ok-nick · Nov 12, 2026 · Oct 14, 2026 · Oct 16, 2026 · Oct 24, 2026 · Nov 3, 2026
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-c2pa-rs-source-build.yml b/.github/workflows/test-c2pa-rs-source-build.yml
@@ -123,7 +123,10 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: c2pa-python
         env:
           C2PA_PREFLIGHT_RUN: "1"
-        run: python ./tests/test_unit_tests.py
+          C2PA_RS_PATH: ${{ github.workspace }}/c2pa-rs
+        run: |
+          python ./tests/test_unit_tests.py
+          python ./tests/test_unit_tests_threaded.py
 
   tests-windows:
     name: Unit tests (Windows, ${{ matrix.runs-on }})
@@ -205,4 +208,8 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: c2pa-python
         env:
           C2PA_PREFLIGHT_RUN: "1"
-        run: python .\tests\test_unit_tests.py
+          C2PA_RS_PATH: ${{ github.workspace }}\c2pa-rs
+        run: |
+          python .\tests\test_unit_tests.py
+          if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit $LASTEXITCODE }
+          python .\tests\test_unit_tests_threaded.py
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ See the [`examples` directory](https://github.com/contentauth/c2pa-python/tree/m
 
 API documentation is published at [github.io/c2pa-python/api/c2pa](https://contentauth.github.io/c2pa-python/api/c2pa/index.html).
 
-Use the documentation version dropdown to choose a published release. 
+Use the documentation version dropdown to choose a published release.
 The versions are selected in `api-docs/versions.json`; the first entry is the default at the existing documentation URL.
 Publishing a stable GitHub release automatically adds its tag as the default while retaining older versions.
 

diff --git a/c2pa-native-version.txt b/c2pa-native-version.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-c2pa-v0.91.10
+c2pa-v0.92.0
diff --git a/docs/context-settings.md b/docs/context-settings.md
@@ -10,15 +10,15 @@ The `Context` class encapsulates configuration for:
 - **Signer configuration**: Optional signer credentials stored in the `Context` for reuse.
 - **State isolation**: Each `Context` is independent, allowing different configurations to coexist in the same application.
 
-`Context` replaces the deprecated global `load_settings()` function with explicit, isolated configuration:
+`Context` replaces the removed thread-local `load_settings()` function with explicit, isolated configuration:
 
 - **Makes dependencies explicit**: Configuration is passed directly to `Reader` and `Builder`, not hidden in global state.
 - **Enables multiple configurations**: Run different configurations simultaneously (for example, one for development with test certificates, another for production with strict validation).
 - **Eliminates global state**: Each `Reader` and `Builder` gets its configuration from the `Context` you pass, avoiding subtle bugs from shared state.
 - **Simplifies testing**: Create isolated configurations for tests without worrying about cleanup or interference.
 
 > [!NOTE]
-> Without a `Context`, `Reader` and `Builder` use one with SDK default settings. Pass a `Context` for custom settings or a context signer. The deprecated `load_settings()` function no longer affects `Reader` or `Builder`. See [Migrating from load_settings](#migrating-from-load_settings).
+> Without an explicit `Context`, `Reader` and `Builder` use the shared default context. Pass a `Context` for custom settings or a context signer. c2pa-rs 0.92 no longer supports thread-local settings, and `load_settings()` has been removed from these bindings. See [Migrating from load_settings](#migrating-from-load_settings).
 
 ## Quick start
 
@@ -754,15 +754,15 @@ assert isinstance(ctx, ContextProvider)  # True
 
 ## Migrating from load_settings
 
-The `load_settings()` function is deprecated and will be removed when c2pa-python moves to c2pa-rs 0.92.0. Replace it with `Settings` and `Context` APIs:
+The `load_settings()` function has been removed. Replace it with `Settings` and `Context` APIs, passing the context to every operation that needs the configuration. Operations without an explicit context use SDK default settings:
 
 | Aspect | `load_settings` (legacy) | `Context` |
 |--------|--------------------------|-----------|
 | Scope | Global state | Per Reader/Builder, passed explicitly |
 | Multiple configs | Not supported | One context per configuration |
 | Testing | Shared global state | Isolated contexts per test |
 
-**Deprecated:**
+**Old approach (no longer supported):**
 
 ```py
 from c2pa import load_settings, Reader
@@ -774,10 +774,11 @@ reader = Reader("image.jpg")  # no longer sees thread local settings
 **Current approach:**
 
 ```py
-from c2pa import Settings, Context, Reader
+from c2pa import Context, Reader
 
-ctx = Context.from_dict({"builder": {"thumbnail": {"enabled": False}}})
-reader = Reader("image.jpg", context=ctx)
+with Context.from_dict({"builder": {"thumbnail": {"enabled": False}}}) as ctx:
+    with Reader("image.jpg", context=ctx) as reader:
+        print(reader.json())
 ```
 
 ## See also

diff --git a/docs/intents.md b/docs/intents.md
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ You can set the intent on a `Builder` instance by:
 - [Using Context](#using-context)
 - [Using `set_intent` on the `Builder`](#using-set_intent-on-the-builder)
 
-The deprecated `load_settings()` function no longer sets the intent for a `Builder`. To migrate existing code, see [Context and settings - Migrating from load_settings](context-settings.md#migrating-from-load_settings).
+The thread-local `load_settings()` function has been removed. Set intent through an explicit `Context` or `Builder.set_intent()`. For existing code, see [Context and settings - Migrating from load_settings](context-settings.md#migrating-from-load_settings).
 
 ### Using Context
 

diff --git a/docs/release-notes.md b/docs/release-notes.md
@@ -1,5 +1,26 @@
 # Release notes
 
+## Unreleased: c2pa-rs 0.92 preflight (DO NOT MERGE)
+
+This branch tests the upcoming native SDK, not a published Python release.
+The normal native release pin is unchanged.
+
+### Breaking changes
+
+Removed `load_settings()`: c2pa-rs 0.92 removes thread-local settings.
+Create a `Context` with `Settings` (or `Context.from_dict` / `from_json`)
+and pass it explicitly to every `Reader` and `Builder` that needs that
+configuration. Constructors without a context continue to use SDK defaults.
+See [Migrating from load_settings](context-settings.md#migrating-from-load_settings).
+
+Reader and Builder constructors now use the current context-based C APIs.
+Native strings, manifests, and signatures are released through `c2pa_free`.
+`format_embeddable()` retains its `(size, bytes)` result using a temporary
+default-context builder. For custom settings or format-specific builder state,
+use `Builder.compose_manifest(format, manifest_bytes)` on a live builder.
+Signing closes the builder, so use a separate builder for composition after
+`sign()`.
+
 ## Version 0.38.3
 
 ### TLS trust stores

diff --git a/docs/usage.md b/docs/usage.md
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ manifest_json = json.dumps({
 
 ## Settings, Context, and ContextProvider
 
-The `Settings` and `Context` classes provide per-instance configuration for `Reader` and `Builder` operations, replacing the global `load_settings()` function, which is now deprecated. Without a `Context`, `Reader` and `Builder` use one with SDK default settings.
+The `Settings` and `Context` classes provide per-instance configuration for `Reader` and `Builder` operations, replacing the removed thread-local `load_settings()` function. Without a `Context`, `Reader` and `Builder` use the shared default context.
 
 See [Context and settings](context-settings.md) for details.
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ The built-in `Context` class is the standard `ContextProvider` implementation. C
 
 ### Migrating from load_settings
 
-The `load_settings()` function is deprecated. Replace it with `Settings` and `Context`. See [Migrating from load_settings](context-settings.md#migrating-from-load_settings) for details.
+The `load_settings()` function has been removed for c2pa-rs 0.92 compatibility. Replace it with `Settings` and `Context`. See [Migrating from load_settings](context-settings.md#migrating-from-load_settings) for details.
 
 ## File-based operation
 

diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "c2pa-python"
-version = "0.38.4"
+version = "0.39.0"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
 description = "Python bindings for the C2PA Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) library"
 readme = { file = "README.md", content-type = "text/markdown" }

diff --git a/src/c2pa/__init__.py b/src/c2pa/__init__.py
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@
     Context,
     ContextBuilder,
     ContextProvider,
-    sdk_version,
-    load_settings
+    sdk_version
 )  # NOQA
 
 # Re-export C2paError and its subclasses
@@ -50,6 +49,5 @@
     'Context',
     'ContextBuilder',
     'ContextProvider',
-    'sdk_version',
-    'load_settings'
+    'sdk_version'
 ]