diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug.yml
index 34b5904de5..937dfa9c50 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug.yml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ body:
     attributes:
       label: What version/release of MM WLED?
       description: You can find this in by going to Config -> Security & Updates -> Scroll to Bottom. Copy and paste the entire line after "Server message"
-      placeholder: "e.g. build 2401290, WLEDMM_0.14.1-b32.40_esp32_4MB_M.bin"
+      placeholder: "e.g. build 2401290, WLEDMM_14.5.0-beta_esp32_4MB_M.bin"
     validations:
       required: true
   - type: dropdown
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 59697131a3..d6cd2b9c05 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "wled",
-  "version": "0.14.1-b32.41.dev",
+  "version": "14.5.0-dev",
   "lockfileVersion": 2,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "wled",
-      "version": "0.14.1-b32.41.dev",
+      "version": "14.5.0-dev",
       "license": "EUPL-1.2",
       "dependencies": {
         "clean-css": "^4.2.3",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b6763b3347..4e82f27c5a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "wled",
-  "version": "0.14.1-b32.41.dev",
+  "version": "14.5.0-dev",
   "description": "Tools for WLED project",
   "main": "tools/cdata.js",
   "directories": {
diff --git a/wled00/data/index.js b/wled00/data/index.js
index 7dced6a4a3..fb183d820d 100644
--- a/wled00/data/index.js
+++ b/wled00/data/index.js
@@ -684,18 +684,20 @@ function populateInfo(i)
 				urows += inforow(k,val);
 		}
 	}
-	var vcn = "Kuuhaku";
-	if (i.ver.startsWith("0.14.")) vcn = "Hoshi";
+	var vcn = "Small Step";  // WLED-MM 14.5.0, release Dec 2024
+//	if (i.ver.startsWith("0.14.")) vcn = "Hoshi";
 //	if (i.ver.includes("-bl")) vcn = "Supāku";
 	if (i.cn) vcn = i.cn;
 
 	//WLEDMM: add total heap and total PSRAM, and build number, add bin name
-	if (i.ver.includes("0.14.0")) vcn = "Lupo";          // check for MM versioning scheme
-	if (i.ver.includes("0.14.0-b15")) vcn = "Sitting Ducks"; // late easter egg
-	if (i.ver.includes("0.14.0-b2")) vcn = "This is the way"; // recently watched The Mandalorian? I have spoken ;-)
-	if (i.ver.includes("0.14.0-b15.22")) vcn = "Lupo";
-	if (i.ver.includes("0.14.1-b3")) vcn = "Fried Chicken";  // final line of "One Vision" by Queen
+	//if (i.ver.includes("0.14.0")) vcn = "Lupo";          // check for MM versioning scheme
+	//if (i.ver.includes("0.14.0-b15")) vcn = "Sitting Ducks"; // late easter egg
+	//if (i.ver.includes("0.14.0-b2")) vcn = "This is the way"; // recently watched The Mandalorian? I have spoken ;-)
+	//if (i.ver.includes("0.14.0-b15.22")) vcn = "Lupo";
+	//if (i.ver.includes("0.14.1-b")) vcn = "Fried Chicken";  // final line of "One Vision" by Queen
 	if (i.ver.includes("0.14.3-b")) vcn = "Fried Chicken";
+	if (i.ver.includes("14.5.")) vcn = "Small Step";
+
 	cn += `v${i.ver} &nbsp;<i>"${vcn}"</i><p>(WLEDMM ${i.rel}.bin)</p><p><em>build ${i.vid}</em></p><table>
 ${urows}
 ${urows===""?'':'<tr><td colspan=2><hr style="height:1px;border-width:0;color:SeaGreen;background-color:Seagreen"></td></tr>'}
diff --git a/wled00/improv.cpp b/wled00/improv.cpp
index afcbbbb2e5..cbe292c729 100644
--- a/wled00/improv.cpp
+++ b/wled00/improv.cpp
@@ -210,8 +210,9 @@ void sendImprovInfoResponse() {
 
   //Use serverDescription if it has been changed from the default "WLED", else mDNS name
   bool useMdnsName = (strcmp(serverDescription, "WLED") == 0 && strlen(cmDNS) > 0);
-  char vString[32];
-  snprintf_P(vString, sizeof(vString)-1, PSTR("0.14.1-b32.41/%i"),VERSION);
+  char vString[32] = { '\0' };
+  //snprintf_P(vString, sizeof(vString)-1, PSTR("0.14.1-b34.42/%i"),VERSION); // upstream baseline
+  snprintf_P(vString, sizeof(vString)-1, PSTR("14.5.0-dev/%i"),VERSION);      // WLEDMM version
   const char *str[4] = {"WLED", vString, bString, useMdnsName ? cmDNS : serverDescription};
 
   sendImprovRPCResult(ImprovRPCType::Request_Info, 4, str);
diff --git a/wled00/wled.h b/wled00/wled.h
index 7af6b43c3b..f146c35bca 100644
--- a/wled00/wled.h
+++ b/wled00/wled.h
@@ -3,12 +3,11 @@
 /*
    Main sketch, global variable declarations
    @title WLED project sketch
-   @version 0.14.1-b1x
-   @author Christian Schwinne
+   @version 14.5.0-dev
  */
 
 // version code in format yymmddb (b = daily build)
-#define VERSION 2412030
+#define VERSION 2412110
 
 // WLEDMM  - you can check for this define in usermods, to only enabled WLEDMM specific code in the "right" fork. Its not defined in AC WLED.
 #define _MoonModules_WLED_