diff --git a/docs/06-configuration.md b/docs/06-configuration.md
index 855f0241..564b0e6b 100644
--- a/docs/06-configuration.md
+++ b/docs/06-configuration.md
@@ -89,16 +89,12 @@ This table is based on `backend/app/core/config.py`, `.env.example`, `backend/.e
 |---|---:|---|---|---|
 | `NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL` | **yes** | Backend base URL used by the browser | `http://localhost:8000` | Must be browser-reachable |
 | `NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY` | **yes** | Enables Clerk in the frontend | (none) | Must be a real publishable key |
-| `CLERK_SECRET_KEY` | **yes** | Clerk secret key used by the frontend (server-side) and E2E | (none) | Do not commit; required for Clerk-enabled operation |
-| `NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_IN_FORCE_REDIRECT_URL` | optional | Post-login redirect | `/boards` | — |
-| `NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_UP_FORCE_REDIRECT_URL` | optional | Post-signup redirect | `/boards` | — |
 | `NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_IN_FALLBACK_REDIRECT_URL` | optional | Fallback redirect | `/boards` | — |
-| `NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_UP_FALLBACK_REDIRECT_URL` | optional | Fallback redirect | `/boards` | — |
 | `NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_AFTER_SIGN_OUT_URL` | optional | Post-logout redirect | `/` | — |
 
 ## Operational footguns
 
-- **Clerk placeholder keys**: `frontend/.env.example` contains non-empty Clerk placeholders. `compose.yml` intentionally does **not** load it, because it can accidentally flip Clerk “on”. Prefer user-managed `frontend/.env` (for Compose) or `frontend/.env.local` (for Next dev).
+- **Frontend env template vs runtime env**: `frontend/.env.example` is a template and `compose.yml` intentionally does **not** load it at runtime. Use user-managed `frontend/.env` (for Compose) or `frontend/.env.local` (for Next dev).
 - **`DB_AUTO_MIGRATE`**:
   - In `ENVIRONMENT=dev`, backend defaults `DB_AUTO_MIGRATE=true` if you didn’t set it explicitly.
   - In production, consider disabling auto-migrate and running migrations as an explicit step.
diff --git a/docs/deployment/README.md b/docs/deployment/README.md
index 60add961..ef844497 100644
--- a/docs/deployment/README.md
+++ b/docs/deployment/README.md
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ When running Compose, you get:
   - Health check: `GET /healthz`
 - **Frontend UI** (Next.js) on `http://localhost:${FRONTEND_PORT:-3000}`
 
-Auth (Clerk) is **required** right now. You must configure Clerk keys for the frontend and backend (`CLERK_SECRET_KEY`).
+Auth is configurable per deployment:
+- `AUTH_MODE=local` (self-host default; shared bearer token)
+- `AUTH_MODE=clerk` (Clerk JWT auth; backend requires `CLERK_SECRET_KEY`)
 
 ## Requirements
 
@@ -86,7 +88,7 @@ These persist across `docker compose down`.
 ### Root `.env` (Compose)
 
 - Copy the template: `cp .env.example .env`
-- Edit values as needed (ports, Clerk URLs/keys, etc.)
+- Edit values as needed (ports, auth mode, tokens, API URL, etc.)
 
 Compose is invoked with:
 
@@ -158,7 +160,6 @@ Create `frontend/.env` with at least:
 NEXT_PUBLIC_AUTH_MODE=clerk
 NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL=http://localhost:8000
 NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=pk_test_your_real_key
-CLERK_SECRET_KEY=sk_test_your_real_key
 ```
 
 **Security:** treat `LOCAL_AUTH_TOKEN` and `CLERK_SECRET_KEY` like passwords. Do not commit them.
diff --git a/frontend/.env.example b/frontend/.env.example
index 425dc8d9..b1db4249 100644
--- a/frontend/.env.example
+++ b/frontend/.env.example
@@ -9,9 +9,5 @@ NEXT_PUBLIC_AUTH_MODE=local
 
 # Clerk auth (used when NEXT_PUBLIC_AUTH_MODE=clerk)
 NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=
-CLERK_SECRET_KEY=
-NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_IN_FORCE_REDIRECT_URL=/boards
-NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_UP_FORCE_REDIRECT_URL=/boards
 NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_IN_FALLBACK_REDIRECT_URL=/boards
-NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_UP_FALLBACK_REDIRECT_URL=/boards
 NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_AFTER_SIGN_OUT_URL=/
diff --git a/frontend/README.md b/frontend/README.md
index 1bcc1eb0..33052326 100644
--- a/frontend/README.md
+++ b/frontend/README.md
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ For `local` mode:
 For `clerk` mode, configure:
 
 - `NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY`
-- `CLERK_SECRET_KEY`
-- optional Clerk redirect env vars
+- optional `NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_IN_FALLBACK_REDIRECT_URL`
+- optional `NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_AFTER_SIGN_OUT_URL`
 
 ## How the frontend talks to the backend