diff --git a/.changeset/deprecate-require-auth.md b/.changeset/deprecate-require-auth.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..064c3d51de4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/deprecate-require-auth.md
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+---
+'@clerk/express': minor
+---
+
+Deprecated `requireAuth()` middleware. It will be removed in the next major version.
+
+The `requireAuth()` middleware redirects unauthenticated requests to a sign-in page, which is often unexpected for API routes where a 401 response is more appropriate. Use `clerkMiddleware()` with `getAuth()` instead for explicit control over authentication behavior.
+
+**Before (deprecated):**
+
+```js
+import { requireAuth } from '@clerk/express';
+
+app.get('/api/protected', requireAuth(), (req, res) => {
+  // handle authenticated request
+});
+```
+
+**After (recommended):**
+
+```js
+import { clerkMiddleware, getAuth } from '@clerk/express';
+
+app.use(clerkMiddleware());
+
+app.get('/api/protected', (req, res) => {
+  const { userId } = getAuth(req);
+  if (!userId) {
+    return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Unauthorized' });
+  }
+  // handle authenticated request
+});
+```
diff --git a/packages/express/src/__tests__/requireAuth.test.ts b/packages/express/src/__tests__/requireAuth.test.ts
index e35e6c4f651..9fab628bd7f 100644
--- a/packages/express/src/__tests__/requireAuth.test.ts
+++ b/packages/express/src/__tests__/requireAuth.test.ts
@@ -15,11 +15,19 @@ vi.mock('../authenticateRequest', () => ({
   authenticateRequest: (options = {}) => mockAuthenticateRequest(options),
 }));
 
+const { mockDeprecated } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  mockDeprecated: vi.fn(),
+}));
+vi.mock('@clerk/shared/deprecated', () => ({
+  deprecated: mockDeprecated,
+}));
+
 describe('requireAuth', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
     mockAuthenticateAndDecorateRequest = vi.fn();
     mockAuthenticateRequest = vi.fn();
+    mockDeprecated.mockClear();
   });
 
   it('should redirect to sign-in page when user is not authenticated', async () => {
@@ -97,4 +105,20 @@ describe('requireAuth', () => {
     expect(response.status).toBe(302);
     expect(response.headers.location).toBe('/sign-in');
   });
+
+  it('should emit a deprecation warning when called', async () => {
+    mockAuthenticateAndDecorateRequest.mockImplementation((): RequestHandler => {
+      return (req, _res, next) => {
+        Object.assign(req, mockRequestWithAuth({ userId: 'user_123' }));
+        next();
+      };
+    });
+
+    await runMiddleware(requireAuth());
+
+    expect(mockDeprecated).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'requireAuth',
+      'Use `clerkMiddleware()` with `getAuth()` instead. `requireAuth` will be removed in the next major version.',
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/express/src/requireAuth.ts b/packages/express/src/requireAuth.ts
index 019634331dd..27ec4e0c0be 100644
--- a/packages/express/src/requireAuth.ts
+++ b/packages/express/src/requireAuth.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { deprecated } from '@clerk/shared/deprecated';
 import type { RequestHandler } from 'express';
 
 import { authenticateAndDecorateRequest } from './authenticateRequest';
@@ -7,30 +8,27 @@ import type { ClerkMiddlewareOptions, ExpressRequestWithAuth } from './types';
  * Middleware to require authentication for user requests.
  * Redirects unauthenticated requests to the sign-in url.
  *
+ * @deprecated Use `clerkMiddleware()` with `getAuth()` instead.
+ * `requireAuth` will be removed in the next major version.
+ *
  * @example
- * // Basic usage
+ * // Before (deprecated)
  * import { requireAuth } from '@clerk/express'
- *
- * router.use(requireAuth())
- * //or
  * router.get('/path', requireAuth(), getHandler)
  *
  * @example
- * // Customizing the sign-in path
- * router.use(requireAuth({ signInUrl: '/sign-in' }))
+ * // After (recommended)
+ * import { clerkMiddleware, getAuth } from '@clerk/express'
  *
- * @example
- * // Combining with permission check
- * import { getAuth, requireAuth } from '@clerk/express'
+ * app.use(clerkMiddleware())
  *
- * const hasPermission = (req, res, next) => {
- *    const auth = getAuth(req)
- *    if (!auth.has({ permission: 'permission' })) {
- *      return res.status(403).send('Forbidden')
- *    }
- *    return next()
- * }
- * router.get('/path', requireAuth(), hasPermission, getHandler)
+ * app.get('/api/protected', (req, res) => {
+ *   const { userId } = getAuth(req);
+ *   if (!userId) {
+ *     return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Unauthorized' });
+ *   }
+ *   // handle authenticated request
+ * })
  */
 export const requireAuth = (options: ClerkMiddlewareOptions = {}): RequestHandler => {
   const authMiddleware = authenticateAndDecorateRequest({
@@ -39,6 +37,11 @@ export const requireAuth = (options: ClerkMiddlewareOptions = {}): RequestHandle
   });
 
   return (request, response, next) => {
+    deprecated(
+      'requireAuth',
+      'Use `clerkMiddleware()` with `getAuth()` instead. `requireAuth` will be removed in the next major version.',
+    );
+
     authMiddleware(request, response, err => {
       if (err) {
         return next(err);