diff --git a/AUTHENTICATION.md b/AUTHENTICATION.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..352e949
--- /dev/null
+++ b/AUTHENTICATION.md
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+# Authentication
+
+The Tigris CLI supports multiple authentication methods. When more than one is configured, the CLI uses the first match in the following priority order:
+
+| Priority | Method | How to set up |
+|----------|--------|---------------|
+| 1 | AWS Profile | `AWS_PROFILE` env var + `~/.aws/credentials` |
+| 2 | Environment variables (AWS_) | `AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID` + `AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY` |
+| 3 | Environment variables (TIGRIS_) | `TIGRIS_STORAGE_ACCESS_KEY_ID` + `TIGRIS_STORAGE_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY` |
+| 4 | OAuth login | `tigris login` or `tigris login oauth` |
+| 5 | Credentials login | `tigris login credentials` |
+| 6 | Configured credentials | `tigris configure` |
+
+Run `tigris whoami` to see which method is currently active.
+
+## OAuth Login
+
+The recommended method for interactive use. Opens a browser for authentication via OAuth2 device flow.
+
+```sh
+tigris login
+# or explicitly:
+tigris login oauth
+```
+
+OAuth sessions support organization management (`tigris orgs list`, `tigris orgs select`) and IAM operations (users, policies). Tokens are refreshed automatically.
+
+## Credentials Login
+
+Creates a temporary session using an access key and secret. The session is cleared on `tigris logout`, but credentials saved via `tigris configure` are preserved.
+
+```sh
+tigris login credentials --access-key tid_AaBb --access-secret tsec_XxYy
+# or interactively:
+tigris login credentials
+```
+
+## Configured Credentials
+
+Saves access key credentials permanently to `~/.tigris/config.json`. These persist across login/logout cycles and are used as a fallback when no other login method is active.
+
+```sh
+tigris configure --access-key tid_AaBb --access-secret tsec_XxYy
+```
+
+You can optionally specify a custom endpoint:
+
+```sh
+tigris configure --access-key tid_AaBb --access-secret tsec_XxYy --endpoint https://custom.endpoint.dev
+```
+
+## Environment Variables
+
+Environment variables act as per-session overrides and take priority over stored login state. This is useful for CI/CD pipelines, scripts, and testing with different credentials without affecting your local config.
+
+### AWS-standard variables (highest priority)
+
+```sh
+export AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=tid_AaBb
+export AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=tsec_XxYy
+# Optional: override the storage endpoint
+export AWS_ENDPOINT_URL_S3=https://t3.storage.dev
+```
+
+### Tigris-specific variables
+
+```sh
+export TIGRIS_STORAGE_ACCESS_KEY_ID=tid_AaBb
+export TIGRIS_STORAGE_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=tsec_XxYy
+# Optional: override the storage endpoint
+export TIGRIS_STORAGE_ENDPOINT=https://t3.storage.dev
+```
+
+When both AWS_ and TIGRIS_ variables are set, AWS_ takes priority.
+
+### Endpoint variables
+
+You can override service endpoints independently:
+
+| Variable | Description | Default |
+|----------|-------------|---------|
+| `AWS_ENDPOINT_URL_S3` | Storage endpoint | `https://t3.storage.dev` |
+| `AWS_ENDPOINT_URL_IAM` | IAM endpoint | `https://iam.storageapi.dev` |
+| `TIGRIS_STORAGE_ENDPOINT` | Storage endpoint  | `https://t3.storage.dev` |
+| `TIGRIS_IAM_ENDPOINT` | IAM endpoint (fallback) | `https://iam.storageapi.dev` |
+
+AWS_ endpoint variables take priority over TIGRIS_ endpoint variables.
+
+## AWS Profile
+
+If you have Tigris credentials configured in `~/.aws/credentials`, the CLI picks them up automatically when `AWS_PROFILE` is set.
+
+```ini
+# ~/.aws/credentials
+[tigris]
+aws_access_key_id = tid_AaBb
+aws_secret_access_key = tsec_XxYy
+```
+
+```ini
+# ~/.aws/config
+[profile tigris]
+endpoint_url_s3 = https://t3.storage.dev
+region = auto
+```
+
+```sh
+export AWS_PROFILE=tigris
+tigris ls
+```
+
+## Checking Auth Status
+
+```sh
+tigris whoami
+```
+
+Displays the active authentication method, user info, and organization. For OAuth users, shows a list of organizations with the active one highlighted.
+
+```sh
+tigris whoami --json
+```
+
+Returns machine-readable JSON output including `authMethod`, `email`, `userId`, and organization details.
+
+## Logout
+
+```sh
+tigris logout
+```
+
+Clears the current login session (OAuth tokens and temporary credentials). Credentials saved via `tigris configure` are preserved.
+
+## Configuration File
+
+Auth state is stored in `~/.tigris/config.json` with restrictive file permissions (600). The file is managed automatically by the CLI — you should not need to edit it directly.
diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
index d7f2ae5..0dde8da 100644
--- a/INSTALL.md
+++ b/INSTALL.md
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tigrisdata/cli/main/scripts/install
 
 | Environment Variable | Description                                         |
 | -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
-| `TIGRIS_VERSION`     | Install a specific version (e.g., `v2.9.0`)         |
-| `TIGRIS_INSTALL_DIR` | Custom install directory (default: `~/.tigris/bin`) |
+| `TIGRIS_VERSION`     | Install a specific version (e.g., `v2.9.0`)          |
+| `TIGRIS_INSTALL_DIR` | Custom install directory (default: `/usr/local/bin`) |
 
 Example:
 
@@ -41,18 +41,14 @@ TIGRIS_VERSION=v2.9.0 curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tigrisdata/cl
 
 #### Uninstall (macOS / Linux)
 
-```sh
-rm -rf ~/.tigris/bin
-```
-
-Remove the PATH entry from your shell config (`~/.zshrc`, `~/.bashrc`, etc.):
+Remove the binaries from the install directory:
 
 ```sh
-# Delete these lines:
-# Tigris CLI
-export PATH="$HOME/.tigris/bin:$PATH"
+sudo rm /usr/local/bin/tigris /usr/local/bin/t3
 ```
 
+If you used a custom `TIGRIS_INSTALL_DIR`, remove from that directory instead and clean up the PATH entry from your shell config (`~/.zshrc`, `~/.bashrc`, etc.).
+
 ### Windows (PowerShell)
 
 ```powershell
@@ -106,8 +102,22 @@ t3 --version
 
 ## Getting Started
 
+After installation, authenticate with your Tigris account:
+
 ```sh
+# Interactive login via browser (recommended)
 tigris login
+
+# Or use access key credentials directly
+tigris configure --access-key <key> --access-secret <secret>
+```
+
+Verify your authentication:
+
+```sh
+tigris whoami
 ```
 
+See [AUTHENTICATION.md](AUTHENTICATION.md) for all supported authentication methods including environment variables and AWS profiles.
+
 For more information, visit the [documentation](https://www.tigrisdata.com/docs/cli/).