diff --git a/chart/Chart.yaml b/chart/Chart.yaml
index ad09cd70b0..9b4e33c163 100644
--- a/chart/Chart.yaml
+++ b/chart/Chart.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 apiVersion: v1
 name: longhorn
-version: 1.6.0
-appVersion: v1.6.0
+version: 1.6.1-rc1
+appVersion: v1.6.1-rc1
 kubeVersion: ">=1.21.0-0"
 description: Longhorn is a distributed block storage system for Kubernetes.
 keywords:
diff --git a/chart/questions.yaml b/chart/questions.yaml
index 20ab8d1333..b55cb05f62 100644
--- a/chart/questions.yaml
+++ b/chart/questions.yaml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ questions:
     label: Longhorn Manager Image Repository
     group: "Longhorn Images Settings"
   - variable: image.longhorn.manager.tag
-    default: v1.6.0
+    default: v1.6.1-rc1
     description: "Specify Longhorn Manager Image Tag"
     type: string
     label: Longhorn Manager Image Tag
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ questions:
     label: Longhorn Engine Image Repository
     group: "Longhorn Images Settings"
   - variable: image.longhorn.engine.tag
-    default: v1.6.0
+    default: v1.6.1-rc1
     description: "Specify Longhorn Engine Image Tag"
     type: string
     label: Longhorn Engine Image Tag
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ questions:
     label: Longhorn UI Image Repository
     group: "Longhorn Images Settings"
   - variable: image.longhorn.ui.tag
-    default: v1.6.0
+    default: v1.6.1-rc1
     description: "Specify Longhorn UI Image Tag"
     type: string
     label: Longhorn UI Image Tag
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ questions:
     label: Longhorn Instance Manager Image Repository
     group: "Longhorn Images Settings"
   - variable: image.longhorn.instanceManager.tag
-    default: v1.6.0
+    default: v1.6.1-rc1
     description: "Specify Longhorn Instance Manager Image Tag"
     type: string
     label: Longhorn Instance Manager Image Tag
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ questions:
     label: Longhorn Share Manager Image Repository
     group: "Longhorn Images Settings"
   - variable: image.longhorn.shareManager.tag
-    default: v1.6.0
+    default: v1.6.1-rc1
     description: "Specify Longhorn Share Manager Image Tag"
     type: string
     label: Longhorn Share Manager Image Tag
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ questions:
     label: Longhorn Backing Image Manager Image Repository
     group: "Longhorn Images Settings"
   - variable: image.longhorn.backingImageManager.tag
-    default: v1.6.0
+    default: v1.6.1-rc1
     description: "Specify Longhorn Backing Image Manager Image Tag"
     type: string
     label: Longhorn Backing Image Manager Image Tag
diff --git a/chart/values.yaml b/chart/values.yaml
index 3438b6e182..c35a814c34 100644
--- a/chart/values.yaml
+++ b/chart/values.yaml
@@ -35,32 +35,32 @@ image:
       # -- Repository for the Longhorn Engine image.
       repository: longhornio/longhorn-engine
       # -- Specify Longhorn engine image tag
-      tag: v1.6.0
+      tag: v1.6.1-rc1
     manager:
       # -- Repository for the Longhorn Manager image.
       repository: longhornio/longhorn-manager
       # -- Specify Longhorn manager image tag
-      tag: v1.6.0
+      tag: v1.6.1-rc1
     ui:
       # -- Repository for the Longhorn UI image.
       repository: longhornio/longhorn-ui
       # -- Specify Longhorn ui image tag
-      tag: v1.6.0
+      tag: v1.6.1-rc1
     instanceManager:
       # -- Repository for the Longhorn Instance Manager image.
       repository: longhornio/longhorn-instance-manager
       # -- Specify Longhorn instance manager image tag
-      tag: v1.6.0
+      tag: v1.6.1-rc1
     shareManager:
       # -- Repository for the Longhorn Share Manager image.
       repository: longhornio/longhorn-share-manager
       # -- Specify Longhorn share manager image tag
-      tag: v1.6.0
+      tag: v1.6.1-rc1
     backingImageManager:
       # -- Repository for the Backing Image Manager image. When unspecified, Longhorn uses the default value.
       repository: longhornio/backing-image-manager
       # -- Specify Longhorn backing image manager image tag
-      tag: v1.6.0
+      tag: v1.6.1-rc1
     supportBundleKit:
       # -- Repository for the Longhorn Support Bundle Manager image.
       repository: longhornio/support-bundle-kit
diff --git a/deploy/longhorn-images.txt b/deploy/longhorn-images.txt
index 294cdcd897..82cc5322aa 100644
--- a/deploy/longhorn-images.txt
+++ b/deploy/longhorn-images.txt
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ longhornio/csi-resizer:v1.9.2
 longhornio/csi-snapshotter:v6.3.2
 longhornio/csi-node-driver-registrar:v2.9.2
 longhornio/livenessprobe:v2.12.0
-longhornio/backing-image-manager:v1.6.0
-longhornio/longhorn-engine:v1.6.0
-longhornio/longhorn-instance-manager:v1.6.0
-longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.0
-longhornio/longhorn-share-manager:v1.6.0
-longhornio/longhorn-ui:v1.6.0
+longhornio/backing-image-manager:v1.6.1-rc1
+longhornio/longhorn-engine:v1.6.1-rc1
+longhornio/longhorn-instance-manager:v1.6.1-rc1
+longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.1-rc1
+longhornio/longhorn-share-manager:v1.6.1-rc1
+longhornio/longhorn-ui:v1.6.1-rc1
 longhornio/support-bundle-kit:v0.0.36
diff --git a/deploy/longhorn.yaml b/deploy/longhorn.yaml
index 40850861fe..29e2f224d6 100644
--- a/deploy/longhorn.yaml
+++ b/deploy/longhorn.yaml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
 description: "Ensure Longhorn pods have the highest priority to prevent any unexpected eviction by the Kubernetes scheduler under node pressure"
 globalDefault: false
 preemptionPolicy: PreemptLowerPriority
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
 ---
 # Source: longhorn/templates/serviceaccount.yaml
 apiVersion: v1
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
 ---
 # Source: longhorn/templates/serviceaccount.yaml
 apiVersion: v1
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
 ---
 # Source: longhorn/templates/default-setting.yaml
 apiVersion: v1
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
 data:
   default-setting.yaml: |-
     priority-class: longhorn-critical
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
 data:
   storageclass.yaml: |
     kind: StorageClass
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: backingimagedatasources.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: backingimagemanagers.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: backingimages.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: backups.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: backuptargets.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -1134,7 +1134,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: backupvolumes.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -1301,7 +1301,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: engineimages.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -1498,7 +1498,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: engines.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -1878,7 +1878,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: instancemanagers.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -2150,7 +2150,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: nodes.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -2401,7 +2401,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: orphans.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -2671,7 +2671,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: replicas.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -2914,7 +2914,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: settings.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -3007,7 +3007,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: sharemanagers.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -3122,7 +3122,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: snapshots.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -3249,7 +3249,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: supportbundles.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -3375,7 +3375,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: systembackups.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -3503,7 +3503,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: systemrestores.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -3605,7 +3605,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: volumes.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -3989,7 +3989,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     longhorn-manager: ""
   name: volumeattachments.longhorn.io
 spec:
@@ -4118,7 +4118,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
 rules:
 - apiGroups:
   - apiextensions.k8s.io
@@ -4184,7 +4184,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
 roleRef:
   apiGroup: rbac.authorization.k8s.io
   kind: ClusterRole
@@ -4202,7 +4202,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
 roleRef:
   apiGroup: rbac.authorization.k8s.io
   kind: ClusterRole
@@ -4219,7 +4219,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     app: longhorn-manager
   name: longhorn-backend
   namespace: longhorn-system
@@ -4239,7 +4239,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     app: longhorn-ui
   name: longhorn-frontend
   namespace: longhorn-system
@@ -4260,7 +4260,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     app: longhorn-conversion-webhook
   name: longhorn-conversion-webhook
   namespace: longhorn-system
@@ -4280,7 +4280,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     app: longhorn-admission-webhook
   name: longhorn-admission-webhook
   namespace: longhorn-system
@@ -4300,7 +4300,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     app: longhorn-recovery-backend
   name: longhorn-recovery-backend
   namespace: longhorn-system
@@ -4320,7 +4320,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
   name: longhorn-engine-manager
   namespace: longhorn-system
 spec:
@@ -4336,7 +4336,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
   name: longhorn-replica-manager
   namespace: longhorn-system
 spec:
@@ -4352,7 +4352,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     app: longhorn-manager
   name: longhorn-manager
   namespace: longhorn-system
@@ -4365,12 +4365,12 @@ spec:
       labels:
         app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
         app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-        app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+        app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
         app: longhorn-manager
     spec:
       containers:
       - name: longhorn-manager
-        image: longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.0
+        image: longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.1-rc1
         imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         securityContext:
           privileged: true
@@ -4379,17 +4379,17 @@ spec:
         - -d
         - daemon
         - --engine-image
-        - "longhornio/longhorn-engine:v1.6.0"
+        - "longhornio/longhorn-engine:v1.6.1-rc1"
         - --instance-manager-image
-        - "longhornio/longhorn-instance-manager:v1.6.0"
+        - "longhornio/longhorn-instance-manager:v1.6.1-rc1"
         - --share-manager-image
-        - "longhornio/longhorn-share-manager:v1.6.0"
+        - "longhornio/longhorn-share-manager:v1.6.1-rc1"
         - --backing-image-manager-image
-        - "longhornio/backing-image-manager:v1.6.0"
+        - "longhornio/backing-image-manager:v1.6.1-rc1"
         - --support-bundle-manager-image
         - "longhornio/support-bundle-kit:v0.0.36"
         - --manager-image
-        - "longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.0"
+        - "longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.1-rc1"
         - --service-account
         - longhorn-service-account
         - --upgrade-version-check
@@ -4459,7 +4459,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
 spec:
   replicas: 1
   selector:
@@ -4470,23 +4470,23 @@ spec:
       labels:
         app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
         app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-        app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+        app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
         app: longhorn-driver-deployer
     spec:
       initContainers:
         - name: wait-longhorn-manager
-          image: longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.0
+          image: longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.1-rc1
           command: ['sh', '-c', 'while [ $(curl -m 1 -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" http://longhorn-backend:9500/v1) != "200" ]; do echo waiting; sleep 2; done']
       containers:
         - name: longhorn-driver-deployer
-          image: longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.0
+          image: longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.1-rc1
           imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           command:
           - longhorn-manager
           - -d
           - deploy-driver
           - --manager-image
-          - "longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.0"
+          - "longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.1-rc1"
           - --manager-url
           - http://longhorn-backend:9500/v1
           env:
@@ -4526,7 +4526,7 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
     app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+    app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
     app: longhorn-ui
   name: longhorn-ui
   namespace: longhorn-system
@@ -4540,7 +4540,7 @@ spec:
       labels:
         app.kubernetes.io/name: longhorn
         app.kubernetes.io/instance: longhorn
-        app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.0
+        app.kubernetes.io/version: v1.6.1-rc1
         app: longhorn-ui
     spec:
       serviceAccountName: longhorn-ui-service-account
@@ -4558,7 +4558,7 @@ spec:
               topologyKey: kubernetes.io/hostname
       containers:
       - name: longhorn-ui
-        image: longhornio/longhorn-ui:v1.6.0
+        image: longhornio/longhorn-ui:v1.6.1-rc1
         imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
         volumeMounts:
         - name : nginx-cache
diff --git a/uninstall/uninstall.yaml b/uninstall/uninstall.yaml
index 2be04a2341..a8d439b6ab 100644
--- a/uninstall/uninstall.yaml
+++ b/uninstall/uninstall.yaml
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: longhorn-uninstall
-          image: longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.0
+          image: longhornio/longhorn-manager:v1.6.1-rc1
           imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           command:
             - longhorn-manager