diff --git a/src/commands/cloud/connect.ts b/src/commands/cloud/connect.ts
index 7210884..235c396 100644
--- a/src/commands/cloud/connect.ts
+++ b/src/commands/cloud/connect.ts
@@ -327,13 +327,15 @@ export async function connectTurso(
   }
 }
 
-const TRIGGERDEV_PROJECT_REF_HINT =
-  'The project ref is the `project` line in trigger.config.ts and starts with proj_.';
+const TRIGGERDEV_PROJECT_REF_WHERE =
+  "Paste the project ref from the project's settings page (it starts with proj_). It is also the `project` line in trigger.config.ts.";
+
+const TRIGGERDEV_PROJECT_REF_HINT = `This key cannot name its project. ${TRIGGERDEV_PROJECT_REF_WHERE}`;
 
 const TRIGGERDEV_HEADLESS_HINT =
-  'Create an environment API key in your Trigger.dev project (production environment > API Keys, No restrictions access preset), then re-run:\n' +
+  'Create an environment API key in your Trigger.dev project (production environment > API Keys, "No restrictions" access preset), then re-run:\n' +
   'polylane cloud connect --provider triggerdev --api-key <key>\n' +
-  `Add --project-ref <proj_...> when the API asks for it. ${TRIGGERDEV_PROJECT_REF_HINT}`;
+  `Add --project-ref <proj_...> when the API answers that the key cannot name its project. ${TRIGGERDEV_PROJECT_REF_WHERE}`;
 
 // The generated client trails the deployed API spec; the triggerdev body
 // shape is the contract from the API-side design record.
@@ -376,8 +378,8 @@ export async function connectTriggerdev(
     note(`${err.message}\n${TRIGGERDEV_PROJECT_REF_HINT}`, 'Trigger.dev project ref');
     const picked = await promptTextOrBack(
       { nonInteractive: config.nonInteractive },
-      'Trigger.dev project ref (proj_...)',
-      { validate: (v: string) => (v.trim() ? undefined : 'Required') }
+      'Project ref',
+      { placeholder: 'proj_…', validate: (v: string) => (v.trim() ? undefined : 'Required') }
     );
     if (picked === BACK) return BACK;
     return send({ ...body, projectRef: picked.trim() });
@@ -588,7 +590,7 @@ async function connectProvider(
         {
           message: 'Trigger.dev environment API key',
           instructions:
-            'In your Trigger.dev project, open the production environment, then API Keys, and create a key with the No restrictions access preset. That preset is the only kind on the Free and Hobby plans; on Pro you may instead use restricted keys such as Observer plus Deploy only, adding them one at a time. Re-running this command with another key adds it to the same account.',
+            'In your production environment open API Keys and create a key with the "No restrictions" access preset. That preset is the only kind on the Free and Hobby plans; on Pro you may instead use restricted keys such as "Observer" plus "Deploy only", adding them one at a time. Re-running this command with another key adds it to the same account.',
           link: 'https://cloud.trigger.dev',
           linkLabel: 'Open Trigger.dev',
         },
diff --git a/test/cloud-connect-triggerdev.test.ts b/test/cloud-connect-triggerdev.test.ts
index a515be1..649f703 100644
--- a/test/cloud-connect-triggerdev.test.ts
+++ b/test/cloud-connect-triggerdev.test.ts
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ import type { PolylaneAPI } from '../src/generated/client';
 
 const config = { nonInteractive: true } as Config;
 const body = { workspaceId: 'ws_1', provider: 'triggerdev', apiKey: 'tr_key' } as const;
-const REF_REQUIRED =
-  'This API key is valid for multiple projects. Specify the project ref of the project to connect.';
+// The API's `detail` strings, verbatim from nominal
+// apps/apis/api-cloud-accounts/src/routers/cloud-accounts/connects/triggerdev.ts.
+const REF_REQUIRED = 'The Trigger.dev project ref is required for a restricted key';
+const RUNS_REQUIRED = 'This Trigger.dev API key cannot read runs';
 
 function mockApi(connect: (body: unknown) => Promise<unknown>): PolylaneAPI {
   return { cloudAccountsConnect: connect } as unknown as PolylaneAPI;
@@ -50,6 +52,8 @@ describe('connectTriggerdev', () => {
         err.exitCode === ExitCode.USAGE &&
         err.message.includes('project ref') &&
         (err.hint?.includes('--project-ref') ?? false) &&
+        (err.hint?.includes('This key cannot name its project.') ?? false) &&
+        (err.hint?.includes("project's settings page") ?? false) &&
         (err.hint?.includes('trigger.config.ts') ?? false)
     );
   });
@@ -66,11 +70,7 @@ describe('connectTriggerdev', () => {
   });
 
   it('rethrows other 400s untouched, including a key that cannot read runs', async () => {
-    const original = new ApiError(
-      400,
-      'This API key cannot read runs. Create a key with the No restrictions access preset, or a restricted key that includes run read access.',
-      ExitCode.USAGE
-    );
+    const original = new ApiError(400, RUNS_REQUIRED, ExitCode.USAGE);
     const api = mockApi(async () => {
       throw original;
     });