfiguration)'
+              packDirectory: '$(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'
+              nobuild: true
+              includesymbols: true
+              includesource: true
+              buildProperties: 'SymbolPackageFormat=snupkg'
 
           - task: SFP.build-tasks.custom-build-task-1.EsrpCodeSigning@5
             displayName: 'ESRP CodeSigning Nuget Packages'
@@ -187,7 +206,7 @@ extends:
               AuthAKVName: 'akv-prod-eastus'
               AuthCertName: 'ReferenceLibraryPrivateCert'
               AuthSignCertName: 'ReferencePackagePublisherCertificate'              
-              Pattern: '*.nupkg'
+              Pattern: 'Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.$(ODataVersion).nupkg'
               signConfigType: inlineSignParams
               inlineOperation: |
                 [
@@ -212,7 +231,7 @@ extends:
               PendingAnalysisWaitTimeoutMinutes: '5'
 
     - stage: deploy
-      condition: and(contains(variables['build.sourceBranch'], 'refs/tags/v'), succeeded())
+      condition: and(succeeded(), startsWith(variables['Build.SourceBranch'], 'refs/tags/v2.'))
       dependsOn: build
       jobs:
         - deployment: deploy
@@ -230,10 +249,26 @@ extends:
                 pool:
                   vmImage: ubuntu-latest
                 steps:
+                - pwsh: |
+                    $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+                    $sourceBranch = $env:BUILD_SOURCEBRANCH
+                    if ($sourceBranch -cnotmatch '^refs/tags/v2\.\d+\.\d+(-[0-9A-Za-z.-]+)?$') { throw "Expected an OData v2.* release tag." }
+                    $version = $sourceBranch.Substring('refs/tags/v'.Length)
+                    $packages = @(Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath '$(Pipeline.Workspace)' -Filter '*.nupkg' -File -Recurse)
+                    if ($packages.Count -ne 1 -or $packages[0].Name -cne "Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.$version.nupkg") {
+                      throw "Expected only the exact OData package matching the triggering tag."
+                    }
+                    $symbols = Join-Path $packages[0].DirectoryName "Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.$version.snupkg"
+                    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $symbols -PathType Leaf)) {
+                      throw "Missing exact OData symbols package for $version."
+                    }
+                    Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=ODataReleaseVersion]$version"
+                    Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=ODataPackagePath]$($packages[0].FullName)"
+                  displayName: 'Verify tagged OData package and symbols'
                 - task: 1ES.PublishNuget@1
                   displayName: 'NuGet push'
                   inputs:
-                    packagesToPush: '$(Pipeline.Workspace)/Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.*.nupkg'
+                    packagesToPush: '$(ODataPackagePath)'
                     nuGetFeedType: external
                     publishFeedCredentials: 'OpenAPI Nuget Connection'
                     packageParentPath: '$(Pipeline.Workspace)'
@@ -255,23 +290,30 @@ extends:
                   vmImage: ubuntu-latest
                 steps:
                 - pwsh: |
-                    $artifacts = @(Get-ChildItem -Path $(Pipeline.Workspace) -Filter Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.*.nupkg -Recurse)
-                    if ($artifacts.Count -ne 1) { throw "Expected exactly one OData package; found $($artifacts.Count)." }
-                    $artifactName = $artifacts[0]
-                    $artifactVersion= $artifactName.Name -replace "Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.", "" -replace ".nupkg", ""
-                    #Set Variable $artifactName and $artifactVersion
-                    Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=artifactVersion; isSecret=false;]$artifactVersion"
-                    echo "$artifactVersion"
-                  displayName: 'Fetch Artifact Name'
+                    $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+                    $sourceBranch = $env:BUILD_SOURCEBRANCH
+                    if ($sourceBranch -cnotmatch '^refs/tags/v2\.\d+\.\d+(-[0-9A-Za-z.-]+)?$') { throw "Expected an OData v2.* release tag." }
+                    $version = $sourceBranch.Substring('refs/tags/v'.Length)
+                    $packages = @(Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath '$(Pipeline.Workspace)' -Filter '*.nupkg' -File -Recurse)
+                    if ($packages.Count -ne 1 -or $packages[0].Name -cne "Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.$version.nupkg") {
+                      throw "Expected only the exact OData package matching the triggering tag."
+                    }
+                    $symbols = Join-Path $packages[0].DirectoryName "Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.$version.snupkg"
+                    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $symbols -PathType Leaf)) {
+                      throw "Missing exact OData symbols package for $version."
+                    }
+                    Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=ODataReleaseVersion]$version"
+                    Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=ODataPackagePath]$($packages[0].FullName)"
+                  displayName: 'Verify tagged OData release artifact'
                 - task: GitHubRelease@1
                   displayName: 'GitHub release'
-                  condition: succeededOrFailed()
+                  condition: succeeded()
                   inputs:
                     gitHubConnection: 'Github-MaggieKimani1'
                     action: edit
                     tagSource: userSpecifiedTag
-                    tag: 'v$(artifactVersion)'
-                    title: 'v$(artifactVersion)'
+                    tag: 'v$(ODataReleaseVersion)'
+                    title: 'v$(ODataReleaseVersion)'
                     releaseNotesSource: inline
-                    assets: '$(Pipeline.Workspace)\Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.*.nupkg'
+                    assets: '$(ODataPackagePath)'
                     addChangeLog: false   
diff --git a/.azure-pipelines/hidi-release.yml b/.azure-pipelines/hidi-release.yml
index 6bd8d486..0087ca80 100644
--- a/.azure-pipelines/hidi-release.yml
+++ b/.azure-pipelines/hidi-release.yml
@@ -49,6 +49,16 @@ extends:
                   artifactName: HidiDockerContext
                   targetPath: '$(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)\HidiDockerContext'
             steps:
+              - pwsh: |
+                  $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+                  $version = ([xml](Get-Content -LiteralPath src\Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi\Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.csproj)).SelectSingleNode('/Project/PropertyGroup/Version').InnerText
+                  if ($version -cnotmatch '^2\.\d+\.\d+(-[0-9A-Za-z.-]+)?$') { throw "Expected a hidi 2.x version, got $version." }
+                  $sourceBranch = $env:BUILD_SOURCEBRANCH
+                  if ($sourceBranch.StartsWith('refs/tags/') -and $sourceBranch -cne "refs/tags/hidi-v$version") {
+                    throw "This pipeline only releases hidi-v2.* tags exactly matching the hidi project version."
+                  }
+                  Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=HidiVersion]$version"
+                displayName: Verify Hidi component tag and project version
               - task: CopyFiles@2
                 displayName: Stage public-only hidi Docker context
                 inputs:
@@ -103,12 +113,6 @@ extends:
                   '@ | Set-Content -Path '$(Build.SourcesDirectory)\nuget.config'
                 displayName: Configure approved NuGet feed
               - pwsh: |
-                  $version = ([xml](Get-Content src\Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi\Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.csproj)).Project.PropertyGroup.Version
-                  if ($version -notmatch '^2\.\d+\.\d+(-[0-9A-Za-z.-]+)?$') { throw "Expected a hidi 2.x version, got $version." }
-                  if ('$(Build.SourceBranch)' -like 'refs/tags/*' -and '$(Build.SourceBranch)' -ne "refs/tags/hidi-v$version") {
-                    throw "Hidi tag must exactly match the hidi project version."
-                  }
-                  Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=HidiVersion]$version"
                   dotnet build src\Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi\Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.csproj -c $(buildConfiguration) -p:GeneratePackageOnBuild=false
                   if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit $LASTEXITCODE }
                   dotnet run --project test\Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.Tests\Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.Tests.csproj -c $(buildConfiguration) -- --minimum-expected-tests 1
@@ -226,12 +230,22 @@ extends:
                 deploy:
                   steps:
                     - pwsh: |
-                        $tag = '$(Build.SourceBranch)' -replace '^refs/tags/hidi-v', ''
+                        $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+                        $sourceBranch = $env:BUILD_SOURCEBRANCH
+                        if ($sourceBranch -cnotmatch '^refs/tags/hidi-v2\.\d+\.\d+(-[0-9A-Za-z.-]+)?$') { throw "Expected a Hidi hidi-v2.* release tag." }
+                        $tag = $sourceBranch.Substring('refs/tags/hidi-v'.Length)
                         if ([version]($tag -split '-')[0] -le [version]'2.12.2') { throw "Never republish the source migration baseline or an older hidi version." }
                         $package = "$(Pipeline.Workspace)\hidi\Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.$tag.nupkg"
-                        if (-not (Test-Path $package)) { throw "Missing exact hidi package: $package" }
+                        if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $package -PathType Leaf)) { throw "Missing exact hidi package: $package" }
                         $symbols = "$(Pipeline.Workspace)\hidi\Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.$tag.snupkg"
-                        if (-not (Test-Path $symbols)) { throw "Missing exact hidi symbols: $symbols" }
+                        if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $symbols -PathType Leaf)) { throw "Missing exact hidi symbols: $symbols" }
+                        $packages = @(Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath '$(Pipeline.Workspace)\hidi' -Filter '*.nupkg' -File)
+                        if ($packages.Count -ne 1 -or $packages[0].Name -cne "Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.$tag.nupkg") {
+                          throw "Expected only the exact Hidi package matching the triggering tag."
+                        }
+                        foreach ($artifact in @("$(Pipeline.Workspace)\hidi\Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.exe", "$(Pipeline.Workspace)\hidi\hidi-win-x64-$tag.zip")) {
+                          if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $artifact -PathType Leaf)) { throw "Missing exact Hidi executable artifact: $artifact" }
+                        }
                         Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=HidiReleaseVersion]$tag"
                       displayName: Verify new hidi release version and exact package
                     - task: PowerShell@2
@@ -303,8 +317,10 @@ extends:
                     vmImage: ubuntu-latest
                   steps:
                     - pwsh: |
-                        $version = ([xml](Get-Content -LiteralPath '$(Pipeline.Workspace)/HidiDockerContext/src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.csproj')).Project.PropertyGroup.Version
-                        if ('$(Build.SourceBranch)' -ne "refs/tags/hidi-v$version") { throw "Hidi tag does not match project version." }
+                        $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+                        $version = ([xml](Get-Content -LiteralPath '$(Pipeline.Workspace)/HidiDockerContext/src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.csproj')).SelectSingleNode('/Project/PropertyGroup/Version').InnerText
+                        if ($version -cnotmatch '^2\.\d+\.\d+(-[0-9A-Za-z.-]+)?$') { throw "Expected a hidi 2.x container version, got $version." }
+                        if ($env:BUILD_SOURCEBRANCH -cne "refs/tags/hidi-v$version") { throw "Hidi tag does not match project version." }
                         if ([version]($version -split '-')[0] -le [version]'2.12.2') { throw "Do not republish the migration baseline or an older hidi version." }
                         Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=HidiReleaseVersion]$version"
                       displayName: Read independent hidi version
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-please-gha.yml b/.github/workflows/release-please-gha.yml
index 5f46bf25..87d433db 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-please-gha.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-please-gha.yml
@@ -41,25 +41,3 @@ jobs:
           config-file: release-please-config.json
           manifest-file: .release-please-manifest.json
           target-branch: ${{ github.ref_name }}
-
-  release-please-hidi:
-    # Enable only after the destination PR lands and source publishing is cut over.
-    if: ${{ false }}
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    permissions:
-      contents: read
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@d23441a48e516b6c34aea4fa41551a30e30af803 # v6
-      - name: Generate GitHub App token
-        id: app-token
-        uses: actions/create-github-app-token@bcd2ba49218906704ab6c1aa796996da409d3eb1 # v3.2.0
-        with:
-          app-id: ${{ vars.RELEASE_PLEASE_TOKEN_PROVIDER_APP_ID }}
-          private-key: ${{ secrets.RELEASE_PLEASE_TOKEN_PROVIDER_PEM }}
-      - name: Release Please (independent hidi version)
-        uses: googleapis/release-please-action@5c625bfb5d1ff62eadeeb3772007f7f66fdcf071 # v4
-        with:
-          token: ${{ steps.app-token.outputs.token }}
-          config-file: hidi-release-please-config.json
-          manifest-file: .hidi-release-please-manifest.json
-          target-branch: ${{ github.ref_name }}
diff --git a/.hidi-release-please-manifest.json b/.hidi-release-please-manifest.json
deleted file mode 100644
index ddfb5d57..00000000
--- a/.hidi-release-please-manifest.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-{
-  ".": "2.12.2"
-}
diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index 89d8ff81..d12ffb60 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 {
-  ".": "2.2.1"
+  ".": "2.2.1",
+  "src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi": "2.12.2"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index d44c94f2..9a777e70 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -26,11 +26,47 @@ public-only signing key preserves assembly identity and friend-assembly access;
 never add the source repository's private strong-name key. Production signing
 is handled only by the official Azure pipeline.
 
-Hidi's version is in its own project and `.hidi-release-please-manifest.json`.
+Hidi's version is in its own project and the
+`src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi` entry in `.release-please-manifest.json`.
 Its `hidi-v2.*` tags must not trigger OData publishing. Version 2.12.2 is the
-already-published migration baseline, not a new release. Hidi release automation
-and publishing remain disabled until source cutover. History-import migration
-PRs must be merged with a merge commit, never squash or rebase.
+already-published migration baseline, not a new release. Production publishing
+remains disabled until source cutover. History-import migration PRs must be
+merged with a merge commit, never squash or rebase.
+
+### Independent automated versions
+
+The standard Release Please action uses one `release-please-config.json` and
+one `.release-please-manifest.json` with two components: root OData (`.`) and
+Hidi (`src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi`). Their versions advance independently in
+the generated release PRs. The stock `separate-pull-requests` option preserves
+OData's existing release branch and avoids the stock engine's componentless-root
+parsing issue with combined release PRs.
+
+Hidi source changes update its project `<Version>` and local `CHANGELOG.md`;
+the root component excludes Hidi source and tests. OData changes update
+`Directory.Build.props` and the root `CHANGELOG.md`, without changing Hidi.
+Hidi keeps `hidi-v2.*` tags; OData keeps componentless `v2.*` tags. Hidi's
+published OpenAPI dependency versions are not changed by its version updater.
+
+Routing follows component paths, not commit scopes. Hidi-only tests do not
+create a release by themselves, and root-level distribution/helper files remain
+root-owned under this standard configuration. Production package, executable,
+and container publishing remains gated in the official Azure pipeline.
+
+### Component-tagged Azure releases
+
+On `support/v2`, `.azure-pipelines/ci-build.yml` releases only the OData package
+and attaches only its artifact for `v2.*` tags.
+`.azure-pipelines/hidi-release.yml` handles only `hidi-v2.*` tags for Hidi's
+NuGet package, Windows executable/ZIP, and container. Hidi publishing stays
+disabled until the protected cutover; this routing does not enable it.
+
+Tag runs must exactly match the component's project version before staging
+artifacts. Release jobs require the exact tag-derived package and symbols;
+Hidi also requires its executable/ZIP or matching Docker-context version.
+Wrong-component, malformed, other-major, or version-mismatched manually selected
+tags fail validation instead of publishing. Ordinary branch/PR builds still
+validate both projects as before, without running tag-only release stages.
 
 OpenAPI.net.OData is open to contributions. There are a couple of different recommended paths to get contributions into the released version of this library.
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a1e490db..0253c820 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -100,8 +100,12 @@ tests requires the .NET 10 SDK. Existing OData tests still use .NET 8 and VSTest
 Hidi's filtered history was imported with a merge, not squashed. **Merge this
 migration PR using a merge commit, not squash or rebase**, so the canonical
 imported commits can also be retained by the later main-branch migration.
-Destination hidi release and production publishing are disabled until source
-cutover; OpenAPI.NET remains the publisher in the meantime.
+The standard Release Please config and manifest track Hidi and OData as separate
+components on `support/v2`, updating their project versions and changelogs
+independently. Production publishing remains disabled until source cutover;
+OpenAPI.NET remains the package publisher in the meantime.
+See [independent automated versions](CONTRIBUTING.md#independent-automated-versions)
+for component paths and version-file ownership.
 
 The gated hidi NuGet release uses `EsrpRelease@14`, staging only the exact
 `Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi` package and its `.snupkg` symbols from the Hidi build
diff --git a/hidi-release-please-config.json b/hidi-release-please-config.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 6e95505c..00000000
--- a/hidi-release-please-config.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "$schema": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/googleapis/release-please/main/schemas/config.json",
-  "bootstrap-sha": "8ebc6abbb1da683db4b5bc0928183dec947f2f02",
-  "release-type": "simple",
-  "include-component-in-tag": true,
-  "include-v-in-tag": true,
-  "exclude-paths": [
-    ".azure-pipelines",
-    ".github",
-    ".idea",
-    ".vs",
-    ".vscode",
-    "src/Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.Reader",
-    "src/OoasGui",
-    "src/OoasUtil",
-    "test/Microsoft.OpenAPI.OData.Reader.Tests",
-    "docs",
-    "CHANGELOG.md",
-    "Directory.Build.props",
-    "release-please-config.json",
-    ".release-please-manifest.json"
-  ],
-  "packages": {
-    ".": {
-      "package-name": "Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi",
-      "component": "hidi",
-      "changelog-path": "src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi/CHANGELOG.md",
-      "extra-files": [
-        {
-          "type": "xml",
-          "path": "src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.csproj",
-          "xpath": "//Project/PropertyGroup/Version"
-        }
-      ]
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/release-please-config.json b/release-please-config.json
index 75e417d6..1b2a820b 100644
--- a/release-please-config.json
+++ b/release-please-config.json
@@ -5,23 +5,10 @@
     ".github",
     ".idea",
     ".vs",
-    ".vscode",
-    "src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi",
-    "src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Tool",
-    "src/Microsoft.Hidi",
-    "Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.Tests",
-    "test/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.Tests",
-    "test/Microsoft.OpenApi.Tests",
-    "tool/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.public.snk",
-    "tool/Microsoft.OpenApi.OData.public.snk",
-    "tool/hidi-local-nuget.config",
-    "Dockerfile",
-    ".dockerignore",
-    "install-tool.ps1",
-    "hidi-release-please-config.json",
-    ".hidi-release-please-manifest.json"
+    ".vscode"
   ],
   "release-type": "simple",
+  "separate-pull-requests": true,
   "bump-minor-pre-major": true,
   "bump-patch-for-minor-pre-major": true,
   "include-component-in-tag": false,
@@ -31,6 +18,15 @@
     ".": {
       "package-name": "Microsoft.OpenApi.OData",
       "changelog-path": "CHANGELOG.md",
+      "exclude-paths": [
+        ".azure-pipelines",
+        ".github",
+        ".idea",
+        ".vs",
+        ".vscode",
+        "src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi",
+        "test/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.Tests"
+      ],
       "extra-files": [
         {
           "type": "xml",
@@ -38,6 +34,20 @@
           "xpath": "//Project/PropertyGroup/Version"
         }
       ]
+    },
+    "src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi": {
+      "package-name": "Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi",
+      "component": "hidi",
+      "changelog-path": "CHANGELOG.md",
+      "include-component-in-tag": true,
+      "include-v-in-tag": true,
+      "extra-files": [
+        {
+          "type": "xml",
+          "path": "Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.csproj",
+          "xpath": "//Project/PropertyGroup/Version"
+        }
+      ]
     }
   },
   "$schema": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/googleapis/release-please/main/schemas/config.json"
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi/CHANGELOG.md b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi/CHANGELOG.md
index 21c25cb3..7dede925 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,5 +6,6 @@ Migration baseline from OpenAPI.NET `support/v2`. This version is already
 published and must not be republished from this repository. Earlier release
 notes remain in [OpenAPI.NET releases](https://github.com/microsoft/OpenAPI.NET/releases).
 
-Hidi has its own release manifest and `hidi-v2.*` tags, independent of OData.
-Destination release automation is disabled until the source publishing cutover.
+Hidi has its own component entry in `.release-please-manifest.json` and
+`hidi-v2.*` tags, independent of OData.
+Destination publishing remains disabled until the source publishing cutover.
diff --git a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi/readme.md b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi/readme.md
index b8703368..a922a5ee 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi/readme.md
+++ b/src/Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi/readme.md
@@ -71,9 +71,12 @@ docker run --rm --mount "type=bind,source=$PWD\test\Microsoft.OpenApi.Hidi.Tests
 Local/CI builds use the public-only strong-name identity. Official release
 artifacts are signed in Azure Pipelines; private signing keys do not belong in
 this repository. The migration baseline 2.12.2 is already published. Destination
-NuGet, GitHub release, and Docker publishing are disabled until source cutover,
-and the first destination release must advance the hidi version. OData releases
-use separate artifacts and tags.
+NuGet, executable, and Docker publishing are disabled until source cutover.
+The standard Release Please config tracks Hidi as its own component, with a
+separate manifest version, project version, changelog, and `hidi-v2.*` tags.
+The first destination package release must advance beyond the baseline and use
+an exact `hidi-v2.<version>` tag matching the project. OData releases use separate
+artifacts and tags.
 
 Docker builds opt into `HidiPublicSignBuild=true` for the local OData project,
 using its own public-only key without changing normal OData signing behavior.