diff --git a/.changeset/auth-misimport-runtime-error.md b/.changeset/auth-misimport-runtime-error.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7fd05b556a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/auth-misimport-runtime-error.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@clerk/nextjs": patch
+---
+
+Improved developer experience when `auth` is accidentally imported from `@clerk/nextjs` instead of `@clerk/nextjs/server`. The `auth` export now includes a `@deprecated` JSDoc tag with a clear message guiding developers to the correct import path, visible on hover in IDEs.
diff --git a/packages/nextjs/src/index.ts b/packages/nextjs/src/index.ts
index 283a7935cfc..adf5fca7751 100644
--- a/packages/nextjs/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/nextjs/src/index.ts
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ export const ClerkProvider = ComponentsModule.ClerkProvider as ServerComponentsS
 export const Show = ComponentsModule.Show as ServerComponentsServerModuleTypes['Show'];
 
 /**
- * `auth` is not available from this import path.
+ * @deprecated `auth()` must be imported from `@clerk/nextjs/server`, not `@clerk/nextjs`.
  *
  * **To fix this error:**
  * ```diff