diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-and-deploy-snapshot.yml b/.github/workflows/build-and-deploy-snapshot.yml
index 002f6eb34ac..23a10e5d049 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-and-deploy-snapshot.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-and-deploy-snapshot.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Deploy
         uses: spring-io/artifactory-deploy-action@926d7f7cc810569395346bf3a4d91b380b3e355b # v0.0.4
         with:
-          build-name: ${{ vars.COMMERCIAL && format('spring-boot-commercial-{0}', '4.1.x') || format('spring-boot-{0}', '4.1.x') }}
+          build-name: ${{ vars.COMMERCIAL && format('spring-boot-commercial-{0}', '4.2.x') || format('spring-boot-{0}', '4.2.x') }}
           folder: 'deployment-repository'
           password: ${{ vars.COMMERCIAL && secrets.COMMERCIAL_ARTIFACTORY_PASSWORD || secrets.ARTIFACTORY_PASSWORD }}
           project: ${{ vars.COMMERCIAL && 'spring' }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-milestone.yml b/.github/workflows/release-milestone.yml
index c61954bd398..4c33a2566a7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-milestone.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-milestone.yml
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ name: Release Milestone
 on:
   push:
     tags:
-      - v4.1.0-M[0-9]
-      - v4.1.0-RC[0-9]
+      - v4.2.0-M[0-9]
+      - v4.2.0-RC[0-9]
 permissions:
   contents: read
 concurrency:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 32d2629ae99..13612d1d5ac 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ name: Release
 on:
   push:
     tags:
-      - v4.1.[0-9]+
+      - v4.2.[0-9]+
 permissions:
   contents: read
 concurrency:
diff --git a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/intTest/projects/jar-layered-custom-name/jar-layers-configuration/src/main/resources/META-INF/spring/layers/custom.xml b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/intTest/projects/jar-layered-custom-name/jar-layers-configuration/src/main/resources/META-INF/spring/layers/custom.xml
index 434cd9fbb7f..a3e5e930dfa 100644
--- a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/intTest/projects/jar-layered-custom-name/jar-layers-configuration/src/main/resources/META-INF/spring/layers/custom.xml
+++ b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/intTest/projects/jar-layered-custom-name/jar-layers-configuration/src/main/resources/META-INF/spring/layers/custom.xml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <layers xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers"
 		xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
 		xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers
-				  https://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers/layers-4.1.xsd">
+				  https://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers/layers-4.2.xsd">
 	<application>
 		<into layer="configuration">
 			<include>**/application*.*</include>
diff --git a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/intTest/projects/jar-layered-custom/jar/src/layers.xml b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/intTest/projects/jar-layered-custom/jar/src/layers.xml
index 77bfa58e8d4..13e53361616 100644
--- a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/intTest/projects/jar-layered-custom/jar/src/layers.xml
+++ b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/intTest/projects/jar-layered-custom/jar/src/layers.xml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <layers xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers"
 	xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
 	xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers
-					  https://www.springframework.org/schema/layers/layers-4.1.xsd">
+					  https://www.springframework.org/schema/layers/layers-4.2.xsd">
 	<application>
 		<into layer="configuration">
 			<include>**/application*.*</include>
diff --git a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/intTest/projects/war-layered-custom/war/src/layers.xml b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/intTest/projects/war-layered-custom/war/src/layers.xml
index 77bfa58e8d4..13e53361616 100644
--- a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/intTest/projects/war-layered-custom/war/src/layers.xml
+++ b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/intTest/projects/war-layered-custom/war/src/layers.xml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <layers xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers"
 	xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
 	xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers
-					  https://www.springframework.org/schema/layers/layers-4.1.xsd">
+					  https://www.springframework.org/schema/layers/layers-4.2.xsd">
 	<application>
 		<into layer="configuration">
 			<include>**/application*.*</include>
diff --git a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/main/resources/META-INF/spring/layers/default.xml b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/main/resources/META-INF/spring/layers/default.xml
index 0d2fedf8334..c94067c8abe 100644
--- a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/main/resources/META-INF/spring/layers/default.xml
+++ b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/main/resources/META-INF/spring/layers/default.xml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <layers xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers"
 		xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
 		xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers
-	                      https://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers/layers-4.1.xsd">
+	                      https://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers/layers-4.2.xsd">
 	<application>
 		<into layer="spring-boot-loader">
 			<include>org/springframework/boot/loader/**</include>
diff --git a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/main/xsd/layers-4.2.xsd b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/main/xsd/layers-4.2.xsd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..20219b9bd8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/main/xsd/layers-4.2.xsd
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
+<xsd:schema elementFormDefault="qualified"
+	xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers"
+	xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
+	targetNamespace="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers">
+	<xsd:element name="layers" type="layersType" />
+	<xsd:complexType name="layersType">
+		<xsd:sequence>
+			<xsd:element name="application" type="applicationType" minOccurs="0"/>
+			<xsd:element name="dependencies" type="dependenciesType" minOccurs="0"/>
+			<xsd:element name="layerOrder" type="layerOrderType" minOccurs="0"/>
+		</xsd:sequence>
+	</xsd:complexType>
+	<xsd:complexType name="applicationType">
+		<xsd:annotation>
+			<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+	The 'into layer' selections that should be applied to application classes and resources.
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
+		</xsd:annotation>
+		<xsd:sequence maxOccurs="unbounded">
+			<xsd:element name="into" type="intoType" />
+		</xsd:sequence>
+	</xsd:complexType>
+	<xsd:complexType name="dependenciesType">
+		<xsd:annotation>
+			<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+	The 'into layer' selections that should be applied to dependencies.
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
+		</xsd:annotation>
+		<xsd:sequence maxOccurs="unbounded">
+			<xsd:element name="into" type="dependenciesIntoType" />
+		</xsd:sequence>
+	</xsd:complexType>
+	<xsd:complexType name="layerOrderType">
+		<xsd:annotation>
+			<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+	The order that layers should be added (starting with the least frequently changed layer).
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
+		</xsd:annotation>
+		<xsd:sequence>
+			<xsd:element name="layer" maxOccurs="unbounded">
+				<xsd:annotation>
+					<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+	The layer name.
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
+				</xsd:annotation>
+				<xsd:simpleType>
+					<xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
+						<xsd:minLength value="1" />
+					</xsd:restriction>
+				</xsd:simpleType>
+			</xsd:element>
+		</xsd:sequence>
+	</xsd:complexType>
+	<xsd:complexType name="intoType">
+		<xsd:choice maxOccurs="unbounded">
+			<xsd:element type="xsd:string" name="include"
+				minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
+				<xsd:annotation>
+					<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+	Pattern of the elements to include.
+			]]></xsd:documentation>
+				</xsd:annotation>
+			</xsd:element>
+			<xsd:element type="xsd:string" name="exclude"
+				minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
+				<xsd:annotation>
+					<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+	Pattern of the elements to exclude.
+			]]></xsd:documentation>
+				</xsd:annotation>
+			</xsd:element>
+		</xsd:choice>
+		<xsd:attribute type="xsd:string" name="layer"
+			use="required" />
+	</xsd:complexType>
+	<xsd:complexType name="dependenciesIntoType">
+		<xsd:complexContent>
+			<xsd:extension base="intoType">
+				<xsd:choice minOccurs="0">
+					<xsd:element type="xsd:string" name="includeModuleDependencies" minOccurs="0">
+						<xsd:annotation>
+							<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+	Include dependencies on other modules in the build.
+							]]></xsd:documentation>
+						</xsd:annotation>
+					</xsd:element>
+					<xsd:element type="xsd:string" name="excludeModuleDependencies" minOccurs="0">
+						<xsd:annotation>
+							<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+	Exclude dependencies on other modules in the build.
+							]]></xsd:documentation>
+						</xsd:annotation>
+					</xsd:element>
+				</xsd:choice>
+			</xsd:extension>
+		</xsd:complexContent>
+	</xsd:complexType>
+
+</xsd:schema>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/test/resources/dependencies-layer-no-filter.xml b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/test/resources/dependencies-layer-no-filter.xml
index abd81ae6adb..563e476cf36 100644
--- a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/test/resources/dependencies-layer-no-filter.xml
+++ b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/test/resources/dependencies-layer-no-filter.xml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <layers xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers"
 	xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
 	xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers
-					  https://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers/layers-4.1.xsd">
+					  https://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers/layers-4.2.xsd">
 	<dependencies>
 		<into layer="my-deps" />
 	</dependencies>
diff --git a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/test/resources/layers.xml b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/test/resources/layers.xml
index f4921f54f10..be1771b98d8 100644
--- a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/test/resources/layers.xml
+++ b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/test/resources/layers.xml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <layers xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers"
 	xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
 	xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers
-					  https://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers/layers-4.1.xsd">
+					  https://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers/layers-4.2.xsd">
 	<application>
 		<into layer="my-resources">
 			<include>META-INF/resources/**</include>
diff --git a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/test/resources/resource-layer-no-filter.xml b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/test/resources/resource-layer-no-filter.xml
index e256884d6f0..5f71408c561 100644
--- a/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/test/resources/resource-layer-no-filter.xml
+++ b/build-plugin/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/test/resources/resource-layer-no-filter.xml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <layers xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers"
 	xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
 	xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers
-					  https://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers/layers-4.1.xsd">
+					  https://www.springframework.org/schema/boot/layers/layers-4.2.xsd">
 	<application>
 		<into layer="my-layer" />
 	</application>
diff --git a/eclipse/spring-boot-project.setup b/eclipse/spring-boot-project.setup
index 8486022ea6e..8f93185b394 100644
--- a/eclipse/spring-boot-project.setup
+++ b/eclipse/spring-boot-project.setup
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
     xmlns:setup.p2="http://www.eclipse.org/oomph/setup/p2/1.0"
     xmlns:setup.workingsets="http://www.eclipse.org/oomph/setup/workingsets/1.0"
     xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.eclipse.org/oomph/setup/jdt/1.0 https://raw.githubusercontent.com/eclipse-oomph/oomph/master/setups/models/JDT.ecore http://www.eclipse.org/buildship/oomph/1.0 https://raw.githubusercontent.com/eclipse/buildship/master/org.eclipse.buildship.oomph/model/GradleImport-1.0.ecore http://www.eclipse.org/oomph/predicates/1.0 https://raw.githubusercontent.com/eclipse-oomph/oomph/master/setups/models/Predicates.ecore http://www.eclipse.org/oomph/setup/workingsets/1.0 https://raw.githubusercontent.com/eclipse-oomph/oomph/master/setups/models/SetupWorkingSets.ecore"
-    name="spring.boot.4.1.x"
-    label="Spring Boot 4.1.x">
+    name="spring.boot.4.2.x"
+    label="Spring Boot 4.2.x">
   <setupTask
       xsi:type="setup:VariableTask"
       type="FOLDER"
diff --git a/git/hooks/prepare-forward-merge b/git/hooks/prepare-forward-merge
index 9162bbaa81a..3b5ee191f1d 100755
--- a/git/hooks/prepare-forward-merge
+++ b/git/hooks/prepare-forward-merge
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ require 'net/http'
 require 'yaml'
 require 'logger'
 
-$main_branch = "4.1.x"
+$main_branch = "4.2.x"
 
 $log = Logger.new(STDOUT)
 $log.level = Logger::WARN
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 0d865fb057e..cb764f2f070 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-version=4.1.1-SNAPSHOT
+version=4.2.0-SNAPSHOT
 latestVersion=true
 spring.build-type=oss
 
diff --git a/platform/spring-boot-dependencies/build.gradle b/platform/spring-boot-dependencies/build.gradle
index 8818eff7c37..f585495dfbc 100644
--- a/platform/spring-boot-dependencies/build.gradle
+++ b/platform/spring-boot-dependencies/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ description = "Spring Boot Dependencies"
 
 bom {
 	upgrade {
-		policy = "same-minor-version"
+		policy = "same-major-version"
 		gitHub {
 			issueLabels = [
 				"type: dependency-upgrade",