diff --git a/.sampo/changesets/cli-devvit-init-auth-modes.md b/.sampo/changesets/cli-devvit-init-auth-modes.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6a5602a05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.sampo/changesets/cli-devvit-init-auth-modes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+npm/@mpgd/cli: patch (Changed)
+---
+
+Split generated Devvit init commands into browser-auth default and copy-paste fallback.
diff --git a/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/README.md b/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/README.md
index 1736bcd20..938983ed4 100644
--- a/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/README.md
+++ b/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/README.md
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ pnpm devvit:playtest
 
 `devvit:login` authenticates your Reddit account. `devvit:init` performs the
 first App Directory upload/link step for the app name in
-`apps/target-devvit/devvit.json` using Devvit's copy-paste flow. After init, use
+`apps/target-devvit/devvit.json`. Use `pnpm devvit:init:copy-paste` if browser
+authorization is not available in the current terminal session. After init, use
 `pnpm devvit:playtest`, `pnpm devvit:upload`, and `pnpm devvit:publish` from
 this game root.
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/apps/target-devvit/README.md b/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/apps/target-devvit/README.md
index 9df6afc99..c854f3cef 100644
--- a/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/apps/target-devvit/README.md
+++ b/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/apps/target-devvit/README.md
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ pnpm devvit:playtest
 ```
 
 `devvit:init` performs the first App Directory upload/link step with Devvit's
-copy-paste flow. Login proves who you are; init uploads and links the
-Reddit-side app record for the `name` in `devvit.json`. After that, use
+logged-in account. It may open a browser for authorization. Use
+`pnpm devvit:init:copy-paste` from the game root if the browser flow is not
+available and the CLI asks for a manual code. After that, use
 `pnpm devvit:playtest`, `pnpm devvit:upload`, and `pnpm devvit:publish` from the
 game root.
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/apps/target-devvit/package.json b/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/apps/target-devvit/package.json
index 6fa01ee76..c322d18cc 100644
--- a/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/apps/target-devvit/package.json
+++ b/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/apps/target-devvit/package.json
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
   "version": "0.0.0",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
-    "init": "devvit upload --copy-paste --config devvit.json",
+    "init": "devvit upload --config devvit.json",
+    "init:copy-paste": "devvit upload --copy-paste --config devvit.json",
     "dev": "devvit playtest --config devvit.json",
     "dev:prepare": "pnpm --dir ../.. build:devvit:staging",
     "dev:client": "APP_TARGET=reddit APP_VERSION=0.0.0-dev BUILD_ID=devvit-watch pnpm --dir ../.. exec vite build --mode staging --watch --outDir apps/target-devvit/dist/client",
diff --git a/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/package.json b/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/package.json
index 97a284e30..2b0605011 100644
--- a/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/package.json
+++ b/packages/cli/templates/phaser-game/package.json
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
     "build:devvit:staging": "pnpm exec mpgd target build reddit staging --targets-file ./mpgd.targets.json --kit-path ${MPGD_KIT_PATH:-__DEFAULT_KIT_PATH__}",
     "smoke:devvit": "pnpm exec mpgd target smoke reddit --targets-file ./mpgd.targets.json --kit-path ${MPGD_KIT_PATH:-__DEFAULT_KIT_PATH__}",
     "devvit:init": "pnpm --dir apps/target-devvit run init",
+    "devvit:init:copy-paste": "pnpm --dir apps/target-devvit run init:copy-paste",
     "devvit:login": "pnpm --dir apps/target-devvit exec devvit login",
     "devvit:login:copy-paste": "pnpm --dir apps/target-devvit exec devvit login --copy-paste",
     "devvit:whoami": "pnpm --dir apps/target-devvit run whoami",