diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/gui-version-release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/gui-version-release.yml
index bda11f4..7b21599 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/gui-version-release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/gui-version-release.yml
@@ -472,17 +472,22 @@ jobs:
             Write-Host "Remote: $REMOTE";
             Write-Host "";
             
-            # Unstage to avoid merge conflicts
-            git reset HEAD config.py version_history.json;
-            
-            # FIX: No longer backup files to avoid overwriting user code later
-            Write-Host "Preparing to pull remote changes...";
+            # FIX: Stash local changes before pull to avoid conflicts
+            Write-Host "Stashing local version changes...";
+            git stash push -m "CI-CD-temp-stash" config.py version_history.json;
             
+            Write-Host "Pulling remote changes...";
             # Pull remote changes (use merge strategy to avoid rebase conflicts)
             git pull origin $BRANCH --no-rebase;
             
-            if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
-              Write-Host "WARNING: Pull failed, attempting manual conflict resolution...";
+            # Pop stashed changes back
+            Write-Host "Restoring version changes...";
+            $stashPopResult = git stash pop 2>&1;
+            $stashPopExitCode = $LASTEXITCODE;
+            
+            if ($stashPopExitCode -ne 0) {
+              Write-Host "WARNING: Stash pop encountered conflicts, resolving...";
+              Write-Host "$stashPopResult";
               
               # Check conflict files
               $conflicts = git diff --name-only --diff-filter=U;
@@ -508,16 +513,15 @@ jobs:
                 Write-Host "OK: Resolved version_history.json (using CI/CD version)";
               }
               
-              # Complete the merge
-              git commit -m "[skip ci] Merge and update version to v$VERSION" --no-edit --no-verify;
+              # Drop the stash after resolving
+              git stash drop 2>$null;
             } else {
-              Write-Host "OK: Pull successful";
+              Write-Host "OK: Stash pop successful";
               
-              # FIX: Do not overwrite entire file to avoid losing user's new code
-              # After pull, config.py already contains:
-              # 1. Version update from CI/CD (gui_version_creator.py)
-              # 2. User's new code (from remote repository)
-              # Just add current state, no need to overwrite
+              # FIX: After stash pop, files are automatically merged
+              # config.py now contains:
+              # 1. User's code from remote (from pull)
+              # 2. Version update from stash (from gui_version_creator.py)
               
               Write-Host "Checking if version update is preserved...";
               
@@ -539,9 +543,15 @@ jobs:
               
               # Add current files (includes user code + version update)
               git add config.py version_history.json;
+              
+              Write-Host "Files staged successfully";
             }
           } else {
             Write-Host "No remote changes, proceeding with commit...";
+            
+            # FIX: Ensure files are staged even if no remote changes
+            git add config.py version_history.json;
+            Write-Host "Files staged for commit";
           }
           
           Write-Host "";