diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 00c0301fdb6..5823d30c843 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -22,20 +22,25 @@ Only run these commands in the directories related to the changes being made. Do
 # Install dependencies and setup development environment
 npm install
 
-# Run the protocol stack locally (requires Docker)
-npm run protocol
+# Run web application against production (the typical default)
+npm run web
 
-# Connect client to local protocol
-audius-compose connect
+# Run mobile applications against production
+npm run ios
+npm run android
+
+# Special: run against a locally-running protocol stack (requires Docker + `npm run protocol`)
+# Only use these when you have explicitly started the full stack locally — they are NOT the default.
+# The `:local` suffix means "against my local stack", NOT "dev mode" — do not run these by default.
+npm run web:local
+npm run ios:local
+npm run android:local
 
-# Run web application
-npm run web:dev      # Against local services
-npm run web:stage    # Against staging
-npm run web:prod     # Against production
+# Run the protocol stack locally (only needed for the *:local variants above)
+npm run protocol
+audius-compose connect
 
-# Run mobile applications
-npm run ios:dev      # iOS local development
-npm run android:dev  # Android local development
+# NOTE: There is no longer a staging environment. Do not look for or run *:stage or *:dev scripts at the root.
 
 # Testing
 npm run test         # Run all tests via Turbo
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 691d15a5db1..699372ef526 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -47,19 +47,19 @@ This will do the following:
 
 ### Running the Apps
 
-Environments:
+The bare app name (e.g. `web`, `ios`, `android`, `embed`, `dashboard`) runs against production — this is what you typically want:
 
-- `\*:dev` runs against local services
-- `\*:stage` runs against the staging testnet
-- `\*:prod` runs against production infrastructure
+```bash
+npm run web
+```
 
-For example:
+The `*:local` variants are a special option that runs the app against a locally-running protocol stack (see [Running the protocol locally](./dev-tools/README.md)). Use these only when you have the full stack running on your machine.
 
 ```bash
-npm run web:prod
+npm run web:local
 ```
 
-For all available commands please see the [package.json scripts](https://github.com/AudiusProject/apps/blob/f850434ddca7d697f78a58d971f9bba1aba7f24d/package.json#L10) and the relevant package READMEs.
+For all available commands please see the [package.json scripts](https://github.com/AudiusProject/apps/blob/main/package.json) and the relevant package READMEs.
 
 ## Contributing
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 7f255154d21..6589e143066 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@
     "buf:generate": "buf generate buf.build/audiusd/audiusd:as/rm-old-protos --include-imports && npm run buf:generate:postinstall",
     "buf:generate:postinstall": "cd packages/discovery-provider/src/tasks/core && ./fix-proto-imports.sh",
     "WEB========================================": "",
-    "web:dev": "npm run start:dev -w @audius/web",
-    "web:prod": "npm run start:prod -w @audius/web",
-    "web:stage": "npm run start:stage -w @audius/web",
+    "web": "npm run start:prod -w @audius/web",
+    "web:local": "npm run start:dev -w @audius/web",
     "web:e2e": "npm run test:e2e -w @audius/web",
     "web:test": "turbo run test --filter=@audius/web",
     "web:example:trending": "cd packages/web/examples/trending && npm run dev",
@@ -38,16 +37,13 @@
     "web:example:upload": "cd packages/web/examples/upload && npm run dev",
     "web:example:gated-upload": "cd packages/web/examples/gated-upload && npm run dev",
     "DESKTOP====================================": "",
-    "desktop:dev": "concurrently -k 'BROWSER=none npm run start:dev -w @audius/web' 'wait-on http://0.0.0.0:3000 && npm run electron:localhost -w @audius/web -- 3000'",
-    "desktop:prod": "concurrently -k 'BROWSER=none npm run start:prod -w @audius/web' 'wait-on http://0.0.0.0:3002 && npm run electron:localhost -w @audius/web -- 3002'",
-    "desktop:stage": "concurrently -k 'BROWSER=none npm run start:stage -w @audius/web' 'wait-on http://0.0.0.0:3001 && npm run electron:localhost -w @audius/web -- 3001'",
+    "desktop": "concurrently -k 'BROWSER=none npm run start:prod -w @audius/web' 'wait-on http://0.0.0.0:3002 && npm run electron:localhost -w @audius/web -- 3002'",
+    "desktop:local": "concurrently -k 'BROWSER=none npm run start:dev -w @audius/web' 'wait-on http://0.0.0.0:3000 && npm run electron:localhost -w @audius/web -- 3000'",
     "MOBILE=====================================": "",
-    "android:dev": "npm run android:dev -w @audius/mobile",
-    "android:prod": "npm run android:prod -w @audius/mobile",
-    "android:stage": "npm run android:stage -w @audius/mobile",
-    "ios:dev": "npm run ios:dev -w @audius/mobile",
-    "ios:prod": "npm run ios:prod -w @audius/mobile",
-    "ios:stage": "npm run ios:stage -w @audius/mobile",
+    "android": "npm run android:prod -w @audius/mobile",
+    "android:local": "npm run android:dev -w @audius/mobile",
+    "ios": "npm run ios:prod -w @audius/mobile",
+    "ios:local": "npm run ios:dev -w @audius/mobile",
     "mobile": "npm run start -w @audius/mobile",
     "mobile:clean": "npm run clean:auto -w @audius/mobile && npm run clean:modules",
     "mobile:clear-cache": "watchman watch-del-all && npm run start -w @audius/mobile -- --reset-cache",
@@ -57,9 +53,8 @@
     "mobile:example:like-repost": "cd packages/mobile/examples/like-repost && npx expo start",
     "mobile:example:upload": "cd packages/mobile/examples/upload && npx expo start",
     "EMBED======================================": "",
-    "embed:prod": "npm run start:prod -w embed",
-    "embed:stage": "npm run start:stage -w embed",
-    "embed:dev": "npm run start:dev -w embed",
+    "embed": "npm run start:prod -w embed",
+    "embed:local": "npm run start:dev -w embed",
     "HARMONY====================================": "",
     "harmony": "turbo run start --filter=@audius/harmony",
     "harmony:dev": "npm run start -w @audius/harmony",
@@ -69,9 +64,8 @@
     "PROTOCOL======================================": "",
     "protocol": "turbo run start --filter=@audius/compose --",
     "PROTOCOL DASHBOARD==============================": "",
-    "dashboard:dev": "npm run start:dev -w @audius/protocol-dashboard",
-    "dashboard:stage": "npm run start:stage -w @audius/protocol-dashboard",
-    "dashboard:prod": "npm run start:prod -w @audius/protocol-dashboard",
+    "dashboard": "npm run start:prod -w @audius/protocol-dashboard",
+    "dashboard:local": "npm run start:dev -w @audius/protocol-dashboard",
     "DOCS===========================================": "",
     "docs": "npm run dev -w docs-audius-org",
     "docs:deploy": "npm run pages:deploy -w docs-audius-org",
diff --git a/packages/embed/.env.stage b/packages/embed/.env.stage
deleted file mode 100644
index e7918d69c8e..00000000000
--- a/packages/embed/.env.stage
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-VITE_AMPLITUDE_API_PROXY=gain.audius.co
-VITE_AMPLITUDE_KEY=72a58ce4ad1f9bafcba0b92bedb6c33d
-VITE_API_KEY=2dc52ec9a4c31790cab6653de0c637f680faa993
-VITE_APP_NAME=audius-embed
-VITE_AUDIUS_SCHEME=https
-VITE_ENVIRONMENT=staging
-VITE_HOSTNAME=staging.audius.co
-VITE_HOSTNAME_REDIRECT=staging.audius.co
-VITE_IDENTITY_ENDPOINT=https://identityservice.staging.audius.co
-VITE_SOLANA_RPC_ENDPOINT=https://carolina-8qh733-fast-mainnet.helius-rpc.com
diff --git a/packages/embed/README.md b/packages/embed/README.md
index 2398cec3f88..bb817b0b66a 100644
--- a/packages/embed/README.md
+++ b/packages/embed/README.md
@@ -4,14 +4,19 @@ Like you've seen on [twitter](https://twitter.com/audius/status/1293624808459010
 
 
 ## Running
-```
-# Run against production Audius services
-npm run start:prod
 
-## Deploying
+From the repo root, the typical default runs the embed against production services:
 
-Deployed via CI
+```
+npm run embed
+```
+
+To run against a locally-running protocol stack:
 
 ```
-npx wrangler publish --env staging
+npm run embed:local
 ```
+
+## Deploying
+
+Deployed via CI
diff --git a/packages/mobile/.env.stage b/packages/mobile/.env.stage
deleted file mode 100644
index a55251e778c..00000000000
--- a/packages/mobile/.env.stage
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-ENVIRONMENT=staging
-TIKTOK_APP_ID=awa9re2w7ec3xrn6
diff --git a/packages/mobile/REACTOTRON_SETUP.md b/packages/mobile/REACTOTRON_SETUP.md
index 3bc21077a50..a0e781a6791 100644
--- a/packages/mobile/REACTOTRON_SETUP.md
+++ b/packages/mobile/REACTOTRON_SETUP.md
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ The configuration is already set up in `ReactotronConfig.js` with the following
 ### For iOS Simulator
 
 1. Start the Reactotron desktop app
-2. Run the mobile app with `npm run ios:dev`
+2. Run the mobile app with `npm run ios` (or `npm run ios:local` if running against a local protocol stack)
 3. Reactotron should automatically connect
 
 ### For Android Emulator/Device
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ The configuration is already set up in `ReactotronConfig.js` with the following
    adb reverse tcp:9090 tcp:9090
    ```
 2. Start the Reactotron desktop app
-3. Run the mobile app with `npm run android:dev`
+3. Run the mobile app with `npm run android` (or `npm run android:local` if running against a local protocol stack)
 4. Reactotron should connect
 
 ### For Physical iOS Device
diff --git a/packages/mobile/README.md b/packages/mobile/README.md
index b2e304fd49f..7216267aff7 100644
--- a/packages/mobile/README.md
+++ b/packages/mobile/README.md
@@ -27,12 +27,10 @@ npm run bundle:ios
 # Start the react-native server
 npm run mobile
 
-# Run a simulator using a prod configuration
+# Run a simulator against production (typical default)
 npm run ios
-# Run a simulator using a stage configuration
-npm run ios:stage
-# Run a simulator using a dev configuration
-npm run ios:dev
+# Run a simulator against a locally-running protocol stack (special option)
+npm run ios:local
 
 # Run the app on a device
 npm run ios:device "Raymond's iPhone"
@@ -46,12 +44,10 @@ xcrun xctrace list devices
 # Start the react-native server
 npm run mobile
 
-# Run a simulator using a prod configuration
+# Run a simulator against production (typical default)
 npm run android
-# Run a simulator using a stage configuration
-npm run android:stage
-# Run a simulator using a dev configuration
-npm run android:dev
+# Run a simulator against a locally-running protocol stack (special option)
+npm run android:local
 
 # Look at android devices
 adb devices
@@ -115,5 +111,5 @@ npm start -- --reset-cache
 # first manually close all running instances of metro
 watchman watch-del-all
 npm start -- --reset-cache
-npm run ios:dev
+npm run ios
 ```
diff --git a/packages/mobile/examples/README.md b/packages/mobile/examples/README.md
index e67dc37ff26..c8a879ccc57 100644
--- a/packages/mobile/examples/README.md
+++ b/packages/mobile/examples/README.md
@@ -8,15 +8,17 @@ From the **repository root** (`apps/`):
 
 ```bash
 npm install
-npm run ios:dev      # iOS simulator
+npm run ios      # iOS simulator (against production)
 # or
-npm run android:dev  # Android emulator
+npm run android  # Android emulator (against production)
 ```
 
+Use `npm run ios:local` / `npm run android:local` instead if you want to run against a locally-running protocol stack.
+
 Note: each example includes its own `.npmrc` with `legacy-peer-deps=true`,
 so `npm install` works without manually passing that flag.
 
-Environment: copy `packages/mobile/.env.dev` if needed; the app runs against staging by default.
+Environment: copy `packages/mobile/.env.dev` if needed; the app runs against production by default.
 
 ## Available examples
 
diff --git a/packages/mobile/examples/auth-sign-in/README.md b/packages/mobile/examples/auth-sign-in/README.md
index a741eaa606b..3a623f2c66c 100644
--- a/packages/mobile/examples/auth-sign-in/README.md
+++ b/packages/mobile/examples/auth-sign-in/README.md
@@ -49,11 +49,11 @@ Authentication, sign-in, login, sign-on, OAuth, authenticated gets, Hedgehog, id
 
 ## How to run (main app)
 
-1. From repo root: `npm install` then `npm run ios:dev` or `npm run android:dev`.
+1. From repo root: `npm install` then `npm run ios` or `npm run android` (use `:local` variants to run against a local protocol stack).
 2. Open the app; the first screen is the **sign-on** flow (sign in or create account).
 3. To test sign-out: sign in, then use **Settings** (or profile) → Sign out.
 
-No extra setup; the app uses staging identity by default (see `packages/mobile/.env.dev`).
+No extra setup; the app uses production identity by default.
 
 ## Source of truth (implementation)
 
diff --git a/packages/mobile/src/screens/app-drawer-screen/left-nav-drawer/FeatureFlagsNavItem.tsx b/packages/mobile/src/screens/app-drawer-screen/left-nav-drawer/FeatureFlagsNavItem.tsx
index badc65ac912..74dcadd9194 100644
--- a/packages/mobile/src/screens/app-drawer-screen/left-nav-drawer/FeatureFlagsNavItem.tsx
+++ b/packages/mobile/src/screens/app-drawer-screen/left-nav-drawer/FeatureFlagsNavItem.tsx
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export const FeatureFlagsNavItem = () => {
     FeatureFlags.FEATURE_FLAG_ACCESS
   )
 
-  // Debug builds (e.g. `npm run ios:prod` on simulator) use production env/Optimizely
+  // Debug builds (e.g. `npm run ios` on simulator) use production env/Optimizely
   // defaults where `feature_flag_access` is off — still expose overrides for local dev.
   const showFeatureFlags = isFeatureFlagAccessEnabled || __DEV__
 
diff --git a/packages/protocol-dashboard/.env.stage b/packages/protocol-dashboard/.env.stage
deleted file mode 100644
index 042bb755fed..00000000000
--- a/packages/protocol-dashboard/.env.stage
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-VITE_API=https://api.staging.audius.co
-VITE_AUDIUS_NETWORK_ID=1056801
-VITE_AUDIUS_URL=https://staging.audius.co
-VITE_CLAIMABLE_TOKEN_PDA=Aw5AjygeMf9Nvg61BXvFSAzkqxcLqL8koepb14kvfc3W
-VITE_CLAIMABLE_TOKEN_PROGRAM_ADDRESS=2sjQNmUfkV6yKKi4dPR8gWRgtyma5aiymE3aXL2RAZww
-VITE_CLAIM_DISTRIBUTION_CONTRACT_ADDRESS=0x74b89B916c97d50557E8F944F32662fE52Ce378d
-VITE_ENTITY_MANAGER_ADDRESS=0x1Cd8a543596D499B9b6E7a6eC15ECd2B7857Fd64
-VITE_ENVIRONMENT=staging
-VITE_ETH_NETWORK_ID=11155111
-VITE_ETH_OWNER_WALLET=
-VITE_ETH_PROVIDER_URL=https://eth-client.staging.audius.co
-VITE_ETH_REGISTRY_ADDRESS=0xc682C2166E11690B64338e11633Cb8Bb60B0D9c0
-VITE_ETH_TOKEN_ADDRESS=0x1376180Ee935AA64A27780F4BE97726Df7B0e2B2
-VITE_GQL_URI=https://gateway-arbitrum.network.thegraph.com/api/7d7b938a80fe712cd8390bf42c88456a/subgraphs/id/Du8Zhnj3ap95TTusD6EnFNohfeVBtQftbqFgcruLCMA
-VITE_IDENTITY_SERVICE_ENDPOINT=https://identityservice.staging.audius.co
-VITE_QUERY_PROPOSAL_START_BLOCK=1
-VITE_REGISTRY_ADDRESS=0x793373aBF96583d5eb71a15d86fFE732CD04D452
-VITE_REWARDS_MANAGER_PROGRAM_ID=CDpzvz7DfgbF95jSSCHLX3ERkugyfgn9Fw8ypNZ1hfXp
-VITE_REWARDS_MANAGER_PROGRAM_PDA=GaiG9LDYHfZGqeNaoGRzFEnLiwUT7WiC6sA6FDJX9ZPq
-VITE_REWARDS_MANAGER_TOKEN_PDA=HJQj8P47BdA7ugjQEn45LaESYrxhiZDygmukt8iumFZJ
-VITE_SOLANA_CLUSTER_ENDPOINT=https://solana-mainnet.g.alchemy.com/v2/N_o4w4Lgk2afO8uho9uuZu0LNi6gldVz
-VITE_SOLANA_FEE_PAYER_ADDRESS=E3CfijtAJwBSHfwFEViAUd3xp7c8TBxwC1eXn1Fgxp8h
-VITE_SOLANA_TOKEN_PROGRAM_ADDRESS=TokenkegQfeZyiNwAJbNbGKPFXCWuBvf9Ss623VQ5DA
-VITE_SOLANA_WEB3_CLUSTER=mainnet-beta
-VITE_USDC_MINT_ADDRESS=EPjFWdd5AufqSSqeM2qN1xzybapC8G4wEGGkZwyTDt1v
-VITE_VALIDATOR=https://creatornode11.staging.audius.co
-VITE_WAUDIO_MINT_ADDRESS=BELGiMZQ34SDE6x2FUaML2UHDAgBLS64xvhXjX5tBBZo
-VITE_WEB3MODAL_PROJECT_ID=0416e7e9c027fb75dc5a365384683fdb
-VITE_WORMHOLE_ADDRESS=0xf6f45e4d836da1d4ecd43bb1074620bfb0b7e0d7
diff --git a/packages/protocol-dashboard/README.md b/packages/protocol-dashboard/README.md
index 0642e8d330d..627cd2c34c4 100644
--- a/packages/protocol-dashboard/README.md
+++ b/packages/protocol-dashboard/README.md
@@ -6,12 +6,22 @@ view their registered services & which ones are out date, and explore all audius
 
 ## Running the Application
 The application requires ethereum contracts.
-You can run `npm run start:stage` which will use the contracts that are on the staging environment.
-If you want to have contracts running locally, you'll also need to run this [setup script](https://github.com/AudiusProject/apps/blob/master/service-commands/scripts/setup.js) e.g. `node setup.js run eth-contracts up`
+
+From the repo root, the typical default runs the dashboard against production contracts:
+
+```
+npm run dashboard
+```
+
+To run against locally-running contracts, you'll also need to run this [setup script](https://github.com/AudiusProject/apps/blob/master/service-commands/scripts/setup.js) e.g. `node setup.js run eth-contracts up`, then:
+
+```
+npm run dashboard:local
+```
 
 To start:
 1. Install Dependencies `npm install`
-2. Run the Application `npm run start:<environment>`
+2. Run the Application `npm run dashboard` (or `npm run dashboard:local` for local)
 
 To Deploy:
 Make sure the DASHBOARD_BASE_URL env var is unset on the machine you are deploying on. Build the application using `npm run build:prod` and serve the static `dist` folder as a simple page app via `npm run serve`
diff --git a/packages/web/env/.env.stage b/packages/web/env/.env.stage
deleted file mode 100644
index 0ecb481060c..00000000000
--- a/packages/web/env/.env.stage
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-VITE_ENVIRONMENT=staging
-VITE_PORT=3001