diff --git a/swift/Tasks.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/swift/Tasks.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index 7507a5f9d..a5746e45b 100644
--- a/swift/Tasks.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/swift/Tasks.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 	objects = {
 
 /* Begin PBXBuildFile section */
-		4170A8552CED346F00043F5A /* DittoObjC in Frameworks */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; productRef = 4170A8542CED346F00043F5A /* DittoObjC */; };
-		4170A8572CED346F00043F5A /* DittoSwift in Frameworks */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; productRef = 4170A8562CED346F00043F5A /* DittoSwift */; };
+		0D40BBA72F2AAE8A006A72A4 /* DittoSwift in Frameworks */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; productRef = 0D40BBA62F2AAE8A006A72A4 /* DittoSwift */; };
 		ABCDEF012345678900000001 /* TasksUITests.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = ABCDEF012345678900000002 /* TasksUITests.swift */; };
 /* End PBXBuildFile section */
 
@@ -55,8 +54,7 @@
 			isa = PBXFrameworksBuildPhase;
 			buildActionMask = 2147483647;
 			files = (
-				4170A8552CED346F00043F5A /* DittoObjC in Frameworks */,
-				4170A8572CED346F00043F5A /* DittoSwift in Frameworks */,
+				0D40BBA72F2AAE8A006A72A4 /* DittoSwift in Frameworks */,
 			);
 			runOnlyForDeploymentPostprocessing = 0;
 		};
@@ -70,11 +68,19 @@
 /* End PBXFrameworksBuildPhase section */
 
 /* Begin PBXGroup section */
+		0D40BBA52F2AAE8A006A72A4 /* Frameworks */ = {
+			isa = PBXGroup;
+			children = (
+			);
+			name = Frameworks;
+			sourceTree = "<group>";
+		};
 		41F869812CECF42500DC7268 = {
 			isa = PBXGroup;
 			children = (
 				41F8698C2CECF42500DC7268 /* Tasks */,
 				ABCDEF012345678900000005 /* TasksUITests */,
+				0D40BBA52F2AAE8A006A72A4 /* Frameworks */,
 				41F8698B2CECF42500DC7268 /* Products */,
 			);
 			sourceTree = "<group>";
@@ -118,8 +124,7 @@
 			);
 			name = Tasks;
 			packageProductDependencies = (
-				4170A8542CED346F00043F5A /* DittoObjC */,
-				4170A8562CED346F00043F5A /* DittoSwift */,
+				0D40BBA62F2AAE8A006A72A4 /* DittoSwift */,
 			);
 			productName = Tasks;
 			productReference = 41F8698A2CECF42500DC7268 /* Tasks.app */;
@@ -151,7 +156,7 @@
 			attributes = {
 				BuildIndependentTargetsInParallel = 1;
 				LastSwiftUpdateCheck = 1610;
-				LastUpgradeCheck = 1610;
+				LastUpgradeCheck = 2620;
 				TargetAttributes = {
 					41F869892CECF42500DC7268 = {
 						CreatedOnToolsVersion = 16.1;
@@ -168,7 +173,7 @@
 			mainGroup = 41F869812CECF42500DC7268;
 			minimizedProjectReferenceProxies = 1;
 			packageReferences = (
-				4170A8532CED346F00043F5A /* XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference "DittoSwiftPackage" */,
+				0D40BBA42F2AAE7D006A72A4 /* XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference "DittoSwiftPackage" */,
 			);
 			preferredProjectObjectVersion = 77;
 			productRefGroup = 41F8698B2CECF42500DC7268 /* Products */;
@@ -326,6 +331,7 @@
 				MTL_FAST_MATH = YES;
 				ONLY_ACTIVE_ARCH = YES;
 				SDKROOT = iphoneos;
+				STRING_CATALOG_GENERATE_SYMBOLS = YES;
 				SWIFT_ACTIVE_COMPILATION_CONDITIONS = "DEBUG $(inherited)";
 				SWIFT_OPTIMIZATION_LEVEL = "-Onone";
 			};
@@ -382,6 +388,7 @@
 				MTL_ENABLE_DEBUG_INFO = NO;
 				MTL_FAST_MATH = YES;
 				SDKROOT = iphoneos;
+				STRING_CATALOG_GENERATE_SYMBOLS = YES;
 				SWIFT_COMPILATION_MODE = wholemodule;
 				VALIDATE_PRODUCT = YES;
 			};
@@ -400,6 +407,7 @@
 				GENERATE_INFOPLIST_FILE = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = Tasks/Info.plist;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_CFBundleDisplayName = "Ditto Tasks";
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.developer-tools";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSBluetoothAlwaysUsageDescription = "Uses Bluetooth to connect and sync with nearby devices";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSBluetoothPeripheralUsageDescription = "Uses Bluetooth to connect and sync with nearby devices";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSLocalNetworkUsageDescription = "Uses WiFi to connect and sync with nearby devices";
@@ -435,6 +443,7 @@
 				GENERATE_INFOPLIST_FILE = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = Tasks/Info.plist;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_CFBundleDisplayName = "Ditto Tasks";
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.developer-tools";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSBluetoothAlwaysUsageDescription = "Uses Bluetooth to connect and sync with nearby devices";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSBluetoothPeripheralUsageDescription = "Uses Bluetooth to connect and sync with nearby devices";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSLocalNetworkUsageDescription = "Uses WiFi to connect and sync with nearby devices";
@@ -526,25 +535,20 @@
 /* End XCConfigurationList section */
 
 /* Begin XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference section */
-		4170A8532CED346F00043F5A /* XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference "DittoSwiftPackage" */ = {
+		0D40BBA42F2AAE7D006A72A4 /* XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference "DittoSwiftPackage" */ = {
 			isa = XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference;
 			repositoryURL = "https://github.com/getditto/DittoSwiftPackage";
 			requirement = {
 				kind = upToNextMajorVersion;
-				minimumVersion = 4.13.1;
+				minimumVersion = "5.0.0-dev-weekly.20260126.180";
 			};
 		};
 /* End XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference section */
 
 /* Begin XCSwiftPackageProductDependency section */
-		4170A8542CED346F00043F5A /* DittoObjC */ = {
-			isa = XCSwiftPackageProductDependency;
-			package = 4170A8532CED346F00043F5A /* XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference "DittoSwiftPackage" */;
-			productName = DittoObjC;
-		};
-		4170A8562CED346F00043F5A /* DittoSwift */ = {
+		0D40BBA62F2AAE8A006A72A4 /* DittoSwift */ = {
 			isa = XCSwiftPackageProductDependency;
-			package = 4170A8532CED346F00043F5A /* XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference "DittoSwiftPackage" */;
+			package = 0D40BBA42F2AAE7D006A72A4 /* XCRemoteSwiftPackageReference "DittoSwiftPackage" */;
 			productName = DittoSwift;
 		};
 /* End XCSwiftPackageProductDependency section */
diff --git a/swift/Tasks.xcodeproj/project.xcworkspace/xcshareddata/swiftpm/Package.resolved b/swift/Tasks.xcodeproj/project.xcworkspace/xcshareddata/swiftpm/Package.resolved
index 9d0559ad6..7d2def6b3 100644
--- a/swift/Tasks.xcodeproj/project.xcworkspace/xcshareddata/swiftpm/Package.resolved
+++ b/swift/Tasks.xcodeproj/project.xcworkspace/xcshareddata/swiftpm/Package.resolved
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
       "kind" : "remoteSourceControl",
       "location" : "https://github.com/getditto/DittoSwiftPackage",
       "state" : {
-        "revision" : "c68c60c68ca4783248466781fd7607e1e59af198",
-        "version" : "4.13.1"
+        "revision" : "620b2b8ba0177d6d80875f752d588d2b30322200",
+        "version" : "5.0.0-swift-remove-support-for-cocoapods.1"
       }
     }
   ],
diff --git a/swift/Tasks.xcodeproj/xcshareddata/xcschemes/Tasks.xcscheme b/swift/Tasks.xcodeproj/xcshareddata/xcschemes/Tasks.xcscheme
index bfcc99fa5..43aab3fa6 100644
--- a/swift/Tasks.xcodeproj/xcshareddata/xcschemes/Tasks.xcscheme
+++ b/swift/Tasks.xcodeproj/xcshareddata/xcschemes/Tasks.xcscheme
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <Scheme
-   LastUpgradeVersion = "1640"
+   LastUpgradeVersion = "2620"
    version = "1.7">
    <BuildAction
       parallelizeBuildables = "YES"
diff --git a/swift/Tasks/DittoManager.swift b/swift/Tasks/DittoManager.swift
index 6600efc00..1172b8aee 100644
--- a/swift/Tasks/DittoManager.swift
+++ b/swift/Tasks/DittoManager.swift
@@ -3,38 +3,43 @@ import Foundation
 
 /// Owner of the Ditto object
 class DittoManager: ObservableObject {
-    let ditto: Ditto
+    @Published var ditto: Ditto?
     static let shared = DittoManager()
 
-    private init() {
-        // https://docs.ditto.live/sdk/latest/install-guides/swift#integrating-and-initializing-sync
-        ditto = Ditto(
-            identity: .onlinePlayground(
-                appID: Env.DITTO_APP_ID,
-                token: Env.DITTO_PLAYGROUND_TOKEN,
-                // This is required to be set to false to use the correct URLs
-                // This only disables cloud sync when the webSocketURL is not set explicitly
-                enableDittoCloudSync: false,
-                customAuthURL: URL(string: Env.DITTO_AUTH_URL)
-            )
-        )
+    private init() {}
 
-        // Set the Ditto Websocket URL
-        ditto.updateTransportConfig { transportConfig in
-            transportConfig.connect.webSocketURLs.insert(Env.DITTO_WEBSOCKET_URL)
-        }
+    /// Initializes Ditto and configures logging. Handles thrown errors.
+    func initDitto() async throws {
+        // https://docs.ditto.live/sdk/latest/ditto-config
+        let config = DittoConfig(
+            databaseID: Env.DITTO_APP_ID,
+            connect: .server(url: URL(string: Env.DITTO_AUTH_URL)!))
 
-        // disable sync with v3 peers, required for DQL
         do {
-            try ditto.disableSyncWithV3()
-        } catch let error {
-            print(
-                "DittoManger - ERROR: disableSyncWithV3() failed with error \"\(error)\""
-            )
+            let dittoOpened = try await Ditto.open(config: config)
+            dittoOpened.auth?.expirationHandler = { ditto, secondsRemaining in
+                // Authenticate when token is expiring. This closure must not throw.
+                ditto.auth?.login(token: Env.DITTO_PLAYGROUND_TOKEN,
+                                  provider: .development) { clientInfo, error in
+                    if let error = error {
+                        // Cannot throw from here; log the error instead.
+                        print(
+                            "Ditto auth refresh failed: \(error), " +
+                            "client info: \(String(describing: clientInfo)), " +
+                            "seconds remaining \(secondsRemaining)"
+                        )
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            self.ditto = dittoOpened
+
+        } catch {
+            self.ditto = nil
+            throw error
         }
 
-        let isPreview: Bool =
-            ProcessInfo.processInfo.environment["XCODE_RUNNING_FOR_PREVIEWS"] == "1"
+        // Configure logging for non-preview runs
+        let isPreview: Bool = ProcessInfo.processInfo.environment["XCODE_RUNNING_FOR_PREVIEWS"] == "1"
         if !isPreview {
             DittoLogger.minimumLogLevel = .debug
         }
diff --git a/swift/Tasks/TasksApp.swift b/swift/Tasks/TasksApp.swift
index 354c2a631..8e2829fbe 100644
--- a/swift/Tasks/TasksApp.swift
+++ b/swift/Tasks/TasksApp.swift
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import SwiftUI
 @main
 struct TasksApp: App {
     @State private var isLoading = true
-    private let ditto = DittoManager.shared.ditto
 
     var body: some Scene {
         WindowGroup {
@@ -16,14 +15,10 @@ struct TasksApp: App {
             }
             .task {
                 do {
-                    // Disable DQL strict mode. When set to false, collection
-                    // definitions are no longer required. SELECT queries will
-                    // return and display all fields by default.
-                    // https://docs.ditto.live/dql/strict-mode
-                    try await ditto.store.execute(query: "ALTER SYSTEM SET DQL_STRICT_MODE = false")
+                    try await DittoManager.shared.initDitto()
                     isLoading = false
                 } catch {
-                    fatalError("Internal inconsistency, expected setting DQL strict mode to false to always succeed but it failed: \(error)")
+                    fatalError("Failed to initialize Ditto: \(error)")
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/swift/Tasks/TasksListScreen.swift b/swift/Tasks/TasksListScreen.swift
index 82024324a..26bc1d22a 100644
--- a/swift/Tasks/TasksListScreen.swift
+++ b/swift/Tasks/TasksListScreen.swift
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@ class TasksListScreenViewModel: ObservableObject {
 
         // Register observer, which runs against the local database on this peer
         // https://docs.ditto.live/sdk/latest/crud/observing-data-changes#setting-up-store-observers
-        storeObserver = try? ditto.store.registerObserver(query: observerQuery) {
-            [weak self] result in
+        storeObserver = try? ditto?.store.registerObserver(query: observerQuery) { [weak self] result in
             guard let self = self else { return }
-            self.tasks = result.items.compactMap {
-                TaskModel($0.jsonData())
+            let mappedTasks = result.items.compactMap { TaskModel($0.jsonData()) }
+            Task { @MainActor [weak self] in
+                self?.tasks = mappedTasks
             }
         }
     }
@@ -38,26 +38,32 @@ class TasksListScreenViewModel: ObservableObject {
         storeObserver?.cancel()
         storeObserver = nil
 
-        if ditto.isSyncActive {
-            DittoManager.shared.ditto.stopSync()
+        if let ditto = self.ditto {
+            if ditto.sync.isActive {
+                ditto.sync.stop()
+            }
         }
     }
 
     func setSyncEnabled(_ newValue: Bool) throws {
-        if !ditto.isSyncActive && newValue {
-            try startSync()
-        } else if ditto.isSyncActive && !newValue {
-            stopSync()
+        if let ditto = self.ditto {
+            if !ditto.sync.isActive && newValue {
+                try startSync()
+            } else if ditto.sync.isActive && !newValue {
+                stopSync()
+            }
         }
     }
 
     private func startSync() throws {
         do {
-            try ditto.startSync()
+            if let ditto = self.ditto {
+                try ditto.sync.start()
 
-            // Register a subscription, which determines what data syncs to this peer
-            // https://docs.ditto.live/sdk/latest/sync/syncing-data#creating-subscriptions
-            subscription = try ditto.sync.registerSubscription(query: subscriptionQuery)
+                // Register a subscription, which determines what data syncs to this peer
+                // https://docs.ditto.live/sdk/latest/sync/syncing-data#creating-subscriptions
+                subscription = try ditto.sync.registerSubscription(query: subscriptionQuery)
+            }
         } catch {
             print(
                 "TaskListScreenVM.\(#function) - ERROR starting sync operations: \(error.localizedDescription)"
@@ -69,8 +75,9 @@ class TasksListScreenViewModel: ObservableObject {
     private func stopSync() {
         subscription?.cancel()
         subscription = nil
-
-        ditto.stopSync()
+        if let ditto = self.ditto {
+            ditto.sync.stop()
+        }
     }
 
     func toggleComplete(task: TaskModel) {
@@ -83,10 +90,12 @@ class TasksListScreenViewModel: ObservableObject {
                 """
 
             do {
-                try await ditto.store.execute(
-                    query: query,
-                    arguments: ["done": done, "_id": task._id]
-                )
+                if let ditto = self.ditto {
+                    try await ditto.store.execute(
+                        query: query,
+                        arguments: ["done": done, "_id": task._id]
+                    )
+                }
             } catch {
                 print(
                     "TaskListScreenVM.\(#function) - ERROR toggling task: \(error.localizedDescription)"
@@ -106,15 +115,17 @@ class TasksListScreenViewModel: ObservableObject {
                 """
 
             do {
-                try await ditto.store.execute(
-                    query: query,
-                    arguments: [
-                        "title": task.title,
-                        "done": task.done,
-                        "deleted": task.deleted,
-                        "_id": task._id
-                    ]
-                )
+                if let ditto = self.ditto {
+                    try await ditto.store.execute(
+                        query: query,
+                        arguments: [
+                            "title": task.title,
+                            "done": task.done,
+                            "deleted": task.deleted,
+                            "_id": task._id
+                        ]
+                    )
+                }
             } catch {
                 print(
                     "TaskListScreenVM.\(#function) - ERROR updating task: \(error.localizedDescription)"
@@ -129,8 +140,10 @@ class TasksListScreenViewModel: ObservableObject {
             let query = "INSERT INTO tasks DOCUMENTS (:newTask)"
 
             do {
-                try await ditto.store.execute(
-                    query: query, arguments: ["newTask": newTask])
+                if let ditto = self.ditto {
+                    try await ditto.store.execute(
+                        query: query, arguments: ["newTask": newTask])
+                }
             } catch {
                 print(
                     "TaskListScreenVM.\(#function) - ERROR creating new task: \(error.localizedDescription)"
@@ -143,8 +156,10 @@ class TasksListScreenViewModel: ObservableObject {
         Task {
             let query = "UPDATE tasks SET deleted = true WHERE _id = :_id"
             do {
-                try await ditto.store.execute(
-                    query: query, arguments: ["_id": task._id])
+                if let ditto = self.ditto {
+                    try await ditto.store.execute(
+                        query: query, arguments: ["_id": task._id])
+                }
             } catch {
                 print(
                     "TaskListScreenVM.\(#function) - ERROR deleting task: \(error.localizedDescription)"
@@ -172,18 +187,20 @@ class TasksListScreenViewModel: ObservableObject {
 
             for task in initialTasks {
                 do {
-                    try await ditto.store.execute(
-                        query: "INSERT INTO tasks INITIAL DOCUMENTS (:task)",
-                        arguments: [
-                            "task":
-                                [
-                                    "_id": task._id,
-                                    "title": task.title,
-                                    "done": task.done,
-                                    "deleted": task.deleted
-                                ]
-                        ]
-                    )
+                    if let ditto = self.ditto {
+                        try await ditto.store.execute(
+                            query: "INSERT INTO tasks INITIAL DOCUMENTS (:task)",
+                            arguments: [
+                                "task":
+                                    [
+                                        "_id": task._id,
+                                        "title": task.title,
+                                        "done": task.done,
+                                        "deleted": task.deleted
+                                    ]
+                            ]
+                        )
+                    }
                 } catch {
                     print(
                         "TaskListScreenVM.\(#function) - ERROR creating initial task: \(error.localizedDescription)"
@@ -243,7 +260,7 @@ struct TasksListScreen: View {
             .toolbar {
                 ToolbarItem(placement: .topBarTrailing) {
                     HStack {
-                        Toggle("Sync", isOn: $syncEnabled)
+                        Toggle("  Sync", isOn: $syncEnabled)
                             .toggleStyle(SwitchToggleStyle())
                             .onChange(of: syncEnabled) { newSyncEnabled in
                                 Self.saveSyncEnabledState(newSyncEnabled)
@@ -255,20 +272,16 @@ struct TasksListScreen: View {
                             }
                     }
                 }
-                ToolbarItem(placement: .bottomBar) {
-                    HStack {
-                        Spacer()
-                        Button(action: {
-                            viewModel.onNewTask()
-                        }, label: {
-                            HStack {
-                                Image(systemName: "plus")
-                                Text("New Task")
-                            }
-                        })
-                        .buttonStyle(.borderedProminent)
-                        .padding(.bottom)
-                    }
+                ToolbarItemGroup(placement: .bottomBar) {
+                    Spacer()
+                    Button(action: {
+                        viewModel.onNewTask()
+                    }, label: {
+                        Label("New Task", systemImage: "plus")
+                    })
+                    .buttonStyle(.borderedProminent)
+                    .padding(.bottom)
+                    .padding(.trailing, 100)
                 }
             }
             .sheet(