diff --git a/src/auth/commands/create-command.ts b/src/auth/commands/create-command.ts
index b0cd4aad..262dc838 100644
--- a/src/auth/commands/create-command.ts
+++ b/src/auth/commands/create-command.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,11 @@ import { exitWithError } from '../../errors';
 import { ExitCode } from '../../errors/exit-codes';
 import { CommandContext, parseArgs, rejectUnsupportedAuthOptions } from './types';
 import { stripAmbientProviderCredentials } from './create-command-env';
-import { isUnifiedMode } from '../../config/config-loader-facade';
+import { isUnifiedMode, hasUnifiedConfig } from '../../config/config-loader-facade';
+import {
+  maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint,
+  countNativeClaudeProfiles,
+} from '../../cliproxy/routing/pool-onboarding-hint';
 
 function sanitizeProfileNameForInstance(name: string): string {
   return name.replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9_-]/g, '-').toLowerCase();
@@ -185,6 +189,18 @@ export async function handleCreate(ctx: CommandContext, args: string[]): Promise
     }
   };
 
+  // Pool suggestion: when creating a 2nd+ native Claude profile, show the
+  // once-per-install onboarding hint.  Print-only, TTY-gated, never blocks.
+  // Pass existingCount + 1 so the hint sees the post-create count (>= 2).
+  // Gated on hasUnifiedConfig() so legacy profiles.json-only installs receive
+  // the hint from ccs doctor only (where dismissal semantics are preserved).
+  if (!profileExistedBeforeCreate && hasUnifiedConfig()) {
+    const existingCount = countNativeClaudeProfiles();
+    if (existingCount >= 1) {
+      maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint(existingCount + 1);
+    }
+  }
+
   try {
     // Create instance directory
     console.log(info(`Creating profile: ${profileName}`));
diff --git a/src/cliproxy/__tests__/pool-onboarding-phase5.test.ts b/src/cliproxy/__tests__/pool-onboarding-phase5.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2bf32d5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cliproxy/__tests__/pool-onboarding-phase5.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,502 @@
+/**
+ * Phase 5: Pool Onboarding Hint - Test Suite
+ *
+ * Covers:
+ *   1. Non-TTY: hint is silent
+ *   2. Pool already enabled: hint is silent
+ *   3. Dismissed flag: hint is silent
+ *   4. Fewer than 2 profiles: hint is silent
+ *   5. Exactly 2 profiles, TTY, not dismissed, pool off: hint prints (single [i] marker)
+ *   6. After dismiss, second call is silent
+ *   7. Pre-computed count avoids double registry read
+ *   8. isOnboardingHintDismissed / dismissOnboardingHint roundtrip
+ *   9. countNativeClaudeProfiles returns only account-type profiles
+ *  10. Doctor site (simulation): maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint callable after report phase
+ *  10b. Doctor wiring (static): doctor.ts imports and calls the hint symbol
+ *  11. Create-command suggestion: hint fires with count=2 when 1 existing profile present
+ *  12. Legacy-only install: dismissOnboardingHint does not create config.yaml
+ *  13. Hint copy includes 'ccs claude' entry point and quota trade-off language
+ *  14. Legacy-only install: hasUnifiedConfig() returns false, enforcing call-site gate
+ *  15. Malformed config (with count): hint swallows the error, never throws, prints nothing
+ *  16. Malformed config (no count, doctor path): hint never throws
+ */
+
+import * as fs from 'fs';
+import * as os from 'os';
+import * as path from 'path';
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, mock, spyOn } from 'bun:test';
+
+// Non-cache-busted facade import so mutateConfig targets the SHARED singleton
+import { invalidateConfigCache as invalidateSharedConfigCache } from '../../config/config-loader-facade';
+
+// ── Helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function createTestHome(): string {
+  const dir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ccs-pool-onboarding-test-'));
+  const ccsDir = path.join(dir, '.ccs');
+  fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+  fs.writeFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'config.yaml'), 'version: 1\n', 'utf8');
+  return dir;
+}
+
+/** Create a legacy-only home: has profiles.json but NO config.yaml */
+function createLegacyTestHome(): string {
+  const dir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'ccs-pool-onboarding-legacy-'));
+  const ccsDir = path.join(dir, '.ccs');
+  fs.mkdirSync(ccsDir, { recursive: true });
+  // Intentionally no config.yaml - legacy install
+  return dir;
+}
+
+/** Write a minimal profiles.json with N account-type entries */
+function writeProfiles(ccsDir: string, names: string[]): void {
+  const profiles: Record<string, unknown> = {};
+  for (const n of names) {
+    profiles[n] = { type: 'account', created: new Date().toISOString(), last_used: null };
+  }
+  fs.writeFileSync(
+    path.join(ccsDir, 'profiles.json'),
+    JSON.stringify({ version: '2.0.0', profiles, default: null }, null, 2),
+    'utf8'
+  );
+}
+
+/** Write a minimal profiles.json with mixed types */
+function writeProfilesMixed(ccsDir: string): void {
+  const profiles: Record<string, unknown> = {
+    acct1: { type: 'account', created: new Date().toISOString(), last_used: null },
+    settings1: { type: 'settings', created: new Date().toISOString(), last_used: null },
+  };
+  fs.writeFileSync(
+    path.join(ccsDir, 'profiles.json'),
+    JSON.stringify({ version: '2.0.0', profiles, default: null }, null, 2),
+    'utf8'
+  );
+}
+
+// ── Tests ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+describe('Phase 5: Pool Onboarding Hint', () => {
+  let tempHome: string;
+  let originalCcsHome: string | undefined;
+  let originalIsTTY: boolean | undefined;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    tempHome = createTestHome();
+    originalCcsHome = process.env.CCS_HOME;
+    process.env.CCS_HOME = tempHome;
+    // Default: treat stdout as TTY for hint to fire
+    originalIsTTY = process.stdout.isTTY;
+    Object.defineProperty(process.stdout, 'isTTY', { value: true, configurable: true });
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    if (originalCcsHome !== undefined) {
+      process.env.CCS_HOME = originalCcsHome;
+    } else {
+      delete process.env.CCS_HOME;
+    }
+    Object.defineProperty(process.stdout, 'isTTY', {
+      value: originalIsTTY,
+      configurable: true,
+    });
+    fs.rmSync(tempHome, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    invalidateSharedConfigCache();
+  });
+
+  // ── 1. Non-TTY ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  it('returns skipReason non-tty when stdout.isTTY is false', async () => {
+    Object.defineProperty(process.stdout, 'isTTY', { value: false, configurable: true });
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    writeProfiles(ccsDir, ['work', 'personal']);
+    const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } = await import(
+      `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5nontty=${Date.now()}`
+    );
+    const result = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+    expect(result.printed).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.skipReason).toBe('non-tty');
+  });
+
+  // ── 2. Pool already enabled ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+  it('returns skipReason pool-already-enabled when pool routing is on', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    writeProfiles(ccsDir, ['work', 'personal']);
+    // Enable pool routing first
+    const { mutateConfig } = await import(`../../config/config-loader-facade?p5pool=${Date.now()}`);
+    mutateConfig((cfg: { cliproxy?: { pool_routing?: Record<string, unknown> } }) => {
+      if (!cfg.cliproxy) return;
+      cfg.cliproxy.pool_routing = { ...(cfg.cliproxy.pool_routing ?? {}), enabled: true };
+    });
+    invalidateSharedConfigCache();
+
+    const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } = await import(
+      `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5pool2=${Date.now()}`
+    );
+    const result = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+    expect(result.printed).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.skipReason).toBe('pool-already-enabled');
+  });
+
+  // ── 3. Dismissed ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  it('returns skipReason dismissed when onboarding_hint_dismissed is true', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    writeProfiles(ccsDir, ['work', 'personal']);
+
+    const { mutateConfig } = await import(`../../config/config-loader-facade?p5dis=${Date.now()}`);
+    mutateConfig((cfg: { cliproxy?: { pool_routing?: Record<string, unknown> } }) => {
+      if (!cfg.cliproxy) return;
+      cfg.cliproxy.pool_routing = {
+        ...(cfg.cliproxy.pool_routing ?? {}),
+        onboarding_hint_dismissed: true,
+      };
+    });
+    invalidateSharedConfigCache();
+
+    const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } = await import(
+      `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5dis2=${Date.now()}`
+    );
+    const result = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+    expect(result.printed).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.skipReason).toBe('dismissed');
+  });
+
+  // ── 4. Fewer than 2 profiles ────────────────────────────────────────────
+  it('returns skipReason fewer-than-2-profiles when only 1 profile exists', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    writeProfiles(ccsDir, ['work']);
+    const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } = await import(
+      `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5few=${Date.now()}`
+    );
+    const result = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+    expect(result.printed).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.skipReason).toBe('fewer-than-2-profiles');
+  });
+
+  it('returns skipReason fewer-than-2-profiles when no profiles exist', async () => {
+    const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } = await import(
+      `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5zero=${Date.now()}`
+    );
+    const result = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+    expect(result.printed).toBe(false);
+    expect(result.skipReason).toBe('fewer-than-2-profiles');
+  });
+
+  // ── 5. Hint prints when 2 profiles, TTY, not dismissed, pool off ────────
+  it('prints hint and returns printed=true when conditions are met', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    writeProfiles(ccsDir, ['work', 'personal']);
+
+    const consoleSpy = spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    try {
+      const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } = await import(
+        `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5print=${Date.now()}`
+      );
+      const result = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+      expect(result.printed).toBe(true);
+      expect(result.skipReason).toBeUndefined();
+      // Verify output: exactly one [i] marker (no double-prefix from info() + literal)
+      expect(consoleSpy.mock.calls.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+      const allOutput = consoleSpy.mock.calls.map((c) => String(c[0])).join('\n');
+      expect(allOutput).toContain('2 Claude profiles');
+      const iMarkerCount = (allOutput.match(/\[i\]/g) ?? []).length;
+      expect(iMarkerCount).toBe(1);
+    } finally {
+      consoleSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
+  // ── 6. After dismiss, second call is silent ─────────────────────────────
+  it('is silent on the second call because hint auto-dismisses after first print', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    writeProfiles(ccsDir, ['work', 'personal']);
+
+    // Use the same module instance for both calls so the dismissed flag persists
+    const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } = await import(
+      `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5once=${Date.now()}`
+    );
+
+    const consoleSpy = spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    try {
+      const first = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+      expect(first.printed).toBe(true);
+
+      invalidateSharedConfigCache();
+
+      const second = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+      expect(second.printed).toBe(false);
+      expect(second.skipReason).toBe('dismissed');
+    } finally {
+      consoleSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
+  // ── 7. Pre-computed count skips internal registry read ─────────────────
+  it('uses the pre-computed count when provided', async () => {
+    // No profiles.json — but we pass count=3 directly so it should still print
+    const consoleSpy = spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    try {
+      const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } = await import(
+        `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5precount=${Date.now()}`
+      );
+      const result = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint(3);
+      expect(result.printed).toBe(true);
+    } finally {
+      consoleSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
+  // ── 8. isOnboardingHintDismissed / dismissOnboardingHint roundtrip ─────
+  it('dismissOnboardingHint persists and isOnboardingHintDismissed reads it', async () => {
+    const { isOnboardingHintDismissed, dismissOnboardingHint } = await import(
+      `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5dismiss=${Date.now()}`
+    );
+    expect(isOnboardingHintDismissed()).toBe(false);
+    dismissOnboardingHint();
+    invalidateSharedConfigCache();
+    expect(isOnboardingHintDismissed()).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  // ── 9. countNativeClaudeProfiles counts only account-type profiles ───────
+  it('countNativeClaudeProfiles ignores non-account type profiles', async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    writeProfilesMixed(ccsDir); // 1 account + 1 settings
+    const { countNativeClaudeProfiles } = await import(
+      `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5count=${Date.now()}`
+    );
+    expect(countNativeClaudeProfiles()).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it('countNativeClaudeProfiles returns 0 when no profiles.json exists', async () => {
+    const { countNativeClaudeProfiles } = await import(
+      `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5count2=${Date.now()}`
+    );
+    expect(countNativeClaudeProfiles()).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  // ── 10. Doctor site: maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint is exported and callable ─
+  it('maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint is callable after the doctor report phase', async () => {
+    // NOTE: This is a SIMULATION of the doctor post-checks call site, not the
+    // real Doctor pipeline. The hint fires from Doctor's private displayResults()
+    // method, which has no cheap standalone entry point - exercising it directly
+    // would require constructing Doctor and running the full async check pipeline
+    // (system / OAuth / CLIProxy / Docker), which is heavy and environment-fragile.
+    // Instead we call the exact exported symbol the doctor imports
+    // (maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint, see doctor.ts import) under the same
+    // preconditions: 2 profiles, TTY, not dismissed. The wiring itself - that
+    // doctor.ts imports this symbol - is asserted in the companion test below.
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    writeProfiles(ccsDir, ['work', 'personal']);
+
+    const consoleSpy = spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    try {
+      const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } = await import(
+        `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5doc=${Date.now()}`
+      );
+      // doctor calls maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint() with no pre-computed count
+      const result = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+      expect(result.printed).toBe(true);
+      const allOutput = consoleSpy.mock.calls.map((c) => String(c[0])).join('\n');
+      expect(allOutput).toContain('2 Claude profiles');
+    } finally {
+      consoleSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
+  // ── 10b. Doctor wiring: doctor.ts imports and calls the hint symbol ───────
+  it('doctor.ts wires maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint as the doctor hint site', () => {
+    // Cheap static wiring assertion: confirms the real doctor call site imports
+    // and invokes the same symbol the simulation above exercises, without
+    // executing the heavy Doctor pipeline. If the doctor stops importing or
+    // calling the hint, this fails - catching a broken hint site that a pure
+    // simulation test could not.
+    const doctorSrc = fs.readFileSync(
+      path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', 'management', 'doctor.ts'),
+      'utf8'
+    );
+    expect(doctorSrc).toContain(
+      "import { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } from '../cliproxy/routing/pool-onboarding-hint'"
+    );
+    expect(doctorSrc).toContain('maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();');
+  });
+
+  // ── 11. Create-command suggestion: hint fires with post-create count ──────
+  it('hint fires with count 2 when create-command passes existingCount+1 for 1 existing profile', async () => {
+    // NOTE: SIMULATION of the create-command call site, not the real command.
+    // It replicates the threshold logic (existingCount + 1) and calls the same
+    // exported hint symbol; it does not invoke create-command end to end.
+    // 1 existing profile in the registry, simulating pre-create state.
+    // create-command calls maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint(existingCount + 1) = hint(2).
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    writeProfiles(ccsDir, ['work']);
+
+    const consoleSpy = spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    try {
+      const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint, countNativeClaudeProfiles } = await import(
+        `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5create=${Date.now()}`
+      );
+      // Replicate the threshold logic from create-command.ts lines 195-200
+      const existingCount = countNativeClaudeProfiles();
+      expect(existingCount).toBe(1);
+      // existingCount >= 1 so the hint is called with existingCount + 1
+      const result = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint(existingCount + 1);
+      expect(result.printed).toBe(true);
+      const allOutput = consoleSpy.mock.calls.map((c) => String(c[0])).join('\n');
+      expect(allOutput).toContain('2 Claude profiles');
+    } finally {
+      consoleSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
+  // ── 12. Legacy-only install: dismissal does not create config.yaml ────────
+  it('dismissOnboardingHint does not create config.yaml for legacy profiles.json-only installs', async () => {
+    // Override tempHome with a legacy-only home (no config.yaml)
+    if (originalCcsHome !== undefined) {
+      process.env.CCS_HOME = originalCcsHome;
+    } else {
+      delete process.env.CCS_HOME;
+    }
+    const legacyHome = createLegacyTestHome();
+    process.env.CCS_HOME = legacyHome;
+    invalidateSharedConfigCache();
+
+    try {
+      const ccsDir = path.join(legacyHome, '.ccs');
+      writeProfiles(ccsDir, ['work', 'personal']);
+      const configYamlPath = path.join(ccsDir, 'config.yaml');
+
+      const { dismissOnboardingHint, isOnboardingHintDismissed } = await import(
+        `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5legacy=${Date.now()}`
+      );
+
+      // Sanity: config.yaml does not exist yet
+      expect(fs.existsSync(configYamlPath)).toBe(false);
+
+      // isOnboardingHintDismissed returns false (reads empty config, no persist)
+      expect(isOnboardingHintDismissed()).toBe(false);
+
+      // dismissOnboardingHint must NOT create config.yaml
+      dismissOnboardingHint();
+      expect(fs.existsSync(configYamlPath)).toBe(false);
+    } finally {
+      fs.rmSync(legacyHome, { recursive: true, force: true });
+      invalidateSharedConfigCache();
+    }
+  });
+
+  // ── 13. Hint copy includes 'ccs claude' and quota trade-off language ──────
+  it("hint copy mentions 'ccs claude' and quota trade-off", async () => {
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    writeProfiles(ccsDir, ['work', 'personal']);
+
+    const consoleSpy = spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    try {
+      const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } = await import(
+        `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5copy=${Date.now()}`
+      );
+      const result = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+      expect(result.printed).toBe(true);
+      const allOutput = consoleSpy.mock.calls.map((c) => String(c[0])).join('\n');
+      expect(allOutput).toContain('ccs claude');
+      expect(allOutput).toContain('share quota');
+    } finally {
+      consoleSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
+  // ── 14. Legacy-only install: hasUnifiedConfig() is false at account-flow / create-command sites ──
+  it('hasUnifiedConfig returns false for legacy profiles.json-only installs (call-site gate)', async () => {
+    // Verifies that the guard used in account-flow.ts and create-command.ts
+    // (hasUnifiedConfig()) correctly reports false for a profiles.json-only home,
+    // meaning those call sites silently skip the hint and legacy users receive
+    // the hint exclusively from ccs doctor.
+    if (originalCcsHome !== undefined) {
+      process.env.CCS_HOME = originalCcsHome;
+    } else {
+      delete process.env.CCS_HOME;
+    }
+    const legacyHome = createLegacyTestHome();
+    process.env.CCS_HOME = legacyHome;
+    invalidateSharedConfigCache();
+
+    try {
+      const ccsDir = path.join(legacyHome, '.ccs');
+      writeProfiles(ccsDir, ['work', 'personal']);
+
+      const { hasUnifiedConfig } = await import(
+        `../../config/config-loader-facade?p5gate=${Date.now()}`
+      );
+
+      // The call-site guard must return false - legacy install has no config.yaml
+      expect(hasUnifiedConfig()).toBe(false);
+    } finally {
+      fs.rmSync(legacyHome, { recursive: true, force: true });
+      invalidateSharedConfigCache();
+    }
+  });
+
+  // ── 15. Malformed config: hint never throws and prints nothing ────────────
+  it('does not throw or print when config.yaml is malformed (hint must not break launch)', async () => {
+    // A pre-computed profileCount (passed by the launch / create call sites)
+    // clears the cheap gates, so the decision reaches the single config load.
+    // A malformed config.yaml makes loadOrCreateUnifiedConfig throw; the
+    // try/catch in maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint must swallow it - returning
+    // printed=false with skipReason 'error' and emitting no hint - so an account
+    // launch is never broken by a bad config.
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    // Overwrite the valid config.yaml from createTestHome() with invalid YAML.
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'config.yaml'), 'cliproxy: [unclosed\n', 'utf8');
+    invalidateSharedConfigCache();
+
+    const consoleSpy = spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    try {
+      const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } = await import(
+        `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5malformed=${Date.now()}`
+      );
+      let result: { printed: boolean; skipReason?: string } | undefined;
+      // Must not throw. Pass count=2 to bypass the registry (which itself loads
+      // config) and drive the decision into the explicit config load + try/catch.
+      expect(() => {
+        result = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint(2);
+      }).not.toThrow();
+      expect(result?.printed).toBe(false);
+      expect(result?.skipReason).toBe('error');
+      // No hint line printed.
+      const hintLines = consoleSpy.mock.calls
+        .map((c) => String(c[0]))
+        .filter((s) => s.includes('Claude profiles'));
+      expect(hintLines.length).toBe(0);
+    } finally {
+      consoleSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+
+  // ── 16. Malformed config via doctor path (no count): still no throw ───────
+  it('does not throw when config is malformed and no profileCount is passed (doctor path)', async () => {
+    // The doctor site calls maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint() with no count. With a
+    // malformed config, countNativeClaudeProfiles() swallows the registry error
+    // and returns 0, short-circuiting at fewer-than-2-profiles. Either way the
+    // call must never throw - this guards the doctor call site specifically.
+    const ccsDir = path.join(tempHome, '.ccs');
+    writeProfiles(ccsDir, ['work', 'personal']);
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(ccsDir, 'config.yaml'), 'cliproxy: [unclosed\n', 'utf8');
+    invalidateSharedConfigCache();
+
+    const consoleSpy = spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    try {
+      const { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } = await import(
+        `../routing/pool-onboarding-hint?p5malformed2=${Date.now()}`
+      );
+      let result: { printed: boolean } | undefined;
+      expect(() => {
+        result = maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+      }).not.toThrow();
+      expect(result?.printed).toBe(false);
+      const hintLines = consoleSpy.mock.calls
+        .map((c) => String(c[0]))
+        .filter((s) => s.includes('Claude profiles'));
+      expect(hintLines.length).toBe(0);
+    } finally {
+      consoleSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/cliproxy/routing/pool-onboarding-hint.ts b/src/cliproxy/routing/pool-onboarding-hint.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..88d5c71e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cliproxy/routing/pool-onboarding-hint.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+/**
+ * Pool onboarding hint
+ *
+ * Fires once (per install, TTY only) when a user has >= 2 native Claude account
+ * profiles and has not yet enabled pool routing.  Covers the #1464 use case:
+ * existing users with multiple native profiles who have never touched CLIProxy
+ * and would miss the 1->2 account-add opt-in prompt.
+ *
+ * Three hint sites call this module:
+ *   1. ccs doctor  (post-checks summary, fires for ALL install types)
+ *   2. account-flow launch (print-only, pre-spawn) - unified config only
+ *   3. ccs auth create (before spawning Claude for a 2nd+ profile) - unified config only
+ *
+ * Sites 2 and 3 are gated on hasUnifiedConfig() so that legacy profiles.json-only
+ * installs receive the hint exclusively from ccs doctor (site 1).  This ensures
+ * once-per-install dismissal semantics for every install type: unified installs
+ * dismiss via config.yaml on first show; legacy installs see the hint from
+ * doctor only (which is the natural discovery surface for that population).
+ *
+ * Dismissal: stored in pool_routing.onboarding_hint_dismissed in config.yaml.
+ * Reuses the Phase 3 pool_routing schema family - one schema home, no duplicate
+ * plumbing.  Legacy installs cannot persist a dismissal without config.yaml;
+ * this is intentional - dismissal for legacy users happens via ccs migrate or
+ * pool enable (both create config.yaml).
+ *
+ * TTY contract: non-TTY sessions never print the hint (single line only).
+ * The hint is informational only - it never blocks the calling flow.
+ *
+ * History note: pooled sessions live in the CLIProxy lane, not the native
+ * profile's CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR lane.  Transcripts and --continue inventory do
+ * NOT follow.  This is stated on the docs page linked in the hint copy.
+ */
+
+import { info } from '../../utils/ui';
+import {
+  loadOrCreateUnifiedConfig,
+  mutateConfig,
+  hasUnifiedConfig,
+} from '../../config/config-loader-facade';
+import type { UnifiedConfig } from '../../config/unified-config-types';
+import { ProfileRegistry } from '../../auth/profile-registry';
+
+// Docs anchor - Phase 7 acceptance item: verify curl returns HTTP 200 before release.
+// Pattern matches canonical docs domain used in error-codes.ts and version-command.ts.
+export const POOL_DOCS_LINK = 'https://docs.ccs.kaitran.ca/features/pool';
+
+/**
+ * Whether the one-time pool onboarding hint has already been dismissed.
+ *
+ * @param config - Optional pre-loaded config to avoid a redundant disk read +
+ *   YAML parse.  When omitted the config is loaded here.
+ */
+export function isOnboardingHintDismissed(config?: UnifiedConfig): boolean {
+  const cfg = config ?? loadOrCreateUnifiedConfig();
+  return cfg.cliproxy?.pool_routing?.onboarding_hint_dismissed === true;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Mark the pool onboarding hint as permanently dismissed.
+ * Written after first display so subsequent invocations are silent.
+ *
+ * Guard: skipped when config.yaml does not yet exist (legacy profiles.json-only
+ * installs). Writing here would create config.yaml, flipping isUnifiedMode()
+ * and silently mode-migrating the install outside the deliberate ccs migrate
+ * flow. For those users the hint may re-appear across process restarts; that
+ * is acceptable -- the hint is informational and non-blocking, and the user
+ * can silence it permanently via ccs migrate.
+ */
+export function dismissOnboardingHint(): void {
+  if (!hasUnifiedConfig()) {
+    // Legacy-only install: skip persist to avoid implicit config.yaml creation.
+    return;
+  }
+  mutateConfig((cfg) => {
+    if (!cfg.cliproxy) return;
+    cfg.cliproxy.pool_routing = {
+      ...cfg.cliproxy.pool_routing,
+      onboarding_hint_dismissed: true,
+    };
+  });
+}
+
+/**
+ * Whether pool routing is currently enabled.
+ *
+ * @param config - Optional pre-loaded config to avoid a redundant disk read +
+ *   YAML parse.  When omitted the config is loaded here.
+ */
+function isPoolEnabled(config?: UnifiedConfig): boolean {
+  const cfg = config ?? loadOrCreateUnifiedConfig();
+  return cfg.cliproxy?.pool_routing?.enabled === true;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Count native Claude account profiles (type === 'account').
+ *
+ * Uses ProfileRegistry so the count respects both legacy profiles.json and
+ * unified config accounts - same source of truth as the rest of the codebase.
+ */
+export function countNativeClaudeProfiles(): number {
+  try {
+    const registry = new ProfileRegistry();
+    const profiles = registry.getAllProfilesMerged();
+    return Object.values(profiles).filter((p) => p.type === 'account').length;
+  } catch {
+    return 0;
+  }
+}
+
+export interface OnboardingHintResult {
+  /** Whether the hint was printed */
+  printed: boolean;
+  /** Why the hint was skipped (only set when printed === false) */
+  skipReason?: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Maybe print the one-time pool onboarding hint.
+ *
+ * Skips silently when any of the following are true:
+ *   - Not a TTY (piped / CI / non-interactive)
+ *   - Fewer than 2 native Claude account profiles exist
+ *   - Pool routing is already enabled
+ *   - The hint was already dismissed
+ *   - Any error occurs while deciding (e.g. malformed config.yaml)
+ *
+ * Checks run cheapest-first: TTY and profile count are evaluated before any
+ * config read, and the config is loaded exactly once for the two
+ * config-derived checks.  The entire decision is wrapped in try/catch so a
+ * hint failure can never break an account launch.
+ *
+ * When the hint is printed for the first time it is also dismissed so it
+ * never appears again (it is informational, not an interactive prompt).
+ *
+ * @param profileCount - Pre-computed profile count (pass undefined to compute
+ *   it here).  The caller may pass a count it already has to avoid a second
+ *   registry read.
+ */
+export function maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint(profileCount?: number): OnboardingHintResult {
+  // A hint must never break a launch.  Any error in the decision path
+  // (malformed config.yaml, registry read failure, etc.) silently skips the
+  // hint rather than rethrowing into the caller's account-launch flow.
+  try {
+    // Cheapest checks first, no disk read required.
+    // Non-TTY: stay silent (piped / CI / non-interactive).
+    if (!process.stdout.isTTY) {
+      return { printed: false, skipReason: 'non-tty' };
+    }
+
+    const count = profileCount ?? countNativeClaudeProfiles();
+    if (count < 2) {
+      return { printed: false, skipReason: 'fewer-than-2-profiles' };
+    }
+
+    // Load config once and reuse it for both config-derived checks below,
+    // avoiding two disk reads + YAML parses per call.
+    const config = loadOrCreateUnifiedConfig();
+
+    if (isPoolEnabled(config)) {
+      return { printed: false, skipReason: 'pool-already-enabled' };
+    }
+
+    if (isOnboardingHintDismissed(config)) {
+      return { printed: false, skipReason: 'dismissed' };
+    }
+
+    console.log(
+      info(
+        `You have ${count} Claude profiles. 'ccs claude' pool auto-continues on limits (accounts share quota). Docs: ${POOL_DOCS_LINK}`
+      )
+    );
+
+    // Dismiss so subsequent invocations (other sites or next run) are silent.
+    try {
+      dismissOnboardingHint();
+    } catch {
+      // Best-effort: a config write failure must not surface to the user here.
+    }
+
+    return { printed: true };
+  } catch {
+    // Decision failed (e.g. malformed config) - skip the hint, never throw.
+    return { printed: false, skipReason: 'error' };
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/config/schemas/cliproxy.ts b/src/config/schemas/cliproxy.ts
index c5a9d5d3..dfc50bd7 100644
--- a/src/config/schemas/cliproxy.ts
+++ b/src/config/schemas/cliproxy.ts
@@ -150,6 +150,12 @@ export interface CLIProxyPoolRoutingConfig {
    * Prevents re-prompting after an explicit decline.
    */
   prompt_dismissed?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * Whether the user has dismissed the pool onboarding hint.
+   * Fires once when >= 2 native Claude profiles exist and no pool is enabled.
+   * Shares the pool_routing key family - one schema home, no duplicate plumbing.
+   */
+  onboarding_hint_dismissed?: boolean;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/dispatcher/flows/account-flow.ts b/src/dispatcher/flows/account-flow.ts
index bf67bc80..e5189e9f 100644
--- a/src/dispatcher/flows/account-flow.ts
+++ b/src/dispatcher/flows/account-flow.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import { maybeWarnAboutResumeLaneMismatch } from '../../auth/resume-lane-warning
 import { isProfileLocalSharedResourceMode } from '../../auth/shared-resource-policy';
 import { resolveNativeClaudeLaunchArgs } from '../environment-builder';
 import type { ProfileDispatchContext } from '../dispatcher-context';
+import { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } from '../../cliproxy/routing/pool-onboarding-hint';
+import { hasUnifiedConfig } from '../../config/config-loader-facade';
 
 export async function runAccountFlow(ctx: ProfileDispatchContext): Promise<void> {
   const {
@@ -56,6 +58,15 @@ export async function runAccountFlow(ctx: ProfileDispatchContext): Promise<void>
     CCS_IMAGE_ANALYSIS_SKIP: '1',
   };
   await maybeWarnAboutResumeLaneMismatch(profileInfo.name, instancePath, nativeClaudeRemainingArgs);
+
+  // One-time pool onboarding hint: fires when >= 2 native Claude profiles exist
+  // and pool routing is not yet enabled.  Print-only, TTY-gated, never blocks spawn.
+  // Gated on hasUnifiedConfig() so legacy profiles.json-only installs receive the
+  // hint from ccs doctor only (where dismissal semantics are preserved).
+  if (hasUnifiedConfig()) {
+    maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+  }
+
   const launchArgs = resolveNativeClaudeLaunchArgs(
     nativeClaudeRemainingArgs,
     'account',
diff --git a/src/management/doctor.ts b/src/management/doctor.ts
index e7cace57..13d0fa3a 100644
--- a/src/management/doctor.ts
+++ b/src/management/doctor.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
 } from './checks';
 import { runAutoRepair } from './repair';
 import { getDockerKeyRotationStatus } from '../docker/docker-key-rotation';
+import { maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint } from '../cliproxy/routing/pool-onboarding-hint';
 
 /**
  * Doctor Class - Orchestrates health checks
@@ -157,6 +158,16 @@ class Doctor {
       console.log(info(`Tip: Use ${color('ccs config', 'command')} for web-based configuration`));
     }
 
+    // Pool onboarding hint: fires when >= 2 native Claude profiles exist and
+    // pool routing is not yet enabled.  TTY-gated and never blocks (failures are
+    // swallowed inside maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint).  This is the deliberately
+    // ungated discovery surface for legacy profiles.json-only installs, which
+    // have no config.yaml to persist dismissal: those users may see the hint on
+    // every doctor run until they run `ccs migrate` or enable pool routing.
+    // Unified installs persist dismissal in config.yaml, so for them it is
+    // genuinely once per install.
+    maybeShowPoolOnboardingHint();
+
     console.log('');
   }