diff --git a/opal-web/.env.example b/opal-web/.env.example
index 11eac77..b48f2b5 100644
--- a/opal-web/.env.example
+++ b/opal-web/.env.example
@@ -2,5 +2,4 @@
 VITE_API_URL=https://opal.example.com/api
 VITE_AUTH_URL=https://auth.example.com
 
-# OAuth — set to "false" for local dev (used with `opal server start --dev`)
-VITE_OAUTH_ENABLED=true
+# OAuth (not needed for local dev — Vite's DEV mode auto-skips auth)
diff --git a/opal-web/src/lib/stores/auth.js b/opal-web/src/lib/stores/auth.js
index 6e20969..de3340d 100644
--- a/opal-web/src/lib/stores/auth.js
+++ b/opal-web/src/lib/stores/auth.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import { getItem, setItem, removeItem } from '$lib/utils/storage.js';
  */
 
 const STORAGE_KEY = 'opal_auth';
-const DEV_MODE = import.meta.env.VITE_OAUTH_ENABLED === 'false';
+const DEV_MODE = import.meta.env.DEV;
 
 /**
  * Load auth state from localStorage