diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a641f0efa3..9542bb7c79 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ This new vision for Archon replaces the old one (the agenteer). Archon used to b
    **Full Docker Mode (Recommended for Normal Archon Usage)**
 
    ```bash
+   docker compose up --build -d
+   # or, to match a previously used explicit profile:
    docker compose --profile full up --build -d
    # or
    make dev-docker # (Alternative: Requires make installed )
diff --git a/archon-ui-main/src/components/BackendStartupError.tsx b/archon-ui-main/src/components/BackendStartupError.tsx
index 8d6447eae2..8959bfc172 100644
--- a/archon-ui-main/src/components/BackendStartupError.tsx
+++ b/archon-ui-main/src/components/BackendStartupError.tsx
@@ -49,11 +49,16 @@ export const BackendStartupError: React.FC = () => {
                   After fixing the issue in your .env file, recreate the Docker containers:
                 </p>
                 <code className="block mt-2 p-2 bg-black/70 rounded text-red-100 font-mono text-sm">
-                  docker compose down && docker compose up -d
+                  docker compose down && docker compose up --build -d
                 </code>
-                <p className="text-red-300 text-xs mt-2">
-                  Note: Use 'down' and 'up', not 'restart' - containers need to be recreated to load new environment variables
-                </p>
+                <div className="text-red-300 text-xs mt-2">
+                  <p>Note:</p>
+                  <p>• Use 'down' and 'up' (not 'restart') so new env vars are picked up.</p>
+                  <p>• If you originally started with a specific profile (backend, frontend, or full),</p>
+                  <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;run the same profile again:</p>
+                  <br />
+                  <code className="bg-black/50 px-1 rounded">docker compose --profile full up --build -d</code>
+                </div>
               </div>
 
               <div className="flex justify-center pt-4">
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 28c3f95a04..3649bf4d74 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 # Docker Compose Profiles Strategy:
+# - No profile: All services start by default when running 'docker compose up'
 # - "backend": Starts only backend services (server, mcp, agents) for hybrid development
 # - "frontend": Starts only the frontend UI service  
-# - "full": Starts all services for complete Docker deployment
+# - "full": Starts all services for complete Docker deployment (same as no profile)
 # Use --profile flag to control which services start:
-#   docker compose --profile backend up    # Backend only for hybrid dev (or docker-compose)
-#   docker compose --profile full up       # Everything in Docker (or docker-compose)
+#   docker compose up                      # All services (default behavior)
+#   docker compose --profile backend up    # Backend only for hybrid dev
+#   docker compose --profile full up       # Everything in Docker (same as default)
 
 services:
   # Server Service (FastAPI + Socket.IO + Crawling)
   archon-server:
-    profiles: ["backend", "full"]
     build:
       context: ./python
       dockerfile: Dockerfile.server
@@ -64,7 +65,6 @@ services:
 
   # Lightweight MCP Server Service (HTTP-based)
   archon-mcp:
-    profiles: ["backend", "full"]
     build:
       context: ./python
       dockerfile: Dockerfile.mcp
@@ -109,7 +109,6 @@ services:
 
   # AI Agents Service (ML/Reranking)
   archon-agents:
-    profiles: ["backend", "full"]
     build:
       context: ./python
       dockerfile: Dockerfile.agents
@@ -144,7 +143,6 @@ services:
 
   # Frontend
   archon-frontend:
-    profiles: ["frontend", "full"]
     build: ./archon-ui-main
     container_name: archon-ui
     ports: