diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f67341a..59b9bb9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ This repo now uses Renovate to auto-update dependencies (including template mani
 3. Enable repository auto-merge in GitHub settings.
 4. Protect `master`, require CI checks before merge, and enable merge queue.
 
-Why: PRs created with `GITHUB_TOKEN` do not trigger downstream `pull_request` workflows. Using `RENOVATE_TOKEN` ensures CI checks run and automerge can complete.
+Why: PRs created with `GITHUB_TOKEN` do not trigger downstream `pull_request` workflows. Using `RENOVATE_TOKEN` ensures CI checks run for Renovate PRs.
 
 Workflow file: `.github/workflows/renovate.yml`  
 Config file: `renovate.json`
@@ -137,10 +137,9 @@ Behavior:
 - Renovate runs with strict concurrency (`prConcurrentLimit` and `branchConcurrentLimit` set to `1`) so only one dependency PR is active at a time.
 - Renovate disables major/minor/patch stream separation so updates stay in a single grouped PR flow.
 - Renovate waits for release-age stability checks (`minimumReleaseAge: 30 days`) before opening PRs and ignores unstable pre-release versions.
-- Npm updates are grouped into a single dependency PR stream.
-- Minor/patch/pin/digest npm updates auto-merge after checks pass.
-- Major npm updates require manual approval from the dependency dashboard.
-- Lock file maintenance runs weekly and auto-merges after checks pass.
+- All dependency updates are grouped into a single PR stream.
+- Renovate opens the grouped PR automatically (dashboard approval is not required).
+- Dedicated lock file maintenance PRs are disabled.
 - Renovate automatically rebases dependency PRs when they fall behind `master`.
 - Custom regex managers keep template manifests, the resolver registry, selected test dependency fixtures, README dependency rows, and ARCHITECTURE dependency rows in sync.
 
diff --git a/renovate.json b/renovate.json
index a2a06ce..2c038b9 100644
--- a/renovate.json
+++ b/renovate.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   "rangeStrategy": "bump",
   "ignoreUnstable": true,
   "dependencyDashboard": true,
-  "dependencyDashboardApproval": true,
+  "dependencyDashboardApproval": false,
   "prCreation": "not-pending",
   "prHourlyLimit": 0,
   "prConcurrentLimit": 1,
@@ -18,11 +18,7 @@
   "separateMinorPatch": false,
   "separateMultipleMajor": false,
   "lockFileMaintenance": {
-    "enabled": true,
-    "schedule": ["before 4am on monday"],
-    "automerge": true,
-    "automergeType": "pr",
-    "platformAutomerge": true
+    "enabled": false
   },
   "customManagers": [
     {
@@ -163,35 +159,9 @@
       "allowedVersions": "<10.0.0"
     },
     {
-      "description": "Group all npm updates into a single dependency PR stream",
-      "matchDatasources": ["npm"],
-      "matchUpdateTypes": ["major", "minor", "patch", "pin", "digest"],
-      "groupName": "all npm dependencies",
-      "groupSlug": "all-npm-dependencies"
-    },
-    {
-      "description": "Major npm updates require manual dashboard approval",
-      "matchDatasources": ["npm"],
-      "matchUpdateTypes": ["major"],
-      "dependencyDashboardApproval": true,
-      "automerge": false
-    },
-    {
-      "description": "Automerge non-major npm updates after stability window and checks",
-      "matchDatasources": ["npm"],
-      "matchUpdateTypes": ["minor", "patch", "pin", "digest"],
-      "dependencyDashboardApproval": false,
-      "automerge": true,
-      "automergeType": "pr",
-      "platformAutomerge": true
-    },
-    {
-      "description": "Automerge lock file maintenance updates",
-      "matchUpdateTypes": ["lockFileMaintenance"],
-      "dependencyDashboardApproval": false,
-      "automerge": true,
-      "automergeType": "pr",
-      "platformAutomerge": true
+      "description": "Group all dependency updates into a single PR stream",
+      "groupName": "all dependencies",
+      "groupSlug": "all-dependencies"
     }
   ]
 }