diff --git a/apps/cli/README.md b/apps/cli/README.md
index 6f161b32fe..e65a916fcd 100644
--- a/apps/cli/README.md
+++ b/apps/cli/README.md
@@ -10,6 +10,13 @@ npx kandev
 
 Downloads the latest release, starts the backend + web app, and opens your browser. Data (worktrees, SQLite DB) is stored in `~/.kandev` by default.
 
+## Version and Updates
+
+- `npx kandev` (run mode) uses the latest GitHub release bundle by default.
+- At startup, the launcher prints the resolved release tag (for example: `[kandev] release: v0.2.3 (github latest)`).
+- Use `--version <tag>` to pin a specific runtime bundle release.
+- CLI package updates are checked from npm and shown as a prompt. They are not forced.
+
 ## What You Get
 
 - **Multi-agent support** - Claude Code, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Amp, Auggie, OpenCode
diff --git a/apps/cli/README_internal.md b/apps/cli/README_internal.md
index 9a9dc9eae2..3a01a68418 100644
--- a/apps/cli/README_internal.md
+++ b/apps/cli/README_internal.md
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ Note: the runtime bundles are pulled from the latest GitHub Release by default,
 
 - **New runtime release without CLI publish**: users get new runtime automatically, but no update prompt.
 - **New CLI publish**: users get an update prompt and then re-run with the new CLI.
+- On startup, `run` also prints the resolved runtime release tag.
 
 You can disable the prompt with:
 
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/run.ts b/apps/cli/src/run.ts
index 74d099f81a..dc460eeca4 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/run.ts
+++ b/apps/cli/src/run.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ type PreparedRelease = {
   backendUrl: string;
   backendEnv: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
   webEnv: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
+  releaseTag: string;
+  requestedVersion?: string;
   webPort: number;
   agentctlPort: number;
 };
@@ -78,7 +80,8 @@ async function prepareReleaseBundle({
 
   // Note: Release mode doesn't configure MCP server ports as it uses
   // the bundled configuration. Only backend and agentctl ports are set.
-  // Log level is set to warn for clean production output.
+  // Log level defaults to warn for clean output and can be overridden
+  // via KANDEV_LOG_LEVEL.
   const backendEnv = {
     ...process.env,
     KANDEV_SERVER_PORT: String(actualBackendPort),
@@ -101,6 +104,8 @@ async function prepareReleaseBundle({
     backendUrl,
     backendEnv,
     webEnv,
+    releaseTag: tag,
+    requestedVersion: version,
     webPort: actualWebPort,
     agentctlPort,
   };
@@ -111,6 +116,10 @@ function launchReleaseApps(prepared: PreparedRelease): {
   backendProc: ReturnType<typeof spawn>;
   webServerPath: string;
 } {
+  const releaseSource = prepared.requestedVersion
+    ? `(requested: ${prepared.requestedVersion})`
+    : "(github latest)";
+  console.log(`[kandev] release: ${prepared.releaseTag} ${releaseSource}`);
   console.log("[kandev] backend port:", prepared.backendEnv.KANDEV_SERVER_PORT);
   console.log("[kandev] web port:", prepared.webPort);
   console.log("[kandev] agentctl port:", prepared.agentctlPort);