diff --git a/server/config/default_config.yaml b/server/config/default_config.yaml
index 1a41a4b..cafa5d5 100644
--- a/server/config/default_config.yaml
+++ b/server/config/default_config.yaml
@@ -22,6 +22,14 @@ auth:
   # api_keys:
   #   my-client: "replace-with-output-of-openssl-rand-hex-32"
 
+  # Expose the interactive API docs (/docs, /redoc, /openapi.json) WITHOUT a
+  # Bearer token so they can be opened directly in a browser. When true, this
+  # applies to loopback AND LAN clients. Only the API *surface* (route paths +
+  # parameter schemas) is exposed — calling an endpoint from Swagger still
+  # requires the token via its "Authorize" button, and every other route stays
+  # protected. Leave false unless you want browsable docs on your network.
+  expose_docs: false
+
 # Storage paths default to ./data relative to the server's working directory.
 # Set LEDGRAB_DATA_DIR in the environment to point at a different data root
 # (the whole dir — both the database and assets), or uncomment the block
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/api/auth.py b/server/src/ledgrab/api/auth.py
index f0ebf55..b76fd06 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/api/auth.py
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/api/auth.py
@@ -235,6 +235,31 @@ def verify_api_key(
 AuthRequired = Annotated[str, Depends(verify_api_key)]
 
 
+def verify_docs_access(
+    request: Request,
+    credentials: Annotated[HTTPAuthorizationCredentials | None, Security(security)],
+) -> str:
+    """Auth gate for the OpenAPI docs routes (/docs, /redoc, /openapi.json).
+
+    When ``auth.expose_docs`` is True, the docs pages load anonymously from any
+    client (loopback and LAN) so they can be viewed in a browser without a
+    Bearer token. Only the API *surface* is exposed this way — every other
+    endpoint still goes through :func:`verify_api_key`.
+
+    When ``auth.expose_docs`` is False (default), this delegates to
+    :func:`verify_api_key`, so docs require a token exactly like the rest of
+    the API.
+    """
+    if get_config().auth.expose_docs:
+        request.state.auth_label = "anonymous-docs"
+        return "anonymous-docs"
+    return verify_api_key(request, credentials)
+
+
+# Dependency for the OpenAPI docs routes — relaxed when auth.expose_docs is set
+DocsAccess = Annotated[str, Depends(verify_docs_access)]
+
+
 def require_authenticated(label: str) -> None:
     """Reject the anonymous (loopback) auth label.
 
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/config.py b/server/src/ledgrab/config.py
index c42c171..a01a463 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/config.py
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/config.py
@@ -68,6 +68,12 @@ class AuthConfig(BaseSettings):
     """Authentication configuration."""
 
     api_keys: dict[str, str] = {}  # label: key mapping (empty = auth disabled)
+    # When True, the OpenAPI docs routes (/docs, /redoc, /openapi.json) load
+    # WITHOUT a Bearer token from any client (loopback and LAN). This exposes
+    # the API *surface* (route paths + parameter schemas), not data — actually
+    # invoking an endpoint from Swagger still requires the token via its
+    # "Authorize" button. All other endpoints stay protected. Default off.
+    expose_docs: bool = False
 
 
 class AssetsConfig(BaseSettings):
diff --git a/server/src/ledgrab/main.py b/server/src/ledgrab/main.py
index a43ee0f..42d540d 100644
--- a/server/src/ledgrab/main.py
+++ b/server/src/ledgrab/main.py
@@ -264,6 +264,15 @@ async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
         client_labels = ", ".join(config.auth.api_keys.keys())
         logger.info(f"Authorized clients: {client_labels}")
 
+    # Warn when the OpenAPI docs surface is exposed without a token.
+    if config.auth.expose_docs:
+        logger.warning(
+            "auth.expose_docs is ON: /docs, /redoc and /openapi.json load "
+            "without an API key (loopback and LAN). The API surface (routes + "
+            "schemas) is readable by anyone who can reach the server; endpoint "
+            "calls still require a token."
+        )
+
     # One-shot migration: legacy global ``mqtt:`` config block → first MQTTSource.
     # No-op once the store has any entries.
     try:
@@ -671,25 +680,27 @@ async def _access_log(request: Request, call_next):
 
 
 # ── Auth-gated OpenAPI surface ────────────────────────────────────────────
-# Re-add the docs endpoints we disabled above, now protected by the same
-# Bearer auth as the rest of the API. When auth is unconfigured, loopback
-# clients still get in anonymously (per ``verify_api_key`` policy).
+# Re-add the docs endpoints we disabled above, protected by the same Bearer
+# auth as the rest of the API. The ``DocsAccess`` dependency relaxes this to
+# anonymous access (loopback + LAN) when ``auth.expose_docs`` is set, so the
+# docs can be viewed in a browser without a token. When auth is unconfigured,
+# loopback clients still get in anonymously (per ``verify_api_key`` policy).
 from fastapi.openapi.docs import get_redoc_html, get_swagger_ui_html  # noqa: E402
-from ledgrab.api.auth import AuthRequired  # noqa: E402
+from ledgrab.api.auth import DocsAccess  # noqa: E402
 
 
 @app.get("/openapi.json", include_in_schema=False)
-async def _openapi(_auth: AuthRequired):
+async def _openapi(_auth: DocsAccess):
     return JSONResponse(app.openapi())
 
 
 @app.get("/docs", include_in_schema=False)
-async def _swagger_docs(_auth: AuthRequired):
+async def _swagger_docs(_auth: DocsAccess):
     return get_swagger_ui_html(openapi_url="/openapi.json", title=f"{app.title} — API docs")
 
 
 @app.get("/redoc", include_in_schema=False)
-async def _redoc_docs(_auth: AuthRequired):
+async def _redoc_docs(_auth: DocsAccess):
     return get_redoc_html(openapi_url="/openapi.json", title=f"{app.title} — API docs")
 
 
diff --git a/server/tests/api/routes/test_system_routes.py b/server/tests/api/routes/test_system_routes.py
index ff09374..bc97c42 100644
--- a/server/tests/api/routes/test_system_routes.py
+++ b/server/tests/api/routes/test_system_routes.py
@@ -87,6 +87,35 @@ class TestOpenAPIEndpoint:
         assert resp.status_code == 401
 
 
+class TestExposeDocsFlag:
+    """auth.expose_docs relaxes the docs routes to anonymous access."""
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def expose_docs(self, monkeypatch):
+        """Turn auth.expose_docs ON for the duration of a test."""
+        monkeypatch.setattr(get_config().auth, "expose_docs", True)
+
+    def test_openapi_anonymous_when_exposed(self, client, expose_docs):
+        resp = client.get("/openapi.json")
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        assert resp.json()["info"]["version"] == __version__
+
+    def test_swagger_anonymous_when_exposed(self, client, expose_docs):
+        resp = client.get("/docs")
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        assert "text/html" in resp.headers["content-type"]
+
+    def test_redoc_anonymous_when_exposed(self, client, expose_docs):
+        resp = client.get("/redoc")
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        assert "text/html" in resp.headers["content-type"]
+
+    def test_real_endpoints_still_protected_when_exposed(self, client, expose_docs):
+        """Exposing docs must NOT open up actual API endpoints."""
+        resp = client.get("/api/v1/system/api-keys")
+        assert resp.status_code == 401
+
+
 class TestRootEndpoint:
     def test_root_returns_html(self, client):
         resp = client.get("/")