diff --git a/release/setup.py b/release/setup.py
index bd12bcfec..e6c434514 100644
--- a/release/setup.py
+++ b/release/setup.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def finalize_options(self):
     "scipy<=1.12.0",
     # The following makes it easier to get the right version on Colab. Once
     # TFQ works with the latest version of TF, this may become unnecessary.
-    "protobuf==4.25.8",
+    "protobuf==6.33.5",
 ]
 
 # TF requirement is placed as an extras to avoid overwriting existing nightly TF