diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c0baf6c..96306a3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,15 +33,13 @@ cp target/release/hotdata /usr/local/bin/hotdata
 
 ## Connect
 
-Run either of the following (they are equivalent):
+Run:
 
 ```sh
 hotdata auth login
-# or
-hotdata auth
 ```
 
-This launches a browser window where you can authorize the CLI to access your Hotdata account.
+This launches a browser window where you can authorize the CLI to access your Hotdata account. (Bare `hotdata auth` prints the `auth` subcommand help.)
 
 Alternatively, authenticate with an API key using the `--api-key` flag:
 
@@ -62,7 +60,7 @@ API key priority (lowest to highest): config file → `HOTDATA_API_KEY` env var
 
 | Command | Subcommands | Description |
 | :-- | :-- | :-- |
-| `auth` | `login`, `status`, `logout` | `login` or bare `auth` opens browser login; `status` / `logout` manage the saved profile |
+| `auth` | `login`, `status`, `logout` | `login` opens browser login; `status` / `logout` manage the saved profile |
 | `workspaces` | `list`, `set` | Manage workspaces |
 | `connections` | `list`, `create`, `refresh`, `new` | Manage connections |
 | `databases` | `list`, `create`, `delete`, `tables` | Managed databases (create and load tables via parquet) |
diff --git a/skills/hotdata/SKILL.md b/skills/hotdata/SKILL.md
index a049bf7..5013197 100644
--- a/skills/hotdata/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/hotdata/SKILL.md
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ Install all skills with **`hotdata skills install`**. Load specialized skills on
 
 ## Authentication
 
-Run **`hotdata auth login`** (or **`hotdata auth`** with no subcommand—same behavior) to authenticate via browser login. Config is stored in `~/.hotdata/config.yml`.
+Run **`hotdata auth login`** to authenticate via browser login. Config is stored in `~/.hotdata/config.yml`.
 
 API key resolution (lowest to highest priority):
-1. Config file (saved by `hotdata auth login` / `hotdata auth`)
+1. Config file (saved by `hotdata auth login`)
 2. `HOTDATA_API_KEY` environment variable (or `.env` file)
 3. `--api-key <key>` flag (works on any command)
 
@@ -336,8 +336,7 @@ A newer release can be incompatible with the API, so in an **interactive termina
 
 ### Auth
 ```
-hotdata auth login          # Browser-based login (same as: hotdata auth)
-hotdata auth                # Browser-based login (same as: hotdata auth login)
+hotdata auth login          # Browser-based login
 hotdata auth status         # Check current auth status
 hotdata auth logout         # Remove saved auth for the default profile
 ```
diff --git a/skills/hotdata/references/WORKFLOWS.md b/skills/hotdata/references/WORKFLOWS.md
index d0f0ffe..90cde70 100644
--- a/skills/hotdata/references/WORKFLOWS.md
+++ b/skills/hotdata/references/WORKFLOWS.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ End-to-end checklists. Use the linked sections for command detail and guardrails
 
 **Skill:** **`hotdata`** (optional **`hotdata-analytics`** for first queries)
 
-1. [ ] `hotdata auth login` (or `hotdata auth`)
+1. [ ] `hotdata auth login`
 2. [ ] `hotdata workspaces list` → `hotdata workspaces set` if not on the right workspace
 3. [ ] `hotdata connections list` — note connection ids and names
 4. [ ] (Optional) `hotdata connections create …` — see **`hotdata`** skill **Create a Connection**
diff --git a/src/command.rs b/src/command.rs
index 0acfc91..65172d2 100644
--- a/src/command.rs
+++ b/src/command.rs
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ pub enum QueryCommands {
 
 #[derive(Subcommand)]
 pub enum AuthCommands {
-    /// Log in via browser (same as `hotdata auth` with no subcommand)
+    /// Log in via browser
     Login,
 
     /// Create a new account via browser (defaults to GitHub OAuth)
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 7ff1662..cf62f6c 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ pub fn resolve_workspace_id(
         .workspaces
         .first()
         .map(|w| w.public_id.clone())
-        .ok_or_else(|| "no workspace-id provided and no default workspace found. Run 'hotdata auth login' (or 'hotdata auth') or specify --workspace-id.".to_string())
+        .ok_or_else(|| "no workspace-id provided and no default workspace found. Run 'hotdata auth login' or specify --workspace-id.".to_string())
 }
 
 /// Global API key override set via --api-key flag.
@@ -283,9 +283,7 @@ pub fn load(profile: &str) -> Result<ProfileConfig, String> {
             .map_err(|e| format!("error reading config file: {e}"))?;
         let config_file: ConfigFile = serde_yaml::from_str(&content).unwrap_or_else(|_| {
             eprintln!("{}", "error parsing config file.".red());
-            eprintln!(
-                "Run 'hotdata auth login' (or 'hotdata auth') to generate a new config file."
-            );
+            eprintln!("Run 'hotdata auth login' to generate a new config file.");
             std::process::exit(1);
         });
         config_file
diff --git a/src/jwt.rs b/src/jwt.rs
index e5b2514..99e1a22 100644
--- a/src/jwt.rs
+++ b/src/jwt.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 //! | Access token valid for > 30 s | return it directly |
 //! | Access expiring or expired, refresh token valid | call `/o/token/` with `grant_type=refresh_token` |
 //! | Refresh token dead, `api_key` present | re-mint via `grant_type=api_token` |
-//! | Refresh token dead, no `api_key` | return an error — user must `hotdata auth` again |
+//! | Refresh token dead, no `api_key` | return an error — user must `hotdata auth login` again |
 //!
 //! The raw `hd_...` API token (flow 3 in the design doc) is *never*
 //! persisted to the session file — it stays in the main config or the
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ pub fn ensure_access_token(
     // 0) An explicit identity override (`--api-key`, `HOTDATA_API_KEY`,
     // or `.env`) is asserting a specific identity for *this invocation*.
     // The on-disk session may belong to a completely different user
-    // from a prior `hotdata auth` and must not be reused. Mint fresh
+    // from a prior `hotdata auth login` and must not be reused. Mint fresh
     // and deliberately skip persisting so we don't clobber the
     // interactive session. Surface the real mint error here too — if
     // the override key is bad, "HTTP 401" is more useful than the
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ pub fn ensure_access_token(
                 // API token rejected (revoked, expired, or invalid).
                 // Fall through to the re-auth hint — hide the raw HTTP
                 // error from the user; the api.rs caller appends a
-                // `hotdata auth` hint.
+                // `hotdata auth login` hint.
             }
         }
     }
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ impl hotdata::auth::BearerTokenProvider for CliTokenProvider {
         resolved.map_err(|body| {
             // Surface as a 401 so `Configuration::resolve_bearer_token` logs the
             // cause and the request proceeds to a 401 the wrapper shapes into
-            // the "run hotdata auth" hint (the same end-state as the old
+            // the "run hotdata auth login" hint (the same end-state as the old
             // ApiClient refresher returning None).
             hotdata::auth::TokenExchangeError::Status { status: 401, body }
         })
@@ -1235,7 +1235,7 @@ mod tests {
         let (_tmp, _guard) = with_temp_config_dir();
         // No session, no api_key fallback -> ensure_access_token errors, the
         // provider maps it to a 401 so the request proceeds to the wrapper's
-        // "run hotdata auth" hint.
+        // "run hotdata auth login" hint.
         let profile = mock_profile("http://127.0.0.1:1");
         let provider = session_provider(&profile, None);
         match bearer(&provider).unwrap_err() {
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 31228ab..5132446 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -177,7 +177,9 @@ fn main() {
     // never blocked (see `update::should_check`).
     let gate_update = !matches!(
         &cli.command,
-        None | Some(Commands::Upgrade) | Some(Commands::Completions { .. })
+        None | Some(Commands::Upgrade)
+            | Some(Commands::Completions { .. })
+            | Some(Commands::Auth { command: None })
     );
     if gate_update {
         update::enforce_latest_or_exit();
@@ -191,10 +193,19 @@ fn main() {
         }
         Some(cmd) => match cmd {
             Commands::Auth { command } => match command {
-                None | Some(AuthCommands::Login) => auth::login(),
+                Some(AuthCommands::Login) => auth::login(),
                 Some(AuthCommands::Register { email }) => auth::register(email),
                 Some(AuthCommands::Status) => auth::status("default"),
                 Some(AuthCommands::Logout) => auth::logout("default"),
+                None => {
+                    use clap::CommandFactory;
+                    let mut cmd = Cli::command();
+                    cmd.build();
+                    cmd.find_subcommand_mut("auth")
+                        .unwrap()
+                        .print_help()
+                        .unwrap();
+                }
             },
             Commands::Query {
                 sql,
diff --git a/src/sdk.rs b/src/sdk.rs
index 5401ad6..47b65e4 100644
--- a/src/sdk.rs
+++ b/src/sdk.rs
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ impl ApiError {
     /// `ApiClient::fail_response`'s formatting.
     ///
     /// On a 4xx, re-probe the auth status so a masked 404/403 is upgraded into
-    /// the "run hotdata auth" hint; otherwise surface the server body. Split out
+    /// the "run hotdata auth login" hint; otherwise surface the server body. Split out
     /// from [`exit`](Self::exit) so callers that want to append their own hint
     /// after the error (e.g. the query cross-source hint) can print, add the
     /// hint, then exit.
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ impl Api {
                 eprintln!("{}", format!("error: {e}").red());
                 eprintln!(
                     "Run {} to log in, or pass --api-key.",
-                    "hotdata auth".cyan()
+                    "hotdata auth login".cyan()
                 );
                 std::process::exit(1);
             }
@@ -840,7 +840,8 @@ pub fn format_fail_message(
     if status.is_client_error()
         && let Some(auth::AuthStatus::Invalid(_)) = auth_status
     {
-        return "error: API key is invalid. Run 'hotdata auth login' (or 'hotdata auth') to re-authenticate.".to_string();
+        return "error: API key is invalid. Run 'hotdata auth login' to re-authenticate."
+            .to_string();
     }
     // A 403 ACCESS_DENIED is the allow-list guard rejecting an operation the
     // credential can't perform — typically a database API token (which is
@@ -886,7 +887,7 @@ mod tests {
             Some(&AuthStatus::Invalid(401)),
         );
         assert!(msg.contains("API key is invalid"));
-        assert!(msg.contains("hotdata auth login") || msg.contains("hotdata auth"));
+        assert!(msg.contains("hotdata auth login"));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -962,7 +963,7 @@ mod tests {
             msg.to_lowercase().contains("database api token"),
             "got: {msg}"
         );
-        assert!(msg.contains("hotdata auth"), "got: {msg}");
+        assert!(msg.contains("hotdata auth login"), "got: {msg}");
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/tests/auth_no_subcommand_help.rs b/tests/auth_no_subcommand_help.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e845bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/auth_no_subcommand_help.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+//! `hotdata auth` with no subcommand prints the `auth` help (listing its
+//! subcommands) instead of triggering a browser login — the behavior change
+//! from PR #182.
+//!
+//! Runs fully offline and without credentials: bare `auth` is exempt from the
+//! update gate and hits no API. Before the change this arm called
+//! `auth::login()`, which prints "Opening browser to log in..." and starts a
+//! local callback server; the test asserts that flow is *not* started.
+
+mod common;
+
+use common::{DEFAULT_API_URL, unauthenticated_output};
+
+#[test]
+fn bare_auth_prints_subcommand_help() {
+    let output = unauthenticated_output(DEFAULT_API_URL, &["auth"]);
+
+    assert!(
+        output.status.success(),
+        "`hotdata auth` should exit 0 printing help\n--- stderr ---\n{}",
+        String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr),
+    );
+
+    let stdout = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stdout);
+
+    // Clap help block, listing every auth subcommand.
+    assert!(
+        stdout.contains("Usage"),
+        "expected help output with a usage line; got:\n{stdout}"
+    );
+    for sub in ["login", "register", "status", "logout"] {
+        assert!(
+            stdout.contains(sub),
+            "auth help missing `{sub}` subcommand; got:\n{stdout}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    // The login flow must NOT have started. `auth::login()` prints this banner
+    // before opening a browser / spinning up the callback server.
+    let combined = format!("{stdout}{}", String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr));
+    assert!(
+        !combined.contains("Opening browser to log in"),
+        "bare `auth` should print help, not start a login flow; got:\n{combined}"
+    );
+}