diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index 7f2c964..a908e2f 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2026-02-26 - 7.0.16 - fix(mongodb)
+set default socketTimeoutMS to 30000ms in MongoClient options to prevent hung operations from holding connections
+
+- Adds socketTimeoutMS: 30000 to MongoClient clientOptions in ts/classes.db.ts
+- Helps prevent hung operations from indefinitely holding connections by enforcing a 30s socket timeout
+- Non-breaking change (defaults only)
+
 ## 2025-12-01 - 7.0.15 - fix(classes.doc)
 Avoid emitting instance fields for collection and manager to preserve decorator-defined prototype getters
 
diff --git a/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts b/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
index c5065d2..4433637 100644
--- a/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
+++ b/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
  */
 export const commitinfo = {
   name: '@push.rocks/smartdata',
-  version: '7.0.15',
+  version: '7.0.16',
   description: 'An advanced library for NoSQL data organization and manipulation using TypeScript with support for MongoDB, data validation, collections, and custom data types.'
 }
diff --git a/ts/classes.db.ts b/ts/classes.db.ts
index 0bd82f1..cc4299e 100644
--- a/ts/classes.db.ts
+++ b/ts/classes.db.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ export class SmartdataDb {
         maxPoolSize: (this.smartdataOptions as any).maxPoolSize ?? 100,
         maxIdleTimeMS: (this.smartdataOptions as any).maxIdleTimeMS ?? 300000, // 5 minutes default
         serverSelectionTimeoutMS: (this.smartdataOptions as any).serverSelectionTimeoutMS ?? 30000,
+        socketTimeoutMS: (this.smartdataOptions as any).socketTimeoutMS ?? 30000, // 30 seconds default — prevents hung operations from holding connections
         retryWrites: true,
       };