diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index be61e48f..5903e8b9 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -27,14 +27,17 @@ technical problem on its own terms and the private tracker links to it.
 ## Set up the repository
 
 The monorepo recommends Node.js 24 LTS and uses pnpm 11.28.2. Node.js 22 is
-also supported from 22.13.0. Docker is required for the local platform stack
-and workspace end-to-end tests. For nvm users, the repository's `.nvmrc` selects
-the recommended Node.js 24 line with `nvm use`.
+also supported from 22.13.0. Node.js 25 and later fall outside that range and
+no longer bundle Corepack, so `corepack enable` is not available there; the
+command below installs the pinned pnpm on every supported release. Docker is
+required for the local platform stack and workspace end-to-end tests. For nvm
+users, the repository's `.nvmrc` selects the recommended Node.js 24 line with
+`nvm use`.
 
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/theam/facility.git
 cd facility
-corepack install --global pnpm@11.28.2
+npm install --global pnpm@11.28.2
 pnpm dev
 ```
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 17f44fbd..c051fd3e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -63,15 +63,17 @@ The project manifest also lets you [choose CPU and memory for new story workspac
 ## Quick start: run Facility
 
 You need Docker, Node.js 24 LTS, and pnpm 11.28.2. Node.js 22 is also supported
-from 22.13.0. Start the application locally, then connect a repository to run
-Claude Code or Codex in a story workspace.
+from 22.13.0. Node.js 25 and later are outside the supported range and no longer
+bundle Corepack; `.nvmrc` selects a supported line. Start the application
+locally, then connect a repository to run Claude Code or Codex in a story
+workspace.
 
 ### 1. Open the local application
 
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/theam/facility.git
 cd facility
-corepack install --global pnpm@11.28.2
+npm install --global pnpm@11.28.2
 pnpm dev
 ```
 
@@ -161,7 +163,7 @@ behavior and boundaries can be agreed on.
 ```bash
 git clone https://github.com/theam/facility.git
 cd facility
-corepack install --global pnpm@11.28.2
+npm install --global pnpm@11.28.2
 pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
 pnpm verify
 ```
diff --git a/apps/docs/docs/reference/reference-fixture.md b/apps/docs/docs/reference/reference-fixture.md
index 56049063..2847ec49 100644
--- a/apps/docs/docs/reference/reference-fixture.md
+++ b/apps/docs/docs/reference/reference-fixture.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ sample builder and scheduled-security agents. It has no network or credential de
 From a clean checkout, run:
 
 ```bash
-corepack install --global pnpm@11.28.2
+npm install --global pnpm@11.28.2
 pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
 docker build -f runner/Dockerfile -t facility-runner:dev .
 FACILITY_E2E_DOCKER=1 \
diff --git a/apps/docs/docs/self-host/local-development.md b/apps/docs/docs/self-host/local-development.md
index b5d47162..3b282788 100644
--- a/apps/docs/docs/self-host/local-development.md
+++ b/apps/docs/docs/self-host/local-development.md
@@ -12,12 +12,14 @@ This guide covers work on the Facility monorepo. If you only want to run the pro
 Install Node.js 24 LTS and pnpm 11.28.2 before running the repository:
 
 ```bash
-corepack install --global pnpm@11.28.2
+npm install --global pnpm@11.28.2
 ```
 
-The root `package.json` also accepts Node.js 22 from 22.13.0. Use the repository `.nvmrc` when
-working with nvm. Do not substitute npm or yarn: the lockfile, workspace filters, and verification
-scripts assume pnpm.
+The root `package.json` also accepts Node.js 22 from 22.13.0. Node.js 25 and later are outside that
+range and no longer bundle Corepack; use the repository `.nvmrc` to select a supported line when
+working with nvm. npm appears above only to install the pinned pnpm, which works on every supported
+release. Do not substitute npm or yarn for pnpm itself: the lockfile, workspace filters, and
+verification scripts assume pnpm.
 
 Clone the repository, then run:
 
diff --git a/apps/docs/docs/self-host/quickstart.md b/apps/docs/docs/self-host/quickstart.md
index 477cd829..b987ebda 100644
--- a/apps/docs/docs/self-host/quickstart.md
+++ b/apps/docs/docs/self-host/quickstart.md
@@ -11,14 +11,15 @@ guide](production.md) before exposing an instance to other users or repositories
 
 Install Docker, Node.js 24, and the repository-pinned pnpm version.
 
-Node.js 22 is also supported from 22.13.0. Docker must be running and the current user must be able
-to use it. Local story workspaces require enough disk for repository checkouts, dependencies,
+Node.js 22 is also supported from 22.13.0. Node.js 25 and later are outside the supported range and
+no longer bundle Corepack; use `.nvmrc` to select a supported line. Docker must be running and the
+current user must be able to use it. Local story workspaces require enough disk for repository checkouts, dependencies,
 nested Docker images, and persistent volumes.
 
 ## Start the local stack
 
 ```bash
-corepack install --global pnpm@11.28.2
+npm install --global pnpm@11.28.2
 pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
 cp .env.example .env
 docker build -f runner/Dockerfile -t facility-runner:dev .
diff --git a/scripts/toolchain.test.mjs b/scripts/toolchain.test.mjs
index 8e87bc52..5b8a8580 100644
--- a/scripts/toolchain.test.mjs
+++ b/scripts/toolchain.test.mjs
@@ -66,6 +66,6 @@ test("setup documentation installs the package-manager pin", async () => {
   ]) {
     const documentation = await read(path);
     assert.match(documentation, /pnpm(?:@| )11\.28\.2/);
-    assert.match(documentation, /corepack install --global pnpm@11\.28\.2/);
+    assert.match(documentation, /npm install --global pnpm@11\.28\.2/);
   }
 });