diff --git a/.github/workflows/appimage.yml b/.github/workflows/appimage.yml
index 4c5c93a10b..2fbe65673a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/appimage.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/appimage.yml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ env:
 
 jobs:
   build:
-    name: Building AppImage
+    name: build (${{ matrix.id }})
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ jobs:
         - os: ubuntu-24.04-arm
           id: aarch64
 
-    runs-on: '${{ matrix.os }}'
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     container: ghcr.io/pkgforge-dev/archlinux:latest
 
     steps:
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "count=$(git tag -l 'v[0-9]*' | wc -l | tr -d ' ')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       - name: Fetch upstream tags # required for git describe to return a valid version and to preevnt androidGitVersion from crashing on a new fork
-        if: ${{ steps.valid-tags.outputs.count == '0' }}
+        if: steps.valid-tags.outputs.count == '0'
         run: |
           # TODO: should try to fetch tags from whereever this repo was forked from before fetching from official repo
           git remote add upstream https://github.com/hrydgard/ppsspp.git # fetching from official repo as a fallback
@@ -162,7 +162,6 @@ jobs:
           echo "Building..."
           uname -m
           echo "tag=$(git describe --always --tags)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-          echo "isTag=${{ startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') }}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
           # Export ccache env var(s)
           export PATH="/usr/lib/ccache:/usr/local/opt/ccache/libexec:$PATH"
@@ -196,15 +195,15 @@ jobs:
           echo "Creating AppImage..."
           chmod +x ./build/PPSSPPSDL
           chmod +x ./scripts/makeappimage_64-bit.sh
-          VERSION=$([ "${{ steps.version.outputs.isTag }}" == "true" ] && echo "${GITHUB_REF##*/}" || echo "${{ steps.version.outputs.tag }}")
+          VERSION=$([[ ${GITHUB_REF_TYPE} == tag ]] && echo "$GITHUB_REF_NAME" || echo "${{ steps.version.outputs.tag }}")
           echo "Version = $VERSION"
           ./scripts/makeappimage_64-bit.sh "$VERSION"
 
       - name: Prepare artifacts
         run: |
           find . -name "PPSSPPSDL"
-          find . -name "PPSSPP*.AppImage" -exec chmod +x  {} \;
-          find . -name "PPSSPP*.AppBundle" -exec chmod +x  {} \;
+          find . -name "PPSSPP*.AppImage" -exec chmod +x '{}' \;
+          find . -name "PPSSPP*.AppBundle" -exec chmod +x '{}' \;
           find . -name "PPSSPP*.zsync"
           mkdir artifacts
           if [ -e ./PPSSPP*.AppImage ]; then
@@ -225,7 +224,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Upload release
         uses: softprops/action-gh-release@da05d552573ad5aba039eaac05058a918a7bf631 # v2.2.2
-        if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
+        if: github.ref_type == 'tag'
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           files: |
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index ade4ef6a99..5ed374a485 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ jobs:
       run: python test.py -g --graphics=software
 
   build:
+    name: build (${{ matrix.id }})
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
@@ -219,14 +220,14 @@ jobs:
     - name: Install Linux dependencies
       if: runner.os == 'Linux' && matrix.extra != 'android'
       run: |
-        sudo add-apt-repository -y "deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu `lsb_release -sc` main universe restricted multiverse"
+        sudo add-apt-repository -y "deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu $(lsb_release -sc) main universe restricted multiverse"
         sudo apt-get update -y -qq
         sudo apt-get install libsdl2-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libglu1-mesa-dev libsdl2-ttf-dev libfontconfig1-dev
 
     - name: Create macOS git-version.cpp for tagged release
-      if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') && runner.os == 'macOS' && matrix.extra == 'test'
+      if: github.ref_type == 'tag' && runner.os == 'macOS' && matrix.extra == 'test'
       run: |
-        echo "const char *PPSSPP_GIT_VERSION = \"${GITHUB_REF##*/}\";" > git-version.cpp
+        echo "const char *PPSSPP_GIT_VERSION = \"${GITHUB_REF_NAME}\";" > git-version.cpp
         echo "#define PPSSPP_GIT_VERSION_NO_UPDATE 1" >> git-version.cpp
 
     - name: Setup ccache
@@ -267,10 +268,10 @@ jobs:
         elif [ -e build*/PPSSPPSDL.app ]; then
           cp -a build*/PPSSPPSDL.app ppsspp/
           # GitHub Actions zipping kills symlinks and permissions.
-          cd ppsspp
+          pushd ppsspp
           zip -qry PPSSPPSDL.zip PPSSPPSDL.app
           rm -rf PPSSPPSDL.app
-          cd -
+          popd
         elif [ -e build*/PPSSPPSDL ]; then
           cp build*/PPSSPPSDL ppsspp/
           cp -r assets ppsspp/assets
@@ -294,14 +295,13 @@ jobs:
         path: ppsspp/
 
     - name: Create macOS release
-      if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') && runner.os == 'macOS' && matrix.extra == 'test'
-      run: |
-        cd ppsspp || exit 1
-        mv PPSSPPSDL.zip PPSSPPSDL-macOS-${GITHUB_REF##*/}.zip || exit 1
+      if: github.ref_type == 'tag' && runner.os == 'macOS' && matrix.extra == 'test'
+      working-directory: ppsspp
+      run: mv PPSSPPSDL.zip PPSSPPSDL-macOS-${GITHUB_REF_NAME}.zip
 
     - name: Upload macOS release
       uses: softprops/action-gh-release@da05d552573ad5aba039eaac05058a918a7bf631 # v2.2.2
-      if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') && runner.os == 'macOS' && matrix.extra == 'test'
+      if: github.ref_type == 'tag' && runner.os == 'macOS' && matrix.extra == 'test'
       with:
         files: ppsspp/*.zip
         body: >
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: Install Linux dependencies
       if: runner.os == 'Linux'
       run: |
-        sudo add-apt-repository -y "deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu `lsb_release -sc` main universe restricted multiverse"
+        sudo add-apt-repository -y "deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu $(lsb_release -sc) main universe restricted multiverse"
         sudo apt-get update -y -qq
         sudo apt-get install libsdl2-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libglu1-mesa-dev libsdl2-ttf-dev libfontconfig1-dev
 
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ jobs:
       working-directory: ${{ env.GITHUB_WORKSPACE }}
       run: python test.py -g --graphics=software
 
-  build_test_headless_alpine:
+  test-headless-alpine:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container: 
       image: alpine:latest
diff --git a/.github/workflows/manual_generate_apk.yml b/.github/workflows/manual_generate_apk.yml
index f33bf676f6..3d57058368 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/manual_generate_apk.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/manual_generate_apk.yml
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "count=$(git tag -l 'v[0-9]*' | wc -l | tr -d ' ')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       - name: Fetch upstream tags # required for git describe to return a valid version and to preevnt androidGitVersion from crashing on a new fork
-        if: ${{ steps.valid-tags.outputs.count == '0' }}
+        if: steps.valid-tags.outputs.count == '0'
         run: |
           # TODO: should try to fetch tags from whereever this repo was forked from before fetching from official repo
           git remote add upstream https://github.com/hrydgard/ppsspp.git # fetching from official repo as a fallback
diff --git a/.github/workflows/manual_generate_ipa.yml b/.github/workflows/manual_generate_ipa.yml
index 4882e3f39f..370708e724 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/manual_generate_ipa.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/manual_generate_ipa.yml
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "count=$(git tag -l 'v[0-9]*' | wc -l | tr -d ' ')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
       - name: Fetch upstream tags # required for git describe to return a valid version on a new fork
-        if: ${{ steps.valid-tags.outputs.count == '0' }}
+        if: steps.valid-tags.outputs.count == '0'
         run: |
           # TODO: should try to fetch tags from whereever this repo was forked from before fetching from official repo
           git remote add upstream https://github.com/hrydgard/ppsspp.git # fetching from official repo as a fallback
@@ -50,18 +50,18 @@ jobs:
           mkdir build-ios/PPSSPP.app
           echo $(echo $GIT_VERSION | cut -c 2-) > build-ios/PPSSPP.app/Version.txt
           # Testing values ...
-          echo "Content of [GITHUB_REF##*/] = ${GITHUB_REF##*/}"
+          echo "Content of [GITHUB_REF_NAME] = ${GITHUB_REF_NAME}"
           echo "count=${{steps.valid-tags.outputs.count}}"
           echo $(echo $GIT_VERSION | cut -c 2-)
           # Testing file location ...
           find . -name "Version.txt"
-          
+
       - name: Setup ccache
         uses: hendrikmuhs/ccache-action@63069e3931dedbf3b63792097479563182fe70d1 # v1.2.18
         with:
           key: ios
           create-symlink: true
-      
+
       - name: Execute build
         env:
           CC: clang
@@ -85,10 +85,10 @@ jobs:
             mkdir ppsspp/Payload
             cp -a build*/PPSSPP.app ppsspp/Payload
             # GitHub Actions zipping kills symlinks and permissions.
-            cd ppsspp
+            pushd ppsspp
             zip -qry PPSSPP.ipa Payload
             rm -rf Payload
-            cd -
+            popd
           fi
 
       - name: Upload artifact
diff --git a/.github/workflows/manual_generate_uwp.yml b/.github/workflows/manual_generate_uwp.yml
index b83513b0ec..04b5b05c34 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/manual_generate_uwp.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/manual_generate_uwp.yml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "count=$(git tag -l 'v[0-9]*' | wc -l | tr -d ' ')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT # $env:GITHUB_OUTPUT on pwsh
           
       - name: Fetch upstream tags # required for git describe to return a valid version on a new fork
-        if: ${{ steps.valid-tags.outputs.count == '0' }}
+        if: steps.valid-tags.outputs.count == '0'
         run: |
           # TODO: should try to fetch tags from whereever this repo was forked from before fetching from official repo
           git remote add upstream https://github.com/hrydgard/ppsspp.git # fetching from official repo as a fallback
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: ${{ github.workspace }}
         env:
           INCLUDE_SYMBOLS: ${{ github.event.inputs.buildConfiguration == 'Debug' && 'true' || 'false' }}
-        if: ${{ github.event.inputs.buildPlatform != 'Bundle' }}
+        if: github.event.inputs.buildPlatform != 'Bundle'
         run: |
           echo "include symbols = ${{ env.INCLUDE_SYMBOLS }}"
           msbuild UWP/PPSSPP_UWP.sln /m /p:TrackFileAccess=false /p:Configuration=${{ github.event.inputs.buildConfiguration }} /p:Platform=${{ github.event.inputs.buildPlatform }} /p:IncludeSymbols=${{ env.INCLUDE_SYMBOLS }} /p:AppxSymbolPackageEnabled=${{ env.INCLUDE_SYMBOLS }} /p:AppxPackageSigningEnabled=${{ github.event.inputs.signedPackage }} /p:PackageCertificateKeyFile=PPSSPP_UWP_TemporaryKey.pfx /p:AppxBundle=Never /p:UapAppxPackageBuildMode=SideloadOnly /p:AppxBundlePlatforms="${{ github.event.inputs.buildPlatform }}"
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: ${{ github.workspace }}
         env:
           INCLUDE_SYMBOLS: ${{ github.event.inputs.buildConfiguration == 'Debug' && 'true' || 'false' }}
-        if: ${{ github.event.inputs.buildPlatform == 'Bundle' }}
+        if: github.event.inputs.buildPlatform == 'Bundle'
         run: |
           echo "include symbols = ${{ env.INCLUDE_SYMBOLS }}"
           msbuild UWP/PPSSPP_UWP.sln /m /p:TrackFileAccess=false /p:Configuration=${{ github.event.inputs.buildConfiguration }} /p:Platform=x64 /p:IncludeSymbols=${{ env.INCLUDE_SYMBOLS }} /p:AppxSymbolPackageEnabled=${{ env.INCLUDE_SYMBOLS }} /p:AppxPackageSigningEnabled=${{ github.event.inputs.signedPackage }} /p:PackageCertificateKeyFile=PPSSPP_UWP_TemporaryKey.pfx /p:AppxBundle=Always /p:UapAppxPackageBuildMode=SideloadOnly /p:AppxBundlePlatforms="x64|ARM64|ARM"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tarball.yml b/.github/workflows/tarball.yml
index 7cd4eb2a85..10ef2a85aa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tarball.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tarball.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   build:
-    name: build
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -21,10 +20,10 @@ jobs:
     - name: Archive
       id: archive
       run: |
-        VERSION=${GITHUB_REF##*/}
+        VERSION=$GITHUB_REF_NAME
         test -z "$VERSION" && VERSION=${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}
         VERSION=$(printf "%s\n" "$VERSION" | sed 's/^v//')
-        PKGNAME="ppsspp-$VERSION"
+        PKGNAME=ppsspp-$VERSION
         mkdir -p /tmp/$PKGNAME
         mv * /tmp/$PKGNAME
         mv /tmp/$PKGNAME .