diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7d1e269fff..6080f31ead 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,24 @@
+<a name="v1.18.0-rc.4"></a>
+
+## v1.18.0-rc.4 (2024-12-31)
+
+One more release candidate before our final release.
+
+#### Features
+
+- add appimage back to ci ([8f13b826](https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/commit/8f13b8261e199821cb79c7f02c9ff01cab7e838e))
+
+#### Bug Fixes
+
+- Fix uninitialised read in contact circle widget. ([afe24fbe](https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/commit/afe24fbe3ebf1ea395849a8012a031b1705bfe76))
+- Don't crash when closing the app after logout. ([b4b0d8c9](https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/commit/b4b0d8c9203a4937424a3d00c8ad86dca47553fe))
+- Don't crash on logout. ([b244e206](https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/commit/b244e2062845c1a03798bc2ff4af629b54d8f907))
+- Avoid hanging when capture device permissions denied on macOS. ([9e4b17b8](https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/commit/9e4b17b8605dd8c21db6ed6cfad7fca2331897da))
+
+#### Performance
+
+- Improve performance of video frame buffering. ([ffcef564](https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/commit/ffcef56404f2d8797edc730ebd222726119c74cc))
+
 <a name="v1.18.0-rc.3"></a>
 
 ## v1.18.0-rc.3 (2024-12-23)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 46b907822f..9584cba83a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -171,19 +171,19 @@ AED3 1134 9C23 A123 E5C4  AA4B 139C A045 3DA2 D773
 ```
 
 [#qtox@libera.chat]: https://web.libera.chat/#qtox
-[64 bit release]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/v1.18.0-rc.3/setup-qtox-x86_64-release.exe
-[32 bit release]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/v1.18.0-rc.3/setup-qtox-i686-release.exe
+[64 bit release]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/v1.18.0-rc.4/setup-qtox-x86_64-release.exe
+[32 bit release]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/v1.18.0-rc.4/setup-qtox-i686-release.exe
 [32nightly]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/nightly/qtox-nightly-i686-release.exe
 [64nightly]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/nightly/qtox-nightly-x86_64-release.exe
-[Flatpak (64 bit)]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/v1.18.0-rc.3/qTox-v1.18.0-rc.3.x86_64.flatpak
+[Flatpak (64 bit)]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/v1.18.0-rc.4/qTox-v1.18.0-rc.4.x86_64.flatpak
 [Flatpak nightly (64 bit)]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/nightly/qTox-nightly.flatpak
 [Arch]: /INSTALL.md#arch
 [Building instructions]: /INSTALL.md#os-x
 [Contributing]: /CONTRIBUTING.md#how-to-start-contributing
 [Debian]: https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=qtox
 [easy issues]: https://github.com/qTox/qTox/labels/E-easy
-[Latest ARM64 release]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/v1.18.0-rc.3/qTox-arm64.dmg
-[Latest Intel release]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/v1.18.0-rc.3/qTox-x86_64.dmg
+[Latest ARM64 release]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/v1.18.0-rc.4/qTox-arm64.dmg
+[Latest Intel release]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/v1.18.0-rc.4/qTox-x86_64.dmg
 [Latest ARM64 nightly]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/nightly/qTox-nightly-arm64.dmg
 [Latest Intel nightly]: https://github.com/TokTok/qTox/releases/download/nightly/qTox-nightly-x86_64.dmg
 [Fedora]: /INSTALL.md#fedora
diff --git a/macos/Info.plist b/macos/Info.plist
index aeffd46ce3..e61acf42fe 100644
--- a/macos/Info.plist
+++ b/macos/Info.plist
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
 	<key>CFBundlePackageType</key>
 	<string>APPL</string>
 	<key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
-	<string>1.18.0-rc.3</string>
+	<string>1.18.0-rc.4</string>
 	<key>CFBundleSignature</key>
 	<string>toxq</string>
 	<key>CFBundleURLTypes</key>
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
 		</dict>
 	</array>
 	<key>CFBundleVersion</key>
-	<string>1.18.0-rc.3</string>
+	<string>1.18.0-rc.4</string>
 	<key>NSPrincipalClass</key>
 	<string>NSApplication</string>
 	<key>NSCameraUsageDescription</key>
diff --git a/res/io.github.qtox.qTox.appdata.xml b/res/io.github.qtox.qTox.appdata.xml
index 41dec703a0..5791068cce 100644
--- a/res/io.github.qtox.qTox.appdata.xml
+++ b/res/io.github.qtox.qTox.appdata.xml
@@ -71,6 +71,6 @@
     <content_attribute id="social-audio">intense</content_attribute>
   </content_rating>
  <releases>
-  <release version="1.18.0-rc.3" date="2024-12-29"/>
+  <release version="1.18.0-rc.4" date="2024-12-31"/>
  </releases>
 </component>
diff --git a/windows/qtox.nsi b/windows/qtox.nsi
index d47a0af055..a12cbf5bb3 100644
--- a/windows/qtox.nsi
+++ b/windows/qtox.nsi
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ Section "Install"
   ${WriteRegStr} "${REG_ROOT}" "${REG_APP_PATH}" "" "$INSTDIR\${MAIN_APP_EXE}"
   ${WriteRegStr} "${REG_ROOT}" "${REG_APP_PATH}" "Path" "$INSTDIR\bin\"
   ${WriteRegStr} ${REG_ROOT} "${UNINSTALL_PATH}" "DisplayName" "qTox"
-  ${WriteRegStr} ${REG_ROOT} "${UNINSTALL_PATH}" "DisplayVersion" "1.18.0-rc.3"
+  ${WriteRegStr} ${REG_ROOT} "${UNINSTALL_PATH}" "DisplayVersion" "1.18.0-rc.4"
   ${WriteRegStr} ${REG_ROOT} "${UNINSTALL_PATH}" "Publisher" "The qTox Project"
   ${WriteRegStr} ${REG_ROOT} "${UNINSTALL_PATH}" "UninstallString" "$INSTDIR\uninstall.exe"
   ${WriteRegStr} ${REG_ROOT} "${UNINSTALL_PATH}" "URLInfoAbout" "https://qtox.github.io"
diff --git a/windows/qtox64.nsi b/windows/qtox64.nsi
index 317ed77e0d..6827605464 100755
--- a/windows/qtox64.nsi
+++ b/windows/qtox64.nsi
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ Section "Install"
   ${WriteRegStr} "${REG_ROOT}" "${REG_APP_PATH}" "" "$INSTDIR\${MAIN_APP_EXE}"
   ${WriteRegStr} "${REG_ROOT}" "${REG_APP_PATH}" "Path" "$INSTDIR\bin\"
   ${WriteRegStr} ${REG_ROOT} "${UNINSTALL_PATH}" "DisplayName" "qTox"
-  ${WriteRegStr} ${REG_ROOT} "${UNINSTALL_PATH}" "DisplayVersion" "1.18.0-rc.3"
+  ${WriteRegStr} ${REG_ROOT} "${UNINSTALL_PATH}" "DisplayVersion" "1.18.0-rc.4"
   ${WriteRegStr} ${REG_ROOT} "${UNINSTALL_PATH}" "Publisher" "The qTox Project"
   ${WriteRegStr} ${REG_ROOT} "${UNINSTALL_PATH}" "UninstallString" "$INSTDIR\uninstall.exe"
   ${WriteRegStr} ${REG_ROOT} "${UNINSTALL_PATH}" "URLInfoAbout" "https://qtox.github.io"