diff --git a/lamin_cli/__main__.py b/lamin_cli/__main__.py
index 6eed01e..2cd4c3f 100644
--- a/lamin_cli/__main__.py
+++ b/lamin_cli/__main__.py
@@ -181,20 +181,19 @@ def init(
 @click.argument("instance", type=str)
 # fmt: on
 def connect(instance: str):
-    """Connect to an instance.
+    """Configure an instance for auto-connect.
 
     Pass a slug (`account/name`) or URL (`https://lamin.ai/account/name`).
 
-    `lamin connect` switches
-    {attr}`~lamindb.setup.core.SetupSettings.auto_connect` to `True` so that you
-    auto-connect in a Python session upon importing `lamindb`.
+    `lamin connect` configures a current instance in your local user environment
+    to which you auto-connect in subsequent CLI operations, Python, or R sessions.
 
-    For manually connecting in a Python session, use {func}`~lamindb.connect`.
+    Alternatively, you can connect to a Python session via {func}`~lamindb.connect`
+    without changing the current instance.
     """
     from lamindb_setup import connect as connect_
     from lamindb_setup import settings as settings_
 
-    settings_.auto_connect = True
     return connect_(instance, _reload_lamindb=False, _write_settings=True)
 
 
@@ -269,7 +268,6 @@ def load(entity: str, uid: str | None = None, key: str | None = None, with_env:
         # click.echo(
         #     f"! please use: lamin connect {entity}"
         # )
-        settings_.auto_connect = True
         return connect(entity, _reload_lamindb=False, _write_settings=True)
     else:
         from lamin_cli._load import load as load_
diff --git a/lamin_cli/_save.py b/lamin_cli/_save.py
index d6c5482..b93c4ba 100644
--- a/lamin_cli/_save.py
+++ b/lamin_cli/_save.py
@@ -56,21 +56,9 @@ def save_from_path_cli(
     branch: str | None,
     registry: str | None,
 ) -> str | None:
-    import lamindb_setup as ln_setup
-    from lamindb_setup.core.upath import LocalPathClasses, UPath, create_path
-
-    # this will be gone once we get rid of lamin load or enable loading multiple
-    # instances sequentially
-    auto_connect_state = ln_setup.settings.auto_connect
-    ln_setup.settings.auto_connect = True
-
     import lamindb as ln
-
-    if not ln.setup.core.django.IS_SETUP:
-        sys.exit(-1)
     from lamindb._finish import save_context_core
-
-    ln_setup.settings.auto_connect = auto_connect_state
+    from lamindb_setup.core.upath import LocalPathClasses, UPath, create_path
 
     # this allows to have the correct treatment of credentials in case of cloud paths
     path = create_path(path)
@@ -144,13 +132,13 @@ def save_from_path_cli(
         artifact.save()
         logger.important(f"saved: {artifact}")
         logger.important(f"storage path: {artifact.path}")
-        if ln_setup.settings.storage.type == "s3":
+        if ln.setup.settings.storage.type == "s3":
             logger.important(f"storage url: {artifact.path.to_url()}")
         if project is not None:
             artifact.projects.add(project_record)
             logger.important(f"labeled with project: {project_record.name}")
-        if ln_setup.settings.instance.is_remote:
-            slug = ln_setup.settings.instance.slug
+        if ln.setup.settings.instance.is_remote:
+            slug = ln.setup.settings.instance.slug
             logger.important(f"go to: https://lamin.ai/{slug}/artifact/{artifact.uid}")
         return None
 
@@ -239,7 +227,7 @@ def save_from_path_cli(
             logger.important(f"labeled with project: {project_record.name}")
         # latest run of this transform by user
         run = ln.Run.filter(transform=transform).order_by("-started_at").first()
-        if run is not None and run.created_by.id != ln_setup.settings.user.id:
+        if run is not None and run.created_by.id != ln.setup.settings.user.id:
             response = input(
                 "You are trying to save a transform created by another user: Source"
                 " and report files will be tagged with *your* user id. Proceed?"
diff --git a/tests/core/conftest.py b/tests/core/conftest.py
index 8e7fd60..b7c4bee 100644
--- a/tests/core/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/core/conftest.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ def pytest_sessionstart(session: pytest.Session):
         storage="./default_storage_cli",
         name="lamin-cli-unit-tests",
     )
-    ln.setup.settings.auto_connect = True
 
 
 def pytest_sessionfinish(session: pytest.Session):