diff --git a/bench/benches/auto_install.sh b/bench/benches/auto_install.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index e1176db09d..0000000000
--- a/bench/benches/auto_install.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-
-# Benchmark script to compare performance with and without auto-install
-# Our implementation uses VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL=1 to disable nested auto-install execution
-
-AUTO_INSTALL_CMD="node ./packages/cli/src/bin.ts lint"
-
-echo "=== Performance comparison: auto-install enabled vs disabled ==="
-echo ""
-
-# Test with auto-install enabled (default behavior)
-echo "Testing with auto-install enabled…"
-time ${AUTO_INSTALL_CMD}
-
-echo ""
-
-# Test with auto-install disabled (simulating nested execution)
-echo "Testing with auto-install disabled (nested execution simulation)…"
-time VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL=1 ${AUTO_INSTALL_CMD}
-
-echo ""
-echo "=== Running detailed benchmark with hyperfine ==="
-
-# Run detailed benchmark comparison
-hyperfine -w 2 -r 5 -i \
-  -n "auto-install-enabled" "${AUTO_INSTALL_CMD}" \
-  -n "auto-install-disabled" "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL=1 ${AUTO_INSTALL_CMD}"
diff --git a/docs/vite/guide/cli.md b/docs/vite/guide/cli.md
index 820fa1001b..ffa3e27da7 100644
--- a/docs/vite/guide/cli.md
+++ b/docs/vite/guide/cli.md
@@ -367,12 +367,11 @@ vp cache clean
 
 ### Environment Variables
 
-| Variable                    | Description                                             |
-| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `VITE_LOG`                  | Set logging level (e.g., `VITE_LOG=debug`)              |
-| `VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL` | Set to `1` to disable automatic dependency installation |
-| `VITE_TASK_EXECUTION_ENV`   | Internal: indicates running inside vite task            |
-| `VITE_TASK_EXECUTION_ID`    | Internal: unique ID for task execution                  |
+| Variable                  | Description                                  |
+| ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
+| `VITE_LOG`                | Set logging level (e.g., `VITE_LOG=debug`)   |
+| `VITE_TASK_EXECUTION_ENV` | Internal: indicates running inside vite task |
+| `VITE_TASK_EXECUTION_ID`  | Internal: unique ID for task execution       |
 
 ### Execution Modes
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/binding/src/cli.rs b/packages/cli/binding/src/cli.rs
index c6f8d6c72a..d0646cff46 100644
--- a/packages/cli/binding/src/cli.rs
+++ b/packages/cli/binding/src/cli.rs
@@ -644,32 +644,6 @@ impl UserConfigLoader for VitePlusConfigLoader {
     }
 }
 
-/// Create auto-install synthetic plan request
-async fn create_install_synthetic_request(
-    cwd: &AbsolutePathBuf,
-) -> Result<SyntheticPlanRequest, Error> {
-    let package_manager = vite_install::PackageManager::builder(cwd).build_with_default().await?;
-    let resolve_command = package_manager.resolve_install_command(&vec![]);
-
-    let mut envs: FxHashMap<Arc<OsStr>, Arc<OsStr>> = std::env::vars_os()
-        .map(|(k, v)| (Arc::from(k.as_os_str()), Arc::from(v.as_os_str())))
-        .collect();
-
-    for (k, v) in resolve_command.envs {
-        envs.insert(Arc::from(OsStr::new(&k)), Arc::from(OsStr::new(&v)));
-    }
-
-    Ok(SyntheticPlanRequest {
-        program: Arc::<OsStr>::from(OsStr::new(&resolve_command.bin_path).to_os_string()),
-        args: resolve_command.args.into_iter().map(Str::from).collect(),
-        cache_config: UserCacheConfig::with_config(EnabledCacheConfig {
-            envs: None,
-            pass_through_envs: None,
-        }),
-        envs: Arc::new(envs),
-    })
-}
-
 /// Execute a synthesizable subcommand directly (not through vite-task Session).
 /// No caching, no task graph, no dependency resolution.
 async fn execute_direct_subcommand(
@@ -766,21 +740,6 @@ async fn execute_vite_task_command(
         user_config_loader: &mut config_loader,
     })?;
 
-    // Auto-install (using Session::exec)
-    if env::var_os("VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL") != Some("1".into()) {
-        if let Ok(install_request) = create_install_synthetic_request(&cwd).await {
-            let cache_key: Arc<[Str]> = vec![Str::from("install")].into();
-            let status = session
-                .execute_synthetic(install_request, cache_key, true)
-                .await
-                .map_err(|e| Error::Anyhow(e))?;
-            if status != ExitStatus::SUCCESS {
-                command_handler.cleanup_temp_files().await;
-                return Ok(status);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
     // Main execution (consumes session)
     let result = session.main(command).await.map_err(|e| Error::Anyhow(e));
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index f32dcbb18f..5df7b7981f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp add testnpm2 -D -w -- --no-audit && cat package.json packages/app/package.json packages/utils/package.json # should add package to workspace root",
     "vp add @vite-plus-test/utils --workspace -- --no-audit && cat package.json packages/app/package.json packages/utils/package.json # should add @vite-plus-test/utils to workspace root",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm10/steps.json
index c3fe3a15fb..5c07d9771d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp add --help # should show help",
     "vp add testnpm2 -D -- --no-audit && cat package.json # should add package as dev dependencies",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm11-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm11-with-workspace/steps.json
index f32dcbb18f..5df7b7981f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm11-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm11-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp add testnpm2 -D -w -- --no-audit && cat package.json packages/app/package.json packages/utils/package.json # should add package to workspace root",
     "vp add @vite-plus-test/utils --workspace -- --no-audit && cat package.json packages/app/package.json packages/utils/package.json # should add @vite-plus-test/utils to workspace root",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm11/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm11/steps.json
index c3fe3a15fb..5c07d9771d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm11/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-npm11/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp add --help # should show help",
     "vp add testnpm2 -D -- --no-audit && cat package.json # should add package as dev dependencies",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index c5a43049e9..3400981d3e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp add testnpm2 -D -w && cat package.json # should add package to workspace root",
     "vp add @vite-plus-test/utils --workspace && cat package.json # should add @vite-plus-test/utils to workspace root",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm10/steps.json
index f57443c957..2c0868694e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp add --help # should show help",
     "vp add # should error because no packages specified",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm9-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm9-with-workspace/steps.json
index 17bcee22b3..8442989867 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm9-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm9-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
   "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1",
     "NODE_OPTIONS": "--no-deprecation"
   },
   "commands": [
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm9/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm9/steps.json
index 6cbd91a32a..eff3b1cb8f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm9/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-pnpm9/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
   "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1",
     "NODE_OPTIONS": "--no-deprecation"
   },
   "commands": [
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json
index 33b3e3295b..99fefefbc6 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp add testnpm2 -D -w && cat package.json packages/app/package.json packages/utils/package.json # should add package to workspace root",
     "vp add @vite-plus-test/utils --workspace -w && cat package.json packages/app/package.json packages/utils/package.json # should add @vite-plus-test/utils to workspace root",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-yarn4/steps.json
index 4a7b03f71f..9402891b72 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-add-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp add --help # should show help",
     "vp add testnpm2 -D && cat package.json # should add package as dev dependencies",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-cache-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-cache-npm10/steps.json
index 0d528cd197..1addd45b74 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-cache-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-cache-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm cache dir # should show cache directory (uses npm config get cache)",
     "vp pm cache path # should show cache path (alias for dir, uses npm config get cache)"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-cache-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-cache-pnpm10/steps.json
index 8416e89dc1..23198b09c4 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-cache-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-cache-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm cache --help # should show help",
     "vp pm cache dir > /dev/null # should show cache directory (uses pnpm store path)",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-cache-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-cache-yarn4/steps.json
index f7aa5f1bf2..6443f72dda 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-cache-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-cache-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32", "darwin"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm cache dir # should show cache directory (uses yarn config get cacheFolder)",
     "vp pm cache path # should show cache path (alias for dir, uses yarn config get cacheFolder)"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-npm10/steps.json
index e7e9b6ff01..849c8b08f8 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "# vite pm config set vite-plus-pm-config-test-key test-value --location project # npm set will check valid keys start from npm v9, see https://github.com/npm/cli/issues/5852",
     "vp pm config get vite-plus-pm-config-test-key --location project # should get config value from project scope",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-pnpm10/steps.json
index 32ef67bbdc..cc7100f93a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm config --help # should show help",
     "vp pm config list --location project > /dev/null # should list all project configuration",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-yarn1/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-yarn1/steps.json
index 6f99d468b4..1dd7b227d5 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-yarn1/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-yarn1/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 {
   "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1",
     "NODE_OPTIONS": "--no-deprecation"
   },
   "commands": [
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-yarn4/steps.json
index 931f5fc357..5da176346e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-config-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm config set vite-plus-pm-config-test-key test-value --location project # should set config value in project scope",
     "vp pm config get vite-plus-pm-config-test-key --location project # should get config value from project scope",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dedupe-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dedupe-npm10/steps.json
index f240fb5f14..23f246628a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dedupe-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dedupe-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp dedupe && cat package.json # should dedupe dependencies",
     "vp dedupe --check && cat package.json # should check if deduplication would make changes",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dedupe-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dedupe-pnpm10/steps.json
index 36b8920a5d..6b161dfdc9 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dedupe-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dedupe-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp dedupe --help # should show help",
     "vp dedupe && cat package.json # should dedupe dependencies",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dedupe-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dedupe-yarn4/steps.json
index 5b5d0b2d45..d642c2765d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dedupe-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dedupe-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp dedupe && cat package.json # should dedupe dependencies",
     "vp dedupe --check && cat package.json # should check if deduplication would make changes",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dlx-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dlx-npm10/steps.json
index d263433453..1ad3ecb05c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dlx-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dlx-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp dlx --help # should show help message",
     "vp dlx -s cowsay hello # should run cowsay with npm exec",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dlx-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dlx-pnpm10/steps.json
index 9225e7836a..8e2a8b772b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dlx-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dlx-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp dlx --help # should show help message",
     "vp dlx -s cowsay hello # should run cowsay with pnpm dlx",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dlx-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dlx-yarn4/steps.json
index 8bfd7930fb..ebfa4b812a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dlx-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-dlx-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp dlx --help # should show help message",
     "vp dlx -s cowsay hello # should run cowsay with yarn dlx",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-install-auto-create-package-json/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-install-auto-create-package-json/steps.json
index a600c41b6e..aa37f35ceb 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-install-auto-create-package-json/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-install-auto-create-package-json/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "test ! -f package.json && echo 'no package.json' # verify no package.json exists",
     "vp install --silent && cat package.json # should auto-create package.json and install",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-install-bug-31/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-install-bug-31/steps.json
index 0b360cba49..bf97e9f125 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-install-bug-31/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-install-bug-31/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install --no-frozen-lockfile --silent # install dependencies work",
     "mkdir -p packages/sub-project && echo '{\"name\": \"sub-project\", \"dependencies\": { \"testnpm2\": \"1.0.0\" }}' > packages/sub-project/package.json # create sub project and package.json",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-link-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-link-npm10/steps.json
index 140a720583..a438d03d22 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-link-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-link-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "mkdir -p ../test-lib-npm && echo '{\"name\": \"test-lib-npm\", \"version\": \"1.0.0\"}' > ../test-lib-npm/package.json # create test library",
     "vp link ../test-lib-npm && cat package.json # should link local directory",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-link-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-link-pnpm10/steps.json
index 71a2b79767..f56346977c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-link-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-link-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32", "linux"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp link -h # should show help message",
     "vp install # install initial dependencies",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-link-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-link-yarn4/steps.json
index a50277d390..23d3f82825 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-link-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-link-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "mkdir -p ../test-lib-yarn && echo '{\"name\": \"test-lib-yarn\", \"version\": \"1.0.0\"}' > ../test-lib-yarn/package.json # create test library",
     "vp link ../test-lib-yarn && cat package.json # should link local directory",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index 6dfbfa29b8..e0f9ee1c84 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install # should install packages first",
     "vp pm list --json # should list current workspace root dependencies",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-npm10/steps.json
index 91af807eec..1c187c374c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install # should install packages first",
     "vp pm list --json # should list installed packages",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index bae99ad138..01e66e8a54 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install # should install packages first",
     "vp pm list # should list current workspace root dependencies",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-pnpm10/steps.json
index 1e6f2ac116..5bde08798f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install # should install packages first",
     "vp pm list --help # should show help",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-yarn1/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-yarn1/steps.json
index a141e342dd..6236751c91 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-yarn1/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-yarn1/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 {
   "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1",
     "NODE_OPTIONS": "--no-deprecation"
   },
   "commands": [
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-yarn4/steps.json
index 95199c9324..80baf36800 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-list-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vp pm list # should show warning that yarn@2+ does not support list command"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index e5c775ed0e..f14fca3617 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install",
     "vp outdated testnpm2 -w # should outdated in workspace root",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-npm10/steps.json
index fa88b61923..3690d07120 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install # should install packages first",
     "vp outdated testnpm2 # should outdated package",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index 7527c4280e..49be7120e4 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install",
     "vp outdated testnpm2 -w # should outdated in workspace root",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-pnpm10/steps.json
index ccab803397..b1e9e87cf3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp outdated --help # should show help",
     "vp install # should install packages first",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-yarn4/steps.json
index 9243f097b7..537a30f2d0 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-outdated-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vp outdated -- -h # should show yarn upgrade-interactive help"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-npm10/steps.json
index da50da4543..de79172f65 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vp pm owner list testnpm2 # should list package owners"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-pnpm10/steps.json
index e50961cdd6..e5e626f011 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm owner --help # should show help",
     "vp pm owner list testnpm2 # should list package owners (uses npm owner)"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-yarn1/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-yarn1/steps.json
index 76e9398133..52942b128f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-yarn1/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-yarn1/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vp pm owner list testnpm2 # should list package owners (uses npm owner)"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-yarn4/steps.json
index 76e9398133..52942b128f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-owner-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vp pm owner list testnpm2 # should list package owners (uses npm owner)"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index 5288aebc3a..be795bb4c1 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm pack --json # should pack current workspace root",
     "vp pm pack --recursive --json && rm -rf *.tgz # should pack all packages in workspace (uses --workspaces)",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-npm10/steps.json
index 2b09f6b231..ed0948edf1 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm pack --json && rm -rf *.tgz # should pack current package",
     "vp pm pack --pack-destination ./dist --json && rm -rf ./dist # should pack with destination",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index 8c69ae20b7..7c6dc4b414 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm pack && rm -rf *.tgz # should pack current workspace root",
     "vp pm pack --recursive --json > out.json && tool json-sort out.json '_.name' && cat out.json && rm -rf *.tgz # should pack all packages in workspace",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-pnpm10/steps.json
index 27ece87f4e..40db7dd3ea 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm pack --help # should show help",
     "vp pm pack && rm -rf *.tgz # should pack current package",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json
index ed5d854ae7..7f74c6d327 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install -- --mode=update-lockfile # should install packages first",
     "vp pm pack # should pack current workspace root",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-yarn4/steps.json
index 20de1ec936..c7fdf32e68 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-pack-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm pack # should pack current package",
     "vp pm pack --out ./dist/package.tgz # should pack with output file",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-prune-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-prune-npm10/steps.json
index 360dd84fa5..b3631fb003 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-prune-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-prune-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install # should install packages first",
     "vp pm prune --help # should show help",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-prune-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-prune-pnpm10/steps.json
index 3e624e2aa5..77481edd61 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-prune-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-prune-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install # should install packages first",
     "vp pm prune --help # should show help",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-prune-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-prune-yarn4/steps.json
index 244a4c4505..6d96d79769 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-prune-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-prune-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm prune --help # should show help",
     "vp pm prune # should show warning that yarn does not support prune command"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-npm10/steps.json
index 748e0719e2..fb390f356f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm publish --dry-run -- --loglevel error # should preview publish without actually publishing (uses npm publish --dry-run)"
   ]
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-pnpm10/steps.json
index d1d096114c..35a46e6d86 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm publish --help # should show help",
     "vp pm publish --dry-run -- --loglevel error # should preview publish without actually publishing (uses pnpm publish --dry-run)"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-yarn1/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-yarn1/steps.json
index 748e0719e2..fb390f356f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-yarn1/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-yarn1/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm publish --dry-run -- --loglevel error # should preview publish without actually publishing (uses npm publish --dry-run)"
   ]
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-yarn4/steps.json
index 748e0719e2..fb390f356f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-publish-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm publish --dry-run -- --loglevel error # should preview publish without actually publishing (uses npm publish --dry-run)"
   ]
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index a0b369385e..f34a845501 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp add testnpm2 -D -w --filter=* -- --no-audit && vp add test-vite-plus-install -w --filter=* -- --no-audit && vp add test-vite-plus-package-optional -O --filter=* -- --no-audit && cat package.json packages/app/package.json packages/utils/package.json # prepare packages",
     "vp remove testnpm2 -r -- --no-audit && cat package.json packages/app/package.json packages/utils/package.json # should remove package from all workspaces and root",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-npm10/steps.json
index c0c59ee776..43b538a657 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp remove testnpm2 -D -- --no-audit && cat package.json # should pass when remove not exists package",
     "vp add testnpm2 -- --no-audit && vp add -D test-vite-plus-install -- --no-audit && vp add -O test-vite-plus-package-optional -- --no-audit && cat package.json # should add packages to dependencies",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index 0175729633..27265fa59b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp add testnpm2 -D -w --filter=* && vp add test-vite-plus-install -w --filter=* && vp add test-vite-plus-package-optional -O --filter=* && cat package.json packages/app/package.json packages/utils/package.json # prepare packages",
     "vp remove testnpm2 -r && cat package.json packages/app/package.json packages/utils/package.json # should remove package from all workspaces and root",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-pnpm10/steps.json
index 4a13862ca4..7a98a5e6b4 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp remove --help # should show help",
     "vp remove # should error because no packages specified",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json
index d16264681d..803b08fa7c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp add testnpm2 -D && vp add testnpm2 -D --filter=* --filter=@vite-plus-test/utils && vp add test-vite-plus-install --filter=* --filter=@vite-plus-test/utils && vp add test-vite-plus-package-optional -O --filter=* --filter=@vite-plus-test/utils && cat package.json packages/app/package.json packages/admin/package.json packages/utils/package.json # prepare packages",
     "vp remove testnpm2 -r && cat package.json packages/app/package.json packages/admin/package.json packages/utils/package.json # should remove package from all workspaces and root",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-yarn4/steps.json
index b8fa417cad..eeb83985a4 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-remove-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp remove testnpm2 -D && cat package.json # should error when remove not exists package",
     "vp add testnpm2 && vp add -D test-vite-plus-install && vp add -O test-vite-plus-package-optional && cat package.json # should add packages to dependencies",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-run-without-vite-plus/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-run-without-vite-plus/steps.json
index ac1d07f1cc..e87631131e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-run-without-vite-plus/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-run-without-vite-plus/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
   "commands": [
     "vp run hello # should fall back to pnpm run when no vite-plus dependency",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-unlink-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-unlink-npm10/steps.json
index c6c69c701f..bafebe5c12 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-unlink-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-unlink-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "mkdir -p ../unlink-test-lib-npm && echo '{\"name\": \"unlink-test-lib-npm\", \"version\": \"1.0.0\"}' > ../unlink-test-lib-npm/package.json # create test library",
     "vp link ../unlink-test-lib-npm && cat package.json # link the library first",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-unlink-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-unlink-pnpm10/steps.json
index a775f3ea87..491581a67b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-unlink-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-unlink-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp unlink -h # should show help message",
     "mkdir -p ../unlink-test-lib && echo '{\"name\": \"unlink-test-lib\", \"version\": \"1.0.0\"}' > ../unlink-test-lib/package.json # create test library",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-unlink-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-unlink-yarn4/steps.json
index a0ca20c08b..2694fa27b5 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-unlink-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-unlink-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "mkdir -p ../unlink-test-lib-yarn && echo '{\"name\": \"unlink-test-lib-yarn\", \"version\": \"1.0.0\"}' > ../unlink-test-lib-yarn/package.json # create test library",
     "vp link ../unlink-test-lib-yarn && cat package.json # link the library first",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index 1d072e8b93..5e985d2770 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp update testnpm2 -w -- --no-audit && cat package.json # should update in workspace root",
     "vp update testnpm2 --latest --filter app -- --no-audit && cat packages/app/package.json # should update in specific package",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-npm10/steps.json
index 1c2bfaf198..b5970ab7c7 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp update testnpm2 -- --no-audit && cat package.json # should update package within semver range",
     "vp up testnpm2 --latest -- --no-audit && cat package.json # should to absolute latest version",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index 275504b5df..3bcf5b33b8 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp update testnpm2 --latest -w && cat package.json # should update in workspace root",
     "vp update testnpm2 --latest --filter app && cat packages/app/package.json # should update in specific package",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-pnpm10/steps.json
index 8fb832c59b..6e517683eb 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp update --help # should show help",
     "vp update testnpm2 && cat package.json # should update package within semver range",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json
index 01132b55dc..373054c776 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-yarn4-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp update testnpm2 && cat package.json packages/utils/package.json # should update all testnpm2 versions",
     "vp update testnpm2 --latest --filter app && cat packages/app/package.json # should update in specific package",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-yarn4/steps.json
index 5451801393..515897ded8 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-update-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp update testnpm2 && cat package.json # should update package within semver range",
     "vp rm testnpm2 && vp add testnpm2@1.0.0 -D && vp update testnpm2 --latest && cat package.json # should to absolute latest version",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-npm10/steps.json
index 4562d0e988..06e6872722 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm view testnpm2 dist.tarball # should view testnpm2 package information",
     "vp pm info testnpm2 dist.tarball # should info alias to view",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-pnpm10/steps.json
index 1998548d94..c89aea7830 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm view --help # should show help",
     "vp pm view testnpm2 # should view lodash package information (uses npm view)",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-yarn1/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-yarn1/steps.json
index a554e4a81d..2b568f1267 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-yarn1/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-yarn1/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm view testnpm2 # should view testnpm2 package information (uses npm view)",
     "vp pm view testnpm2 version # should view testnpm2 version field (uses npm view)"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-yarn4/steps.json
index a554e4a81d..2b568f1267 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-view-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pm view testnpm2 # should view testnpm2 package information (uses npm view)",
     "vp pm view testnpm2 version # should view testnpm2 version field (uses npm view)"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-vpx-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-vpx-pnpm10/steps.json
index 1ee5671a13..1947f55875 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-vpx-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-vpx-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vpx --help # should show vpx help message",
     "vpx -s cowsay hello # should run cowsay via dlx fallback"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index 5f96d774f3..135b9d7d35 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-npm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install",
     "vp why testnpm2 --filter app # should check why in specific workspace using --workspace",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-npm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-npm10/steps.json
index 9f1724771b..29cc96566a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-npm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-npm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install # should install packages first",
     "vp why testnpm2 # should show why package is installed (uses npm explain)",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
index 1b88cb08c4..52da8c58de 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-pnpm10-with-workspace/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install",
     "vp why testnpm2 -w # should check why in workspace root",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-pnpm10/steps.json
index 3c495a3760..e7b38a4206 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp why --help # should show help",
     "vp install # should install packages first",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-yarn4/steps.json
index 919b51e7fa..cf7223a300 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/command-why-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install -- --mode=update-lockfile # should install packages first",
     "vp why testnpm2 # should show why package is installed",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/dev-engines-runtime-pnpm10/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/dev-engines-runtime-pnpm10/steps.json
index 01b43448f5..2bf71c6544 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/dev-engines-runtime-pnpm10/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/dev-engines-runtime-pnpm10/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp dlx -s print-current-version # should print Node.js version 22.11.0 from devEngines.runtime"
   ]
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/global-cli-fallback/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/global-cli-fallback/steps.json
index a72e8c6a04..7ea415e472 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/global-cli-fallback/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/global-cli-fallback/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
   "commands": [
     "vp build -h # should fall back to global vite-plus and show build help",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-agent-claude/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-agent-claude/steps.json
index 4a544f202c..a492a4273f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-agent-claude/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-agent-claude/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --agent claude --no-interactive # migration with --agent claude should write CLAUDE.md",
     "cat CLAUDE.md | head -3 # verify CLAUDE.md was created"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-auto-create-vite-config/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-auto-create-vite-config/steps.json
index ecde497a32..22f495e2ec 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-auto-create-vite-config/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-auto-create-vite-config/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should auto create vite.config.ts and remove oxlintrc and oxfmtrc",
     "cat vite.config.ts # check vite.config.ts",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-tsdown-json-config/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-tsdown-json-config/steps.json
index a7d3c4fd7c..68b08d1b03 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-tsdown-json-config/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-tsdown-json-config/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should rewrite imports to vite-plus",
     "cat tsdown.config.json && exit 1 || true # check tsdown.config.json should be removed",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-tsdown/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-tsdown/steps.json
index 12b3d97676..5a050e597a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-tsdown/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-tsdown/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should rewrite imports to vite-plus",
     "cat tsdown.config.ts # check tsdown.config.ts",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-vitest-config/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-vitest-config/steps.json
index 1342707009..593345b4fd 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-vitest-config/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-vitest-config/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should rewrite imports to vite-plus",
     "cat vitest.config.ts # check vitest.config.ts",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-vitest-files/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-vitest-files/steps.json
index e823162737..c1088f184a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-vitest-files/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-from-vitest-files/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should rewrite imports to vite-plus",
     "cat package.json # check package.json",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-lintstagedrc-json/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-lintstagedrc-json/steps.json
index 21ae3fc2fc..05166b8252 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-lintstagedrc-json/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-lintstagedrc-json/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate -h # migration help message",
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration work with lintstagedrc.json",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-lintstagedrc-not-support/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-lintstagedrc-not-support/steps.json
index bcc8077a34..60443e188e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-lintstagedrc-not-support/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-lintstagedrc-not-support/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should not support non-json format lintstagedrc",
     "cat .lintstagedrc # check .lintstagedrc is not updated",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-merge-vite-config-js/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-merge-vite-config-js/steps.json
index 924ddf3214..0375320d78 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-merge-vite-config-js/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-merge-vite-config-js/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should merge vite.config.js and remove oxlintrc",
     "cat vite.config.js # check vite.config.js",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-merge-vite-config-ts/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-merge-vite-config-ts/steps.json
index 557279f85d..542a8d33d6 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-merge-vite-config-ts/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-merge-vite-config-ts/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should merge vite.config.ts and remove oxlintrc and oxfmtrc",
     "cat vite.config.ts # check vite.config.ts",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-pnpm-overrides-dependency-selector/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-pnpm-overrides-dependency-selector/steps.json
index 3dfcdd464d..fed3fce908 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-pnpm-overrides-dependency-selector/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-pnpm-overrides-dependency-selector/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should merge pnpm overrides with dependency selector",
     "cat vite.config.ts # check vite.config.ts",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-pnpm/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-pnpm/steps.json
index d63145d090..d4bda211fe 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-pnpm/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-pnpm/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should merge vite.config.ts and remove oxlintrc and oxfmtrc",
     "cat vite.config.ts # check vite.config.ts",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-skip-vite-peer-dependency/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-skip-vite-peer-dependency/steps.json
index e7b6c2e6c5..4cd2e5c2d3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-skip-vite-peer-dependency/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-skip-vite-peer-dependency/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should check each package's peerDependencies",
     "cat packages/vite-plugin/src/index.ts # vite-plugin has vite in peerDeps: vite NOT rewritten, vitest rewritten",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-yarn4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-yarn4/steps.json
index 9196fa1106..03324b637b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-yarn4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-monorepo-yarn4/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should merge vite.config.ts and remove oxlintrc",
     "cat vite.config.ts # check vite.config.ts",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-no-agent/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-no-agent/steps.json
index 6c604001cd..a810a7b109 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-no-agent/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-no-agent/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-agent --no-interactive # migration with --no-agent should skip agent instructions",
     "ls -la | grep -E '(AGENTS|CLAUDE)' || echo 'No agent file created' # verify no agent file was created"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-npm8.2/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-npm8.2/steps.json
index e29c5aed8d..9d7134ea9e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-npm8.2/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-npm8.2/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should fail because npm version is not supported",
     "cat package.json # check package.json is not updated"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-pnpm9.4/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-pnpm9.4/steps.json
index a533e24783..707db2e2d1 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-pnpm9.4/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-pnpm9.4/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should fail because pnpm version is not supported",
     "cat package.json # check package.json is not updated"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-vite6/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-vite6/steps.json
index 3659b71fd5..a6ac0e2648 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-vite6/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-vite6/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     {
       "command": "vp install # install dependencies first",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-vitest3/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-vitest3/steps.json
index 3861e3203f..6aa4946fb5 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-vitest3/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-not-supported-vitest3/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     {
       "command": "vp install # install dependencies first",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-rewrite-declare-module/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-rewrite-declare-module/steps.json
index 19b9bada8f..a896881618 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-rewrite-declare-module/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-rewrite-declare-module/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should rewrite imports to vite-plus",
     "cat src/index.ts # check src/index.ts",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-skip-vite-dependency/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-skip-vite-dependency/steps.json
index c2f5dc4c1e..4d95cc5dde 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-skip-vite-dependency/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-skip-vite-dependency/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should skip rewriting vite imports when vite is in dependencies",
     "cat src/index.ts # vite imports should NOT be rewritten, vitest imports SHOULD be rewritten",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-skip-vite-peer-dependency/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-skip-vite-peer-dependency/steps.json
index d66832e4fa..6cee4ca524 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-skip-vite-peer-dependency/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/migration-skip-vite-peer-dependency/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp migrate --no-interactive # migration should skip rewriting vite imports when vite is in peerDependencies",
     "cat src/index.ts # vite imports should NOT be rewritten, vitest imports SHOULD be rewritten",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/new-create-vite-with-scope-name/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/new-create-vite-with-scope-name/steps.json
index 3d4f8de5fa..ffce8fd9e8 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/new-create-vite-with-scope-name/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/new-create-vite-with-scope-name/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     {
       "command": "vp create vite:application --no-interactive --directory @my-scope/my-vite-app -- --template vanilla-ts # create vite app with vanilla-ts template with scope name",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/new-create-vite/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/new-create-vite/steps.json
index 8b9d8e66f6..a3a241c268 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/new-create-vite/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-global/new-create-vite/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     {
       "command": "vp create vite:application --no-interactive # create vite app with default values",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/command-pack-watch-restart/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/command-pack-watch-restart/steps.json
index 41e0cd82fe..1a0642130c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/command-pack-watch-restart/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/command-pack-watch-restart/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "bash run-watch.sh",
     "bash wait-for-dist.sh # wait for initial build",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/exit-non-zero-on-cmd-not-exists/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/exit-non-zero-on-cmd-not-exists/steps.json
index 8487ad9d94..6d8f62d58c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/exit-non-zero-on-cmd-not-exists/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/exit-non-zero-on-cmd-not-exists/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vite command-not-exists # should exit with non-zero code"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/pnpm-install-with-options/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/pnpm-install-with-options/steps.json
index f3b5bd7ce9..cf11422a88 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/pnpm-install-with-options/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/pnpm-install-with-options/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vite install --help | head -n 20 # print help message",
     "vite install --prod # https://pnpm.io/cli/install#--prod--p",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/test-panicked-fix/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/test-panicked-fix/steps.json
index 453ddd3e9a..03be996f34 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/test-panicked-fix/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests-todo/test-panicked-fix/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vite lint --help | head -n 20 # print help message and no panicked"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/auto-install-before-task/package.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/auto-install-before-task/package.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 037ac3ff61..0000000000
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/auto-install-before-task/package.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "auto-install-before-task",
-  "version": "1.0.0",
-  "private": true,
-  "scripts": {
-    "hello": "echo hello"
-  },
-  "packageManager": "pnpm@10.15.1"
-}
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/auto-install-before-task/snap.txt b/packages/cli/snap-tests/auto-install-before-task/snap.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index d815101758..0000000000
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/auto-install-before-task/snap.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-> vp run hello # first run - should show pnpm install output
-Already up to date
-
-Done in <variable>ms using pnpm v<semver>
-$ echo hello ⊘ cache disabled
-hello
-
-
-> vp run hello # second run - no pnpm install output (cache hit, silent)
-$ echo hello ⊘ cache disabled
-hello
-
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/auto-install-before-task/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/auto-install-before-task/steps.json
deleted file mode 100644
index ba74e89860..0000000000
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/auto-install-before-task/steps.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "ignoredPlatforms": [],
-  "commands": [
-    "vp run hello # first run - should show pnpm install output",
-    "vp run hello # second run - no pnpm install output (cache hit, silent)"
-  ]
-}
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/build-vite-env/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/build-vite-env/steps.json
index a66b46ef49..4ceca167c3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/build-vite-env/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/build-vite-env/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "VITE_MY_VAR=1 vp run build",
     "VITE_MY_VAR=1 vp run build # should hit cache",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/cache-clean/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/cache-clean/steps.json
index 16856b7848..de31515e84 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/cache-clean/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/cache-clean/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": [],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp run hello # create the cache for 'echo hello'",
     "vp run hello # hit the cache",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/cache-scripts-default/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/cache-scripts-default/steps.json
index ed7442141b..b02f102cd6 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/cache-scripts-default/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/cache-scripts-default/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp run hello 2>&1 | grep 'cache disabled' # cache should be disabled by default for package.json scripts",
     "vp run hello 2>&1 | grep 'cache disabled' # second run should also show cache disabled"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/cache-scripts-enabled/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/cache-scripts-enabled/steps.json
index 47e53d5d82..f6d27bf56c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/cache-scripts-enabled/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/cache-scripts-enabled/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp run hello # first run should be cache miss",
     "vp run hello # second run should be cache hit"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/change-passthrough-env-config/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/change-passthrough-env-config/steps.json
index 0c6a6121bc..8cca3f2d39 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/change-passthrough-env-config/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/change-passthrough-env-config/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": [],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "MY_ENV=1 vp run hello",
     "MY_ENV=2 vp run hello # MY_ENV is pass-through. should hit the cache created in step 1",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/check-oxlint-env/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/check-oxlint-env/steps.json
index bf36b56013..5f00079496 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/check-oxlint-env/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/check-oxlint-env/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "OXLINT_TSGOLINT_PATH=./invalid-path vp lint --type-aware # should error that ./invalid-path doesn't exist"
   ]
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-dev-with-port/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-dev-with-port/steps.json
index 18ace90e0d..c920c64a79 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-dev-with-port/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-dev-with-port/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp dev --port 12312312312 2>&1 | grep -E '(RangeError|No available ports)' # intentionally use an invalid port (exceeds 0-65535) to trigger port error"
   ]
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-doc/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-doc/steps.json
index 634264c5e5..4eeb29ac64 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-doc/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-doc/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32", "darwin", "linux"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp run doc # build documentation",
     "vp run doc # build documentation again should hit the cache"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-helper/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-helper/steps.json
index 6bffc046a8..a96e837228 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-helper/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-helper/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp -h # help message",
     "vp pack -h # pack help message",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-install-shortcut/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-install-shortcut/steps.json
index d65e9fc0bb..9706ac24b6 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-install-shortcut/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-install-shortcut/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vp run install # install shortcut", "vp run install # install shortcut hit cache"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-pack-monorepo/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-pack-monorepo/steps.json
index 0bbaba597d..1ec7bec7e0 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-pack-monorepo/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-pack-monorepo/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     {
       "command": "vp run hello#build # should build the library",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-pack/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-pack/steps.json
index 553c0484cf..4382434805 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-pack/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-pack/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp pack -h # should print the help message",
     "vp run pack # should build the library",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-preview/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-preview/steps.json
index 50831f4d0c..4607aee40a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-preview/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-preview/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp preview --port 12312312312 2>&1 | grep -E '(RangeError|No available ports)' # intentionally use an invalid port (exceeds 0-65535) to trigger port error"
   ]
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-vp-alias/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-vp-alias/steps.json
index bf362c8a16..cd17e010ae 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-vp-alias/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/command-vp-alias/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["linux"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vp -h # vp should show help same as vite", "vp run -h # vp run should show help"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/exit-code/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/exit-code/steps.json
index 0c764ed7a0..c78188069a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/exit-code/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/exit-code/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp run script1 # script1 run, create the cache and should be success",
     "vp run script1 # script1 should hit the updated cache",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/fingerprint-ignore-test/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/fingerprint-ignore-test/steps.json
index 0ca68d6bb3..e462d114ad 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/fingerprint-ignore-test/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/fingerprint-ignore-test/steps.json
@@ -1,19 +1,13 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["linux", "win32", "darwin"],
   "_comment": "TEMPORARILY disabled on darwin - fingerprintIgnores not yet supported in vite-task user config",
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp run create-files # first run",
     "vp run create-files # cache hit - no changes",
-
     "echo 'module.exports = {modified: true}' > node_modules/pkg-a/index.js",
     "vp run create-files # cache hit - index.js ignored",
-
     "echo 'modified output' > dist/bundle.js",
     "vp run create-files # cache hit - dist ignored",
-
     "echo '{\"name\":\"pkg-a\",\"version\":\"2.0.0\"}' > node_modules/pkg-a/package.json",
     "vp run create-files # cache miss - package.json NOT ignored"
   ]
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/fmt-check-ignore-temp-config/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/fmt-check-ignore-temp-config/steps.json
index 1ea9012c2e..1c1aeef893 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/fmt-check-ignore-temp-config/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/fmt-check-ignore-temp-config/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vp fmt --check # Test that vp fmt --check ignores the temp config file"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/fmt-ignore-patterns/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/fmt-ignore-patterns/steps.json
index 01850c1072..c93797d401 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/fmt-ignore-patterns/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/fmt-ignore-patterns/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp fmt src/ # Test that fmt ignorePatterns works - ignored files should not be formatted",
     "cat src/ignored/badly-formatted.js # Verify that ignored file still has bad formatting (was not formatted)"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/ignore_dist/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/ignore_dist/steps.json
index 27d8a329d3..dad0585fa9 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/ignore_dist/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/ignore_dist/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp run lint",
     "mkdir dist",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/lint-ignore-patterns/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/lint-ignore-patterns/steps.json
index b956fc36d6..3fd809e8ae 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/lint-ignore-patterns/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/lint-ignore-patterns/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp lint src/ # Test that lint ignorePatterns works - ignored files should not be linted"
   ]
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/lint-ignore-temp-config/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/lint-ignore-temp-config/steps.json
index fecf52890f..7ba1e94953 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/lint-ignore-temp-config/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/lint-ignore-temp-config/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vp lint # Test that vp lint ignores the temp config file"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/npm-install-with-options/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/npm-install-with-options/steps.json
index eb069dec32..e443ea4b23 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/npm-install-with-options/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/npm-install-with-options/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp install --help # print help message",
     "vp run install # https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v10/commands/npm-install",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/oxlint-typeaware/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/oxlint-typeaware/steps.json
index 855abc3092..9baac9a2a9 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/oxlint-typeaware/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/oxlint-typeaware/steps.json
@@ -1,13 +1,9 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": [""],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp run lint",
     "echo //comment >> types.ts",
     "vp run lint # non-type-aware linting doesn't read types.ts",
-
     "vp run lint-typeaware",
     "echo //comment >> types.ts",
     "vp run lint-typeaware # type-aware linting reads types.ts"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/pass-no-color-env/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/pass-no-color-env/steps.json
index 74aa3521d3..b13a1bc3ec 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/pass-no-color-env/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/pass-no-color-env/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp run check -- --foo # get NO_COLOR=true from default env",
     "NO_COLOR=false vp run check -- --bar # get NO_COLOR=false from custom env"
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/plain-terminal-ui-nested/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/plain-terminal-ui-nested/steps.json
index c830e38919..94dd489903 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/plain-terminal-ui-nested/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/plain-terminal-ui-nested/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 {
   "env": {
-    "VITE_PLUS_CLI_TEST": "0",
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
+    "VITE_PLUS_CLI_TEST": "0"
   },
   "commands": [
     "vp run hello",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/plain-terminal-ui/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/plain-terminal-ui/steps.json
index 915f5b6cb8..d0e30de703 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/plain-terminal-ui/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/plain-terminal-ui/steps.json
@@ -1,22 +1,17 @@
 {
   "env": {
-    "VITE_PLUS_CLI_TEST": "0",
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
+    "VITE_PLUS_CLI_TEST": "0"
   },
   "commands": [
     "FOO=1 vp run hello",
     "FOO=1 vp run hello # hit cache",
-
     "FOO=2 vp run hello # env changed",
     "FOO=2 BAR=1 vp run hello # env added",
     "vp run hello # env removed",
-
     "echo bar > input.txt",
     "vp run hello # input changed",
-
     "# set passThroughEnvs via env var",
     "VITE_TASK_PASS_THROUGH_ENVS=PTE vp run hello # passThroughEnvs changed",
-
     "# set cwd via env var (keep passThroughEnvs from previous step)",
     "VITE_TASK_PASS_THROUGH_ENVS=PTE VITE_TASK_CWD=subfolder vp run hello # cwd changed"
   ]
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/synthetic-build-cache-disabled/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/synthetic-build-cache-disabled/steps.json
index 8165a95834..ec31de1eab 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/synthetic-build-cache-disabled/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/synthetic-build-cache-disabled/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp run build # synthetic build (vp build) should have cache disabled without cacheScripts"
   ]
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/synthetic-dev-cache-disabled/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/synthetic-dev-cache-disabled/steps.json
index 0050ff8abd..0d9dff3231 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/synthetic-dev-cache-disabled/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/synthetic-dev-cache-disabled/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp run dev # synthetic dev (vp dev) should have cache disabled even with cacheScripts"
   ]
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/task-config-cwd/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/task-config-cwd/steps.json
index 7da22707fc..072ab57b0d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/task-config-cwd/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/task-config-cwd/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vp run hello"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/test-nested-tasks/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/test-nested-tasks/steps.json
index 7357cd4b12..66d481fc13 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/test-nested-tasks/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/test-nested-tasks/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vp run script1 # simple task", "vp run script2 # nested task should work"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/vite-config-task/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/vite-config-task/steps.json
index 2a2b77a748..9e656f383c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/vite-config-task/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/vite-config-task/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["# Test that task config is picked up from vite.config.ts", "vp run build"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/vite-task-path-env-include-pm/snap.txt b/packages/cli/snap-tests/vite-task-path-env-include-pm/snap.txt
index f201ae80c2..9128904048 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/vite-task-path-env-include-pm/snap.txt
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/vite-task-path-env-include-pm/snap.txt
@@ -12,14 +12,5 @@
 ➤ YN0000: · Done with warnings in <variable>ms <variable>ms
 
 > vp run check-yarn-version
-➤ YN0000: · Yarn <semver>
-➤ YN0000: ┌ Resolution step
-➤ YN0000: └ Completed
-➤ YN0000: ┌ Fetch step
-➤ YN0000: └ Completed
-➤ YN0000: ┌ Link step
-➤ YN0000: │ ESM support for PnP uses the experimental loader API and is therefore experimental
-➤ YN0000: └ Completed
-➤ YN0000: · Done with warnings in <variable>ms <variable>ms
 $ node main.js
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/vitest-browser-mode/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/vitest-browser-mode/steps.json
index cbedc0b30f..13d8513736 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/vitest-browser-mode/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/vitest-browser-mode/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32", "darwin", "linux"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "vp run test",
     "echo //comment >> src/foo.js",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/vp-run-expansion/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/vp-run-expansion/steps.json
index 9aa51c2fac..3c0b9f0723 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/vp-run-expansion/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/vp-run-expansion/steps.json
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
 {
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": ["vp run hello", "vp run hello # should hit cache"]
 }
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/workspace-root-vite-config/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/workspace-root-vite-config/steps.json
index c4da3d0153..de08940777 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/workspace-root-vite-config/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/workspace-root-vite-config/steps.json
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["win32"],
-  "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1"
-  },
   "commands": [
     "# Test that lint picks up workspace root config",
     "# vite lint",
diff --git a/packages/cli/snap-tests/yarn-install-with-options/steps.json b/packages/cli/snap-tests/yarn-install-with-options/steps.json
index b0f8b44e8e..fd6705461d 100644
--- a/packages/cli/snap-tests/yarn-install-with-options/steps.json
+++ b/packages/cli/snap-tests/yarn-install-with-options/steps.json
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 {
   "ignoredPlatforms": ["linux", "win32"],
   "env": {
-    "VITE_DISABLE_AUTO_INSTALL": "1",
     "NODE_OPTIONS": "--no-deprecation"
   },
   "commands": [
diff --git a/packages/tools/src/snap-test.ts b/packages/tools/src/snap-test.ts
index fb07763451..e581d0bbe2 100755
--- a/packages/tools/src/snap-test.ts
+++ b/packages/tools/src/snap-test.ts
@@ -126,15 +126,30 @@ export async function snapTest() {
   const casesDir = path.resolve(values.dir || 'snap-tests');
 
   const taskFunctions: (() => Promise<void>)[] = [];
+  const missingStepsJson: string[] = [];
   for (const caseName of fs.readdirSync(casesDir)) {
     if (caseName.startsWith('.')) {
       continue;
-    } // Skip hidden files like .DS_Store
+    }
+    const caseDir = path.join(casesDir, caseName);
+    if (!fs.statSync(caseDir).isDirectory()) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (!fs.existsSync(path.join(caseDir, 'steps.json'))) {
+      missingStepsJson.push(caseName);
+      continue;
+    }
     if (caseName.includes(filter)) {
       taskFunctions.push(() => runTestCase(caseName, tempTmpDir, casesDir, values['bin-dir']));
     }
   }
 
+  if (missingStepsJson.length > 0) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `${missingStepsJson.length} test case(s) missing steps.json: ${missingStepsJson.join(', ')}`,
+    );
+  }
+
   if (taskFunctions.length > 0) {
     const cpuCount = cpus().length;
     console.log(
diff --git a/rfcs/global-cli-rust-binary.md b/rfcs/global-cli-rust-binary.md
index 3b28fa80a5..ca52df683b 100644
--- a/rfcs/global-cli-rust-binary.md
+++ b/rfcs/global-cli-rust-binary.md
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ These commands delegate to the local `vite-plus` package through the JS entry po
 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
 | `dev`, `build`, `test`, `lint`, `fmt`, `run`, `preview`, `cache` | Rust CLI → Managed Node.js → `dist/index.js` → local CLI |
 
-**Note:** The global CLI uses `vite_js_runtime` to ensure Node.js is available, resolving the version from the project's `devEngines.runtime` configuration. The JS entry point handles detecting if vite-plus is installed locally, auto-installing if needed, and delegating to the local CLI's `dist/bin.js`.
+**Note:** The global CLI uses `vite_js_runtime` to ensure Node.js is available, resolving the version from the project's `devEngines.runtime` configuration. The JS entry point handles detecting if vite-plus is installed locally and delegating to the local CLI's `dist/bin.js`.
 
 #### Category D: Pure Rust Commands (No Node.js Required)
 
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ impl JsExecutor {
 - `vite_js_runtime` handles all `devEngines.runtime` logic internally (reading package.json, resolving versions, caching)
 - CLI commands use CLI's package.json directory (e.g., `packages/global/`)
 - Project delegation uses project's directory and passes commands through `dist/index.js`
-- The JS entry point handles local CLI detection, auto-installation, and delegation
+- The JS entry point handles local CLI detection and delegation
 
 ### Implementation Phases
 
@@ -1005,7 +1005,7 @@ pub enum Error {
 }
 ```
 
-**Note:** Local CLI detection errors are handled by the JS layer (`dist/index.js`), which provides better UX with auto-install prompts and user-friendly messages.
+**Note:** Local CLI detection errors are handled by the JS layer (`dist/index.js`), which provides user-friendly messages.
 
 ### Local Development
 
diff --git a/rfcs/run-without-vite-plus-dependency.md b/rfcs/run-without-vite-plus-dependency.md
index d7157fdb57..18554779ce 100644
--- a/rfcs/run-without-vite-plus-dependency.md
+++ b/rfcs/run-without-vite-plus-dependency.md
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ Check the nearest `package.json` from the current working directory for `vite-pl
 
 **Decision: Check `package.json` only, NOT `node_modules`**
 
-- If vite-plus is listed in `package.json` but not installed, the existing JS layer handles auto-installation
+- If vite-plus is listed in `package.json` but not installed, the user must run `install` manually
 - If vite-plus is NOT listed in `package.json`, we fall back to PM run
 - Checking `node_modules` would be fragile (hoisted deps, workspaces) and inconsistent with the intent