diff --git a/fastlane/Fastfile b/fastlane/Fastfile
index 978ce3e3f6e5..a93b66eb00a1 100644
--- a/fastlane/Fastfile
+++ b/fastlane/Fastfile
@@ -108,25 +108,12 @@ def current_beta_version
   VERSION_FORMATTER.beta_version(current_version)
 end
 
-# Returns the beta version that is used by the code freeze
-# It first increments the minor number, which also resets the build number to 0
-# It then bumps the build number so the -rc-1 can be appended to the code freeze version
-def code_freeze_beta_version
-  # Read the current release version from the .xcconfig file and parse it into an AppVersion object
-  current_version = VERSION_FORMATTER.parse(VERSION_FILE.read_version_name)
-  # Calculate the next major version number
-  next_version = VERSION_CALCULATOR.next_release_version(version: current_version)
-  # Calculate the next build number
-  code_freeze_beta_version = VERSION_CALCULATOR.next_build_number(version: next_version)
-  # Return the formatted release version
-  VERSION_FORMATTER.beta_version(code_freeze_beta_version)
-end
-
 # Returns the beta version of the app in the format `1.2-rc-1`
 #
-def next_beta_version
+def next_beta_version(version_name: nil)
+  version_name ||= VERSION_FILE.read_version_name
   # Read the current release version from the .xcconfig file and parse it into an AppVersion object
-  current_version = VERSION_FORMATTER.parse(VERSION_FILE.read_version_name)
+  current_version = VERSION_FORMATTER.parse(version_name)
   # Calculate the next beta version
   next_beta_version = VERSION_CALCULATOR.next_build_number(version: current_version)
   # Return the formatted release version
diff --git a/fastlane/lanes/release.rb b/fastlane/lanes/release.rb
index 347de45c1e43..9d234d8032ce 100644
--- a/fastlane/lanes/release.rb
+++ b/fastlane/lanes/release.rb
@@ -9,32 +9,22 @@
   #
   lane :code_freeze do |version: nil, skip_confirm: false|
     ensure_git_status_clean
+
     Fastlane::Helper::GitHelper.checkout_and_pull(DEFAULT_BRANCH)
-    ensure_git_branch(branch: DEFAULT_BRANCH)
-
-    # Use provided version from release tool, or fall back to computed version
-    computed_version = next_release_version
-    new_version = version || computed_version
-
-    # Warn if provided version differs from computed version
-    if version && version != computed_version
-      warning_message = <<~WARNING
-        ⚠️ Version mismatch: The explicitly-provided version was '#{version}' while new computed version would have been '#{computed_version}'.
-        If this is unexpected, you might want to investigate the discrepency.
-        Continuing with the explicitly-provided verison '#{version}'.
-      WARNING
-      UI.important(warning_message)
-      buildkite_annotate(style: 'warning', context: 'code-freeze-version-mismatch', message: warning_message) if is_ci
-    end
+
+    # If a new version is passed, use it as source of truth from now on
+    new_version = version || next_release_version
+    release_branch_name = "release/#{new_version}"
+    new_beta_version = next_beta_version(version_name: new_version)
+    new_build_code = next_build_code
 
     message = <<-MESSAGE
 
       Code Freeze:
-      • New release branch from #{DEFAULT_BRANCH}: release/#{new_version}
-      • Current release version and build code: #{current_release_version} (#{current_build_code}).
-      • New release version and build code: #{code_freeze_beta_version} (#{next_build_code}).
+      • New release branch from #{DEFAULT_BRANCH}: #{release_branch_name}
 
-      Do you want to continue?
+      • Current release version and build code: #{current_release_version} (#{current_build_code}).
+      • New release version and build code: #{new_beta_version} (#{new_build_code}).
 
     MESSAGE
 
@@ -42,7 +32,6 @@
 
     UI.user_error!('Aborted by user request') unless skip_confirm || UI.confirm('Do you want to continue?')
 
-    release_branch_name = "release/#{new_version}"
     ensure_branch_does_not_exist!(release_branch_name)
 
     # Create the release branch
@@ -54,8 +43,8 @@
     # Bump the version and build code
     UI.message 'Bumping beta version and build code...'
     VERSION_FILE.write_version(
-      version_name: code_freeze_beta_version,
-      version_code: next_build_code
+      version_name: new_beta_version,
+      version_code: new_build_code
     )
     commit_version_bump
     UI.success "Done! New Beta Version: #{current_beta_version}. New Build Code: #{current_build_code}"
@@ -87,7 +76,7 @@
     copy_branch_protection(
       repository: GITHUB_REPO,
       from_branch: DEFAULT_BRANCH,
-      to_branch: "release/#{new_version}"
+      to_branch: release_branch_name
     )
 
     begin