diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 000122d44ad..e5e41d3bdf8 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2778,7 +2778,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "libp2p-identify"
-version = "0.45.2"
+version = "0.46.0"
 dependencies = [
  "async-std",
  "asynchronous-codec",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 0a981d73299..aab7f0d71d4 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ libp2p-dcutr = { version = "0.12.0", path = "protocols/dcutr" }
 libp2p-dns = { version = "0.42.0", path = "transports/dns" }
 libp2p-floodsub = { version = "0.45.0", path = "protocols/floodsub" }
 libp2p-gossipsub = { version = "0.48.0", path = "protocols/gossipsub" }
-libp2p-identify = { version = "0.45.2", path = "protocols/identify" }
+libp2p-identify = { version = "0.46.0", path = "protocols/identify" }
 libp2p-identity = { version = "0.2.9" }
 libp2p-kad = { version = "0.47.0", path = "protocols/kad" }
 libp2p-mdns = { version = "0.46.0", path = "protocols/mdns" }
diff --git a/protocols/identify/CHANGELOG.md b/protocols/identify/CHANGELOG.md
index d02c0acf02c..9051c331bbc 100644
--- a/protocols/identify/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/protocols/identify/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-## 0.45.2
+## 0.46.0
 
-- Make `identify::Config` fields private and added getter functions.
+- Make `identify::Config` fields private and add getter functions.
   See [PR 5663](https://github.com/libp2p/rust-libp2p/pull/5663).
 
 ## 0.45.1
diff --git a/protocols/identify/Cargo.toml b/protocols/identify/Cargo.toml
index 178b8062f9e..13c43b6a71f 100644
--- a/protocols/identify/Cargo.toml
+++ b/protocols/identify/Cargo.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ name = "libp2p-identify"
 edition = "2021"
 rust-version = { workspace = true }
 description = "Nodes identification protocol for libp2p"
-version = "0.45.2"
+version = "0.46.0"
 authors = ["Parity Technologies <admin@parity.io>"]
 license = "MIT"
 repository = "https://github.com/libp2p/rust-libp2p"
diff --git a/protocols/identify/src/behaviour.rs b/protocols/identify/src/behaviour.rs
index db6a91a9df4..1f82cd154e3 100644
--- a/protocols/identify/src/behaviour.rs
+++ b/protocols/identify/src/behaviour.rs
@@ -204,18 +204,18 @@ impl Config {
     }
 
     /// Get the protocol version of the Config.
-    pub fn protocol_version(&self) -> String {
-        self.protocol_version.clone()
+    pub fn protocol_version(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.protocol_version
     }
 
     /// Get the local public key of the Config.
-    pub fn local_public_key(&self) -> PublicKey {
-        self.local_public_key.clone()
+    pub fn local_public_key(&self) -> &PublicKey {
+        &self.local_public_key
     }
 
     /// Get the agent version of the Config.
-    pub fn agent_version(&self) -> String {
-        self.agent_version.clone()
+    pub fn agent_version(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.agent_version
     }
 
     /// Get the interval of the Config.