diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 08d0b06..0b733fb 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ control-plane-forward: ## — forward the Sandbox Control Plane API to 127.0.0.1
 		port-forward deploy/sandbox-control-plane 18080:8080
 
 console-forward: ## — forward Console to 127.0.0.1:18081
+	@echo "Console: http://127.0.0.1:18081"
+	@echo "Local login key (run in another terminal): make --no-print-directory dev-token"
 	KUBECONFIG=$(KUBECONFIG) kubectl --context $(SANDBOX_KUBE_CONTEXT) --namespace sandbox-system \
 		port-forward deploy/sandbox-console 18081:8080
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fdd78b1..815e54e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ operation fails; it never falls back to running on the host.
 
 ```bash
 make bootstrap                 # create .venv and install SDK + test dependencies
-make test                      # 833 unit and contract tests, no network, no cluster
+make test                      # 834 unit and contract tests, no network, no cluster
 make verify                    # complete Python, Console, manifest, Helm, wheel gate
 make help                      # every Make target with its one-line description
 ```
@@ -147,6 +147,25 @@ Lima cluster, and proves all of the following against the live deployment:
 - an unavailable Control Plane fails closed without executing on the host;
 - `/healthz`, `X-Request-Id`, and Prometheus metrics are visible.
 
+### Open the Console
+
+After `make quickstart` succeeds, keep the Console forward running in one terminal:
+
+```bash
+make console-forward
+```
+
+Open <http://127.0.0.1:18081>. In another terminal, print the local login key:
+
+```bash
+make --no-print-directory dev-token
+```
+
+Paste that value into **API key** and choose **Enter console**. The local key is
+administrator-equivalent: do not share it or put it in a URL. The Console retains it
+only in that browser tab's `sessionStorage`; signing out or closing the tab removes it.
+Production deployments should use OIDC or a revocable API key instead.
+
 The command ends with the first Runtime-call latency and total elapsed time. It
 also writes `.sandbox/quickstart-summary.json` and
 `.sandbox/showcase-result.json`, so install success, phase duration, manual
diff --git a/scripts/quickstart.sh b/scripts/quickstart.sh
index 869d243..b9a4e4b 100755
--- a/scripts/quickstart.sh
+++ b/scripts/quickstart.sh
@@ -97,3 +97,12 @@ run_phase local-cluster make -C "$REPO_ROOT" --no-print-directory up-local
 run_phase value-proof make -C "$REPO_ROOT" --no-print-directory smoke-local
 STATUS=passed
 CURRENT_PHASE=complete
+
+cat <<'EOF'
+
+Open the Console:
+  1. Run `make console-forward` in one terminal.
+  2. Open http://127.0.0.1:18081.
+  3. Run `make --no-print-directory dev-token` in another terminal and paste
+     the value into "API key". The local key is administrator-equivalent.
+EOF
diff --git a/scripts/smoke-local.py b/scripts/smoke-local.py
index 3ee7040..488f2a9 100755
--- a/scripts/smoke-local.py
+++ b/scripts/smoke-local.py
@@ -153,7 +153,8 @@ def main() -> int:
     print(f"First Runtime call: {first_call_seconds:.3f}s")
     print(f"Value proof total: {duration:.3f}s")
     print(f"Evidence: {result_path}")
-    print("Console: run `make console-forward`, then open http://127.0.0.1:18081")
+    print("Console: run `make console-forward`, open http://127.0.0.1:18081,")
+    print("then paste the value from `make --no-print-directory dev-token` into API key")
     return 0
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_documentation.py b/tests/test_documentation.py
index a05ca9f..803ad47 100644
--- a/tests/test_documentation.py
+++ b/tests/test_documentation.py
@@ -142,6 +142,16 @@ def test_console_credential_wording_matches_browser_storage(self) -> None:
         auth_source = (ROOT / "console/src/auth.ts").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
         self.assertIn("window.sessionStorage.setItem", auth_source)
 
+    def test_readme_closes_the_local_console_login_loop(self) -> None:
+        readme = (ROOT / "README.md").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        heading = readme.index("### Open the Console")
+        section = readme[heading:readme.index("\n## ", heading + 4)]
+        self.assertIn("make console-forward", section)
+        self.assertIn("http://127.0.0.1:18081", section)
+        self.assertIn("make --no-print-directory dev-token", section)
+        self.assertIn("API key", section)
+        self.assertIn("administrator-equivalent", section)
+
     def test_dev_token_make_target_does_not_echo_its_recipe(self) -> None:
         makefile = (ROOT / "Makefile").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
         target = makefile.split("dev-token:", 1)[1].split("\n\n", 1)[0]