diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 7cab2722..e6f09c92 100755
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -9,4 +9,13 @@
 #API server
 PORT=3001
 #Frontend port
-VITE_PORT=5173
\ No newline at end of file
+VITE_PORT=5173
+
+# =============================================================================
+# AUTHENTICATION CONFIGURATION
+# =============================================================================
+
+# Disable authentication entirely (default: false)
+# When set to true, all features become accessible without login
+# WARNING: Only use in secure, private environments
+AUTH_DISABLED=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server/index.js b/server/index.js
index ca451337..97dcc2d5 100755
--- a/server/index.js
+++ b/server/index.js
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ import authRoutes from './routes/auth.js';
 import mcpRoutes from './routes/mcp.js';
 import cursorRoutes from './routes/cursor.js';
 import { initializeDatabase } from './database/db.js';
-import { validateApiKey, authenticateToken, authenticateWebSocket } from './middleware/auth.js';
+import { validateApiKey, authenticateToken, authenticateWebSocket, isAuthDisabled } from './middleware/auth.js';
 
 // File system watcher for projects folder
 let projectsWatcher = null;
@@ -143,6 +143,17 @@ const wss = new WebSocketServer({
     verifyClient: (info) => {
         console.log('WebSocket connection attempt to:', info.req.url);
 
+        // Skip authentication if AUTH_DISABLED is true
+        if (isAuthDisabled()) {
+            // Store mock user info for compatibility
+            info.req.user = {
+                userId: 1,
+                username: 'admin'
+            };
+            console.log('✅ WebSocket authentication bypassed (AUTH_DISABLED=true)');
+            return true;
+        }
+
         // Extract token from query parameters or headers
         const url = new URL(info.req.url, 'http://localhost');
         const token = url.searchParams.get('token') ||
diff --git a/server/middleware/auth.js b/server/middleware/auth.js
index 433c3293..001a4611 100644
--- a/server/middleware/auth.js
+++ b/server/middleware/auth.js
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ import { userDb } from '../database/db.js';
 // Get JWT secret from environment or use default (for development)
 const JWT_SECRET = process.env.JWT_SECRET || 'claude-ui-dev-secret-change-in-production';
 
+// Check if authentication is disabled
+const isAuthDisabled = () => {
+  return process.env.AUTH_DISABLED === 'true';
+};
+
 // Optional API key middleware
 const validateApiKey = (req, res, next) => {
   // Skip API key validation if not configured
@@ -20,6 +25,16 @@ const validateApiKey = (req, res, next) => {
 
 // JWT authentication middleware
 const authenticateToken = async (req, res, next) => {
+  // Skip authentication if AUTH_DISABLED is true
+  if (isAuthDisabled()) {
+    // Create a mock user object for compatibility
+    req.user = {
+      id: 1,
+      username: 'admin'
+    };
+    return next();
+  }
+
   const authHeader = req.headers['authorization'];
   const token = authHeader && authHeader.split(' ')[1]; // Bearer TOKEN
 
@@ -58,6 +73,15 @@ const generateToken = (user) => {
 
 // WebSocket authentication function
 const authenticateWebSocket = (token) => {
+  // Skip authentication if AUTH_DISABLED is true
+  if (isAuthDisabled()) {
+    // Return a mock user object for compatibility
+    return {
+      userId: 1,
+      username: 'admin'
+    };
+  }
+
   if (!token) {
     return null;
   }
@@ -76,5 +100,6 @@ export {
   authenticateToken,
   generateToken,
   authenticateWebSocket,
+  isAuthDisabled,
   JWT_SECRET
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server/routes/auth.js b/server/routes/auth.js
index 82a7c0d8..9edf6c06 100644
--- a/server/routes/auth.js
+++ b/server/routes/auth.js
@@ -1,17 +1,28 @@
 import express from 'express';
 import bcrypt from 'bcrypt';
 import { userDb, db } from '../database/db.js';
-import { generateToken, authenticateToken } from '../middleware/auth.js';
+import { generateToken, authenticateToken, isAuthDisabled } from '../middleware/auth.js';
 
 const router = express.Router();
 
 // Check auth status and setup requirements
 router.get('/status', async (req, res) => {
   try {
+    // If authentication is disabled, return authenticated status
+    if (isAuthDisabled()) {
+      res.json({ 
+        needsSetup: false,
+        isAuthenticated: true,
+        authDisabled: true
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+
     const hasUsers = await userDb.hasUsers();
     res.json({ 
       needsSetup: !hasUsers,
-      isAuthenticated: false // Will be overridden by frontend if token exists
+      isAuthenticated: false, // Will be overridden by frontend if token exists
+      authDisabled: false
     });
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Auth status error:', error);
@@ -120,8 +131,21 @@ router.post('/login', async (req, res) => {
 
 // Get current user (protected route)
 router.get('/user', authenticateToken, (req, res) => {
+  // If authentication is disabled, return mock user
+  if (isAuthDisabled()) {
+    res.json({
+      user: {
+        id: 1,
+        username: 'admin'
+      },
+      authDisabled: true
+    });
+    return;
+  }
+
   res.json({
-    user: req.user
+    user: req.user,
+    authDisabled: false
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/src/components/ProtectedRoute.jsx b/src/components/ProtectedRoute.jsx
index 88b404bb..c1e9d56c 100644
--- a/src/components/ProtectedRoute.jsx
+++ b/src/components/ProtectedRoute.jsx
@@ -24,12 +24,17 @@ const LoadingScreen = () => (
 );
 
 const ProtectedRoute = ({ children }) => {
-  const { user, isLoading, needsSetup } = useAuth();
+  const { user, isLoading, needsSetup, authDisabled } = useAuth();
 
   if (isLoading) {
     return <LoadingScreen />;
   }
 
+  // If authentication is disabled, allow access immediately
+  if (authDisabled) {
+    return children;
+  }
+
   if (needsSetup) {
     return <SetupForm />;
   }
diff --git a/src/contexts/AuthContext.jsx b/src/contexts/AuthContext.jsx
index 77acb6c6..98df7b40 100644
--- a/src/contexts/AuthContext.jsx
+++ b/src/contexts/AuthContext.jsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ const AuthContext = createContext({
   logout: () => {},
   isLoading: true,
   needsSetup: false,
+  authDisabled: false,
   error: null
 });
 
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ export const AuthProvider = ({ children }) => {
   const [token, setToken] = useState(localStorage.getItem('auth-token'));
   const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);
   const [needsSetup, setNeedsSetup] = useState(false);
+  const [authDisabled, setAuthDisabled] = useState(false);
   const [error, setError] = useState(null);
 
   // Check authentication status on mount
@@ -41,6 +43,17 @@ export const AuthProvider = ({ children }) => {
       const statusResponse = await api.auth.status();
       const statusData = await statusResponse.json();
       
+      // Handle authentication disabled mode
+      if (statusData.authDisabled) {
+        setAuthDisabled(true);
+        setUser({ id: 1, username: 'admin' });
+        setNeedsSetup(false);
+        // Create a dummy token for frontend compatibility
+        setToken('auth-disabled-token');
+        setIsLoading(false);
+        return;
+      }
+      
       if (statusData.needsSetup) {
         setNeedsSetup(true);
         setIsLoading(false);
@@ -147,6 +160,7 @@ export const AuthProvider = ({ children }) => {
     logout,
     isLoading,
     needsSetup,
+    authDisabled,
     error
   };
 
diff --git a/src/utils/api.js b/src/utils/api.js
index 22978512..9f1ebf7c 100644
--- a/src/utils/api.js
+++ b/src/utils/api.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Utility function for authenticated API calls
 export const authenticatedFetch = (url, options = {}) => {
-  const token = localStorage.getItem('auth-token');
+  const token = localStorage.getItem('auth-token') || 'auth-disabled-token';
   
   const defaultHeaders = {
     'Content-Type': 'application/json',
diff --git a/src/utils/websocket.js b/src/utils/websocket.js
index f03fd002..9efc3fa7 100755
--- a/src/utils/websocket.js
+++ b/src/utils/websocket.js
@@ -21,13 +21,31 @@ export function useWebSocket() {
 
   const connect = async () => {
     try {
+      // Check if authentication is disabled by checking auth status
+      let authDisabled = false;
+      let token = localStorage.getItem('auth-token');
+      
+      try {
+        const statusResponse = await fetch('/api/auth/status');
+        if (statusResponse.ok) {
+          const statusData = await statusResponse.json();
+          authDisabled = statusData.authDisabled;
+        }
+      } catch (error) {
+        console.warn('Could not check auth status:', error);
+      }
+      
       // Get authentication token
-      const token = localStorage.getItem('auth-token');
-      if (!token) {
+      if (!authDisabled && !token) {
         console.warn('No authentication token found for WebSocket connection');
         return;
       }
       
+      // Use dummy token if authentication is disabled
+      if (authDisabled && !token) {
+        token = 'auth-disabled-token';
+      }
+      
       // Fetch server configuration to get the correct WebSocket URL
       let wsBaseUrl;
       try {