diff --git a/docs/.vitepress/config.ts b/docs/.vitepress/config.ts
index 9f6d41e..b4c1ed8 100644
--- a/docs/.vitepress/config.ts
+++ b/docs/.vitepress/config.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
       { text: "Examples", link: "/examples/" },
       { text: "Overlay Testing", link: "/overlay/" },
       {
-        text: "v1.1.25",
+        text: "v1.1.26",
         items: [{ text: "Changelog", link: "/changelog" }],
       },
     ],
diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index a0ceab3..19b2b5c 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -2,7 +2,14 @@
 
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
-## [1.1.25] - Current
+## [1.1.26] - Current
+
+### Added
+
+- **`RHDHDeployment.applyAppConfig()`** (exposes the former private `_applyAppConfig`): Applies the merged app-config ConfigMap without a full `deploy()`, using the same merge path as `deploy()` after you change `configure()` options (for example a different `appConfig` file).
+- **Use with restarts**: Call **`scaleDownAndRestart()`** or **`rolloutRestart()`** afterward when Helm does not reload config by itself; finish with **`waitUntilReady()`**. Typical pattern: `configure({ auth, appConfig, valueFile, ... })` → `applyAppConfig()` → `scaleDownAndRestart()` → `waitUntilReady()`.
+
+## [1.1.25]
 
 ### Added
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 94b19c0..c7c3905 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@red-hat-developer-hub/e2e-test-utils",
-  "version": "1.1.25",
+  "version": "1.1.26",
   "description": "Test utilities for RHDH E2E tests",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "repository": {
diff --git a/src/deployment/rhdh/deployment.ts b/src/deployment/rhdh/deployment.ts
index 171d5bc..144fe0c 100644
--- a/src/deployment/rhdh/deployment.ts
+++ b/src/deployment/rhdh/deployment.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export class RHDHDeployment {
           this.deploymentConfig.namespace,
         );
 
-        await this._applyAppConfig();
+        await this.applyAppConfig();
         await this._applySecrets();
 
         if (this.deploymentConfig.method === "helm") {
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ export class RHDHDeployment {
     }
   }
 
-  private async _applyAppConfig(): Promise<void> {
+  async applyAppConfig(): Promise<void> {
     const authConfig = AUTH_CONFIG_PATHS[this.deploymentConfig.auth];
     const appConfigYaml = await mergeYamlFilesIfExists(
       [