diff --git a/.github/workflows/main-source-guard.yml b/.github/workflows/main-source-guard.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 4eb5d20f..00000000
--- a/.github/workflows/main-source-guard.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-name: Main source guard
-
-# Make the job "only-release-into-main" a required status check on main.
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    branches: [main]
-    types: [opened, reopened, synchronize, edited]
-
-permissions:
-  contents: read
-
-jobs:
-  only-release-into-main:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: Require head branch "release"
-        env:
-          HEAD_REF: ${{ github.head_ref }}
-          HEAD_REPO: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-        run: |
-          if [ "$HEAD_REF" != "release" ] || [ "$HEAD_REPO" != "${{ github.repository }}" ]; then
-            echo "::error::PRs into main must come from the release branch of this repository (got '$HEAD_REPO:$HEAD_REF')."
-            exit 1
-          fi
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-sync.yml b/.github/workflows/release-sync.yml
index d411bb2e..746a0b9d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-sync.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-sync.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ on:
 permissions:
   contents: write
   pull-requests: write
-  statuses: write
 
 concurrency:
   group: release-sync
@@ -51,17 +50,3 @@ jobs:
           else
             gh pr create --head release --base main --title "$title" --body "$body"
           fi
-
-      # A PR opened with GITHUB_TOKEN triggers no workflows, so main-source-guard
-      # never runs on it. Report the guard's verdict for the release commit here:
-      # this job just generated it from develop, which is exactly what the guard
-      # requires. A status set with GITHUB_TOKEN satisfies a required check.
-      - name: Mark release as passing the main source guard
-        env:
-          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
-        run: |
-          set -eu
-          if ! git rev-parse -q --verify refs/heads/release >/dev/null; then exit 0; fi
-          gh api "repos/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}/statuses/$(git rev-parse release)" \
-            -f state=success -f context=only-release-into-main \
-            -f description="generated from develop ${GITHUB_SHA::7} by release-sync"
diff --git a/tools/release/README.md b/tools/release/README.md
index b3243cab..37abf63b 100644
--- a/tools/release/README.md
+++ b/tools/release/README.md
@@ -14,13 +14,12 @@ ignored and overwritten.
    The push uses `--force-with-lease` pinned to the remote sha the run observed.
 2. The workflow opens (or updates) a pull request `release` -> `main` with the default
    `GITHUB_TOKEN`. This needs the repository setting *Actions -> General -> Allow GitHub
-   Actions to create and approve pull requests*. A PR opened with `GITHUB_TOKEN`
-   triggers no workflows, so `main-source-guard` would never run on it; the workflow
-   therefore sets the `only-release-into-main` commit status on the release commit
-   itself, which satisfies the required check. No PAT is needed; an optional
+   Actions to create and approve pull requests*. No PAT is needed; an optional
    `RELEASE_PR_TOKEN` secret is used for the PR step when present.
-3. Merging that PR is the only way to change `main`. `main-source-guard.yml` fails
-   any PR into `main` whose head is not `release`.
+3. Merging that PR is the only way to change `main`. Branch protection (below) makes `main`
+   PR-only and lets only administrators merge; the maintainer merges the `release` PR and
+   checks that its head is `release` (maintainer decision 2026-10-03: no source-branch
+   workflow, settings only).
 4. On push to `main`, `pages.yml` deploys `docs/guide/` to GitHub Pages.
 
 ## What is dropped on release
@@ -46,6 +45,5 @@ It refuses to run while `release` is checked out.
     tools/release/protect-main.sh               # print what would be applied
     tools/release/protect-main.sh --apply       # apply via gh api (needs admin)
 
-This requires a pull request, blocks force-push and deletion. Classic protection cannot
-restrict a PR's source branch, so add the check `only-release-into-main` as required
-(the script does; the workflow must have run once first).
+This requires a pull request (no approving review needed), blocks direct push, force-push and
+deletion, leaves the branch unlocked, and restricts merging to administrators.
diff --git a/tools/release/protect-main.sh b/tools/release/protect-main.sh
index 5d3588f9..4bc6514d 100755
--- a/tools/release/protect-main.sh
+++ b/tools/release/protect-main.sh
@@ -14,12 +14,13 @@ done
 [ -n "$REPO" ] || REPO="{owner}/{repo}"   # gh expands these placeholders from the current repo
 
 BODY='{
-  "required_status_checks": {"strict": true, "contexts": ["only-release-into-main"]},
-  "enforce_admins": true,
+  "required_status_checks": null,
+  "enforce_admins": false,
   "required_pull_request_reviews": {"required_approving_review_count": 0},
-  "restrictions": null,
+  "restrictions": {"users": [], "teams": [], "apps": []},
   "allow_force_pushes": false,
-  "allow_deletions": false
+  "allow_deletions": false,
+  "lock_branch": false
 }'
 CMD="gh api --method PUT repos/$REPO/branches/$BRANCH/protection --input -"
 
@@ -29,6 +30,6 @@ if [ "$APPLY" -eq 1 ]; then
 else
   echo "[dry run] would run: $CMD"
   echo "$BODY"
-  echo "Re-run with --apply to apply. The check 'only-release-into-main' comes from .github/workflows/main-source-guard.yml;"
-  echo "it must have run once before GitHub accepts it as a required check."
+  echo "Re-run with --apply to apply (needs admin). 'restrictions' with empty lists means only"
+  echo "administrators may merge; it is accepted for organisation repositories only."
 fi