diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 22a6b5b..f405c1b 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -51,11 +51,14 @@ no.naiv.tiltshift/
 ## Build & run
 
 ```bash
-./gradlew assembleRelease          # Build release APK
 ./gradlew compileDebugKotlin       # Quick compile check
+./bump-version.sh patch            # REQUIRED before every release build
+./gradlew assembleRelease          # Build release APK
 adb install -r app/build/outputs/apk/release/naiv-tilt-shift-release.apk
 ```
 
+**IMPORTANT:** Always run `./bump-version.sh [major|minor|patch]` before `assembleRelease`. The version is tracked in `version.properties` and read by `build.gradle.kts`. Commit the bumped `version.properties` before or with the release.
+
 Signing config is loaded from `local.properties` (not committed).
 
 ## Key design decisions and patterns