diff --git a/.github/workflows/mobile-ios-release.yml b/.github/workflows/mobile-ios-release.yml
index 0fcba7b8d5b..2b3f4133790 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/mobile-ios-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/mobile-ios-release.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       bump_patch_version:
-        description: 'Bump the iOS marketing version patch number before release'
+        description: 'Force a marketing version patch bump. Usually unnecessary: a released version auto-bumps. Use this to start a new version while the current one is still open (beta iteration).'
         required: false
         default: false
         type: boolean
diff --git a/mobile/fastlane/Fastfile b/mobile/fastlane/Fastfile
index 9053113d565..7ca9c61de65 100644
--- a/mobile/fastlane/Fastfile
+++ b/mobile/fastlane/Fastfile
@@ -30,6 +30,23 @@ BUNDLE_ID = "com.stably.orca.mobile"
 TESTFLIGHT_GROUPS = ["peeps"].freeze
 DEFAULT_TESTFLIGHT_CHANGELOG = "Latest Orca Mobile updates and fixes.".freeze
 
+# App Store version states in which the version "train" no longer accepts new
+# TestFlight build uploads (altool rejects with 90186 "train ... is closed").
+# Once a version has been submitted/approved/released, builds must go under a
+# higher marketing version. PROCESSING_FOR_APP_STORE / IN_REVIEW are included
+# conservatively: a build is already committed to that train.
+CLOSED_APP_STORE_STATES = %w[
+  READY_FOR_SALE
+  PENDING_DEVELOPER_RELEASE
+  PENDING_APPLE_RELEASE
+  PROCESSING_FOR_APP_STORE
+  IN_REVIEW
+  WAITING_FOR_REVIEW
+  REPLACED_WITH_NEW_VERSION
+  REMOVED_FROM_SALE
+  DEVELOPER_REMOVED_FROM_SALE
+].freeze
+
 def app_store_connect_api_key_from_env
   app_store_connect_api_key(
     key_id: ENV.fetch("ASC_KEY_ID"),
@@ -71,6 +88,18 @@ def resolve_requested_version(options, config)
   truthy_option?(options[:bump_patch]) ? bump_patch_version(current_version) : current_version
 end
 
+# Returns true when `version`'s App Store train is closed to new build uploads.
+# app_store_connect_api_key (set_spaceship_token: true, the default) has already
+# authenticated Spaceship::ConnectAPI globally, so no extra auth is needed here.
+def version_train_closed?(version)
+  app = Spaceship::ConnectAPI::App.find(BUNDLE_ID)
+  return false unless app
+
+  app
+    .get_app_store_versions(filter: { versionString: version })
+    .any? { |app_store_version| CLOSED_APP_STORE_STATES.include?(app_store_version.app_store_state) }
+end
+
 def testflight_changelog
   changelog = ENV.fetch("TESTFLIGHT_CHANGELOG", "").strip
   changelog.empty? ? DEFAULT_TESTFLIGHT_CHANGELOG : changelog
@@ -82,6 +111,29 @@ platform :ios do
     api_key = app_store_connect_api_key_from_env
     config = load_mobile_app_config
     version = resolve_requested_version(options, config)
+    explicit_version = !options[:version].to_s.strip.empty?
+
+    # A closed train (version already submitted/approved/released) cannot accept
+    # more builds, so Apple would reject the upload (~20 min later) with 90186.
+    # Auto-bump the patch in the default path; if the caller pinned an exact
+    # version, fail loudly rather than silently overriding their choice.
+    if version_train_closed?(version)
+      if explicit_version
+        UI.user_error!(
+          "Requested iOS version #{version} is already submitted/released on the App Store " \
+          "and cannot accept new builds. Choose a higher release_version.",
+        )
+      end
+      # Advance until we find an open train (handles the rare case where the
+      # next patch was also already shipped). Bounded to avoid an infinite loop.
+      original = version
+      10.times do
+        version = bump_patch_version(version)
+        break unless version_train_closed?(version)
+      end
+      UI.user_error!("Could not find an open iOS version train after #{original}.") if version_train_closed?(version)
+      UI.message("iOS version #{original} is closed for new builds; bumping to #{version}.")
+    end
 
     latest_build_number = latest_testflight_build_number(
       api_key: api_key,