diff --git a/cmd/pulse/bootstrap.go b/cmd/pulse/bootstrap.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4437c5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/pulse/bootstrap.go
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+var bootstrapTokenCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "bootstrap-token",
+	Short: "Display the bootstrap setup token",
+	Long: `Display the bootstrap setup token required for first-time setup.
+
+This token is generated on first boot and must be entered in the web UI
+to unlock the initial setup wizard. The token is automatically deleted
+after successful setup completion.`,
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		showBootstrapToken()
+	},
+}
+
+func showBootstrapToken() {
+	// Determine data path (same logic as main server)
+	dataPath := os.Getenv("PULSE_DATA_PATH")
+	if dataPath == "" {
+		if os.Getenv("PULSE_DOCKER") == "true" {
+			dataPath = "/data"
+		} else {
+			dataPath = "/var/lib/pulse"
+		}
+	}
+
+	tokenPath := filepath.Join(dataPath, ".bootstrap_token")
+
+	// Read token file
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(tokenPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			fmt.Println("╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗")
+			fmt.Println("║                    NO BOOTSTRAP TOKEN FOUND                           ║")
+			fmt.Println("╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣")
+			fmt.Println("║  Possible reasons:                                                    ║")
+			fmt.Println("║  • Initial setup has already been completed                           ║")
+			fmt.Println("║  • Authentication is configured (token auto-deleted)                  ║")
+			fmt.Println("║  • Server hasn't started yet (token not generated)                    ║")
+			fmt.Printf("║  • Token file not found: %-44s║\n", tokenPath)
+			fmt.Println("╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝")
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+		fmt.Printf("Error reading bootstrap token: %v\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	token := strings.TrimSpace(string(data))
+	if token == "" {
+		fmt.Println("Error: Bootstrap token file is empty")
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	// Display token prominently
+	fmt.Println("╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗")
+	fmt.Println("║          BOOTSTRAP TOKEN FOR FIRST-TIME SETUP                         ║")
+	fmt.Println("╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣")
+	fmt.Printf("║  Token: %-61s ║\n", token)
+	fmt.Printf("║  File:  %-61s ║\n", tokenPath)
+	fmt.Println("╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣")
+	fmt.Println("║  Instructions:                                                        ║")
+	fmt.Println("║  1. Copy the token above                                              ║")
+	fmt.Println("║  2. Open Pulse in your web browser                                    ║")
+	fmt.Println("║  3. Paste the token into the unlock screen                            ║")
+	fmt.Println("║  4. Complete the admin account setup                                  ║")
+	fmt.Println("║                                                                       ║")
+	fmt.Println("║  This token will be automatically deleted after successful setup.     ║")
+	fmt.Println("╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝")
+}
diff --git a/cmd/pulse/main.go b/cmd/pulse/main.go
index ba318b3..59aef35 100644
--- a/cmd/pulse/main.go
+++ b/cmd/pulse/main.go
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ func init() {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(configCmd)
 	// Add version command
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(versionCmd)
+	// Add bootstrap-token command
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(bootstrapTokenCmd)
 }
 
 var versionCmd = &cobra.Command{
diff --git a/internal/api/bootstrap_token.go b/internal/api/bootstrap_token.go
index 6bfa599..28f447a 100644
--- a/internal/api/bootstrap_token.go
+++ b/internal/api/bootstrap_token.go
@@ -87,9 +87,16 @@ func (r *Router) initializeBootstrapToken() {
 	r.bootstrapTokenPath = path
 
 	if created {
-		log.Warn().
-			Str("token_path", path).
-			Msg("Bootstrap setup token generated; retrieve it from the host to complete initial authentication")
+		// Display token prominently for easy discovery
+		log.Warn().Msg("╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗")
+		log.Warn().Msg("║          BOOTSTRAP TOKEN REQUIRED FOR FIRST-TIME SETUP                ║")
+		log.Warn().Msg("╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣")
+		log.Warn().Msgf("║  Token: %-61s ║", token)
+		log.Warn().Msgf("║  File:  %-61s ║", path)
+		log.Warn().Msg("╠═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣")
+		log.Warn().Msg("║  Copy this token and paste it into the unlock screen in your browser. ║")
+		log.Warn().Msg("║  This token will be automatically deleted after successful setup.     ║")
+		log.Warn().Msg("╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝")
 	} else {
 		log.Info().
 			Str("token_path", path).
diff --git a/internal/api/security_setup_fix.go b/internal/api/security_setup_fix.go
index 7e17074..5109197 100644
--- a/internal/api/security_setup_fix.go
+++ b/internal/api/security_setup_fix.go
@@ -173,7 +173,12 @@ func handleQuickSecuritySetupFixed(r *Router) http.HandlerFunc {
 			}
 
 			if providedToken == "" {
-				http.Error(w, "Bootstrap setup token required", http.StatusUnauthorized)
+				errorMsg := fmt.Sprintf("Bootstrap setup token required. Retrieve it from the host:\n\n"+
+					"Docker: docker exec <container> cat /data/.bootstrap_token\n"+
+					"Docker: docker exec <container> /app/pulse bootstrap-token\n"+
+					"Bare metal: cat %s\n"+
+					"Bare metal: pulse bootstrap-token", r.bootstrapTokenPath)
+				http.Error(w, errorMsg, http.StatusUnauthorized)
 				return
 			}
 
@@ -181,7 +186,12 @@ func handleQuickSecuritySetupFixed(r *Router) http.HandlerFunc {
 				log.Warn().
 					Str("ip", clientIP).
 					Msg("Rejected quick setup with invalid bootstrap token")
-				http.Error(w, "Invalid bootstrap setup token", http.StatusUnauthorized)
+				errorMsg := fmt.Sprintf("Invalid bootstrap setup token. Retrieve the correct token from the host:\n\n"+
+					"Docker: docker exec <container> cat /data/.bootstrap_token\n"+
+					"Docker: docker exec <container> /app/pulse bootstrap-token\n"+
+					"Bare metal: cat %s\n"+
+					"Bare metal: pulse bootstrap-token", r.bootstrapTokenPath)
+				http.Error(w, errorMsg, http.StatusUnauthorized)
 				return
 			}