diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 16027e15a..f17c1ed3d 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,45 @@
+45.rc
+=====
+* Allow notification dismissal with backspace [Chris; !2435]
+* Add workspace indicators in activities button [Georges; !2902]
+* Add extension hook to add quick settings items [Florian; !2894]
+* Fix legibility issue in calendar [Jakub; !2857]
+* Fix three-finger swipes on touchscreens [Carlos; !2910]
+* Add more options to `gnome-extensions create` [Florian; !2889]
+* Fix scrolling regression in ScrollView [Andrew; !2920]
+* Fix broken workspace animation with swipe gesture [Carlos; !2918]
+* Restore focus indication in system entries [Florian; !2922]
+* Use UUID as fallback extension gettext domain [Florian; !2888]
+* Reflect core app change in default "Utilities" folder [kramo; !2916]
+* Support OWE networks in status menu [Florian; !2927]
+* Show immediate feedback when toggling bluetooth [Florian; !2815]
+* Switch workspaces when scrolling over activities button [Florian; !2933]
+* Wrap around when navigating menus with arrow keys [Lukáš; !2525]
+* Fix background apps menu showing up empty [Florian; !2938]
+* Misc. bug fixes and cleanups [Florian, Dallas, Georges, Sebastian, Brendan,
+  Simon, Marco, Daniel, Stuart, Bilal, Carlos, aliriza, Bryan; !2884, !2885,
+  !2881, !2887, !2893, !2891, !2729, !2892, !2897, !2898, !2899, !2900, !2828,
+  !2903, !2904, !2859, !2911, !2912, !2917, !2919, !2873, !2928, !2924, !2926,
+  !2930, !2932, !2934, !2936, !2875, !2938, !2940, !2939]
+
+Contributors:
+  aliriza, Bilal Elmoussaoui, Carlos Garnacho, Stuart Hayhurst, Chris Heywood,
+  Sebastian Keller, kramo, Florian Müllner, Georges Basile Stavracas Neto,
+  Bryan Ricker, Simon Schneegans, Jakub Steiner, Dallas Strouse,
+  Marco Trevisan (Treviño), Lukáš Tyrychtr, Daniel van Vugt, Brendan William,
+  Andrew Zaech
+
+Translators:
+  Fran Dieguez [gl], Asier Sarasua Garmendia [eu], Quentin PAGÈS [oc],
+  Sabri Ünal [tr], Baurzhan Muftakhidinov [kk], Ekaterine Papava [ka],
+  Jordi Mas [ca], Yuri Chornoivan [uk], Piotr Drąg [pl], Vasil Pupkin [be],
+  Philipp Kiemle [de], Daniel Rusek [cs], Daniel Mustieles [es],
+  Danial Behzadi [fa], Amn Alam [pa], Artur S0 [ru], Yosef Or Boczko [he],
+  Jiri Grönroos [fi], Nathan Follens [nl], Luming Zh [zh_CN],
+  Kukuh Syafaat [id], Milo Casagrande [it], Aurimas Černius [lt],
+  Changwoo Ryu [ko], A S Alam [pa], Alan Mortensen [da], Balázs Úr [hu],
+  Bruce Cowan [en_GB]
+
 45.beta.1
 =========
 * Fix input handling in alt-tab and several other components [Carlos; !2872]
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index d0709a996..f985d1294 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 project('gnome-shell', 'c',
-  version: '45.beta.1',
+  version: '45.rc',
   meson_version: '>= 0.58.0',
   license: 'GPLv2+'
 )
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ gio_req = '>= 2.56.0'
 gi_req = '>= 1.49.1'
 gjs_req = '>= 1.73.1'
 gtk_req = '>= 4.0'
-mutter_req = '>= 45.beta.1'
+mutter_req = '>= 45.rc'
 polkit_req = '>= 0.100'
 schemas_req = '>= 42.beta'
 startup_req = '>= 0.11'
diff --git a/subprojects/extensions-app/data/metainfo/org.gnome.Extensions.metainfo.xml.in b/subprojects/extensions-app/data/metainfo/org.gnome.Extensions.metainfo.xml.in
index 40d0694f4..4e14278ff 100644
--- a/subprojects/extensions-app/data/metainfo/org.gnome.Extensions.metainfo.xml.in
+++ b/subprojects/extensions-app/data/metainfo/org.gnome.Extensions.metainfo.xml.in
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
   </description>
 
   <releases>
+    <release version="45.rc" date="2023-09-05" type="development"/>
     <release version="45.beta.1" date="2023-08-11" type="development"/>
     <release version="45.beta" date="2023-08-07" type="development"/>
     <release version="45.alpha" date="2023-07-03" type="development">
diff --git a/subprojects/extensions-app/meson.build b/subprojects/extensions-app/meson.build
index 5ca0a34bb..2b36021f0 100644
--- a/subprojects/extensions-app/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/extensions-app/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 project('gnome-extensions-app',
-  version: '45.beta.1',
+  version: '45.rc',
   meson_version: '>= 0.58.0',
   license: 'GPLv2+'
 )
diff --git a/subprojects/extensions-tool/meson.build b/subprojects/extensions-tool/meson.build
index 6394bba92..b18baf0f0 100644
--- a/subprojects/extensions-tool/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/extensions-tool/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 project('gnome-extensions-tool', 'c',
-  version: '45.beta.1',
+  version: '45.rc',
   meson_version: '>= 0.58.0',
   license: 'GPLv2+'
 )
diff --git a/subprojects/shew/meson.build b/subprojects/shew/meson.build
index 5068a2758..12ed25db9 100644
--- a/subprojects/shew/meson.build
+++ b/subprojects/shew/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 project('shew', 'c',
-  version: '45.beta.1',
+  version: '45.rc',
   meson_version: '>= 0.58.0',
   license: 'LGPLv2+',
 )