diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 23b366c..7217d7d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ pip install -r requirements.txt
 python app.py fantasyidler_save.json
 ```
 
-The browser opens automatically at `http://127.0.0.1:5000/v/local/`.
+The browser opens automatically at your personal viewer URL (e.g. `http://127.0.0.1:5000/v/<id>/`). The id is stored in `data/cli-viewer-id` and reused on the next start.
 
 ### Docker (host for other players)
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ Each viewer has its own SQLite database at `data/viewers/<viewer_id>.db`.
 
 The `viewer_id` is a random URL-safe token. Anyone with the link has access — there is no password and no recovery if the link is lost.
 
-Local CLI usage defaults to the `local` viewer (`/v/local/`). In Docker/production, `/v/local/` is disabled (`DISABLE_LOCAL_VIEWER=1`).
+Local CLI usage creates a persistent personal viewer (`data/cli-viewer-id`). Use `--viewer local` for the shared dev viewer at `/v/local/`. In Docker/production, `/v/local/` is disabled (`DISABLE_LOCAL_VIEWER=1`).
 
 ## Security
 
diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 1b2ccce..ed561af 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ from viewers import (
     LOCAL_VIEWER_ID,
     create_viewer,
     ensure_local_viewer,
+    get_or_create_cli_viewer,
     is_valid_viewer_id,
     viewer_db_path,
 )
@@ -193,7 +194,11 @@ def main() -> int:
     parser.add_argument("--host", default="127.0.0.1", help="Bind host (use 0.0.0.0 in Docker)")
     parser.add_argument("--no-browser", action="store_true")
     parser.add_argument("--db", type=Path, help="SQLite path (legacy single-file mode)")
-    parser.add_argument("--viewer", default=LOCAL_VIEWER_ID, help="Viewer id for CLI (default: local)")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--viewer",
+        metavar="ID",
+        help="Viewer id for CLI (default: persistent personal viewer; use 'local' for shared dev viewer)",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     global DATA_DIR, DB_PATH
@@ -204,7 +209,12 @@ def main() -> int:
         db_path = DB_PATH
         viewer_id = None
     else:
-        viewer_id = ensure_local_viewer(DATA_DIR) if args.viewer == LOCAL_VIEWER_ID else args.viewer
+        if args.viewer == LOCAL_VIEWER_ID:
+            viewer_id = ensure_local_viewer(DATA_DIR)
+        elif args.viewer:
+            viewer_id = args.viewer
+        else:
+            viewer_id = get_or_create_cli_viewer(DATA_DIR)
         if not is_valid_viewer_id(viewer_id):
             print(f"Error: invalid viewer id: {viewer_id}", file=sys.stderr)
             return 1
@@ -250,6 +260,8 @@ def main() -> int:
     else:
         url = f"http://{args.host}:{args.port}/"
     print(f"Starting server at {url}")
+    if viewer_id and viewer_id != LOCAL_VIEWER_ID:
+        print(f"Personal viewer URL: {url}")
     if not args.no_browser and args.host in ("127.0.0.1", "localhost"):
         webbrowser.open(url)
     app.run(host=args.host, port=args.port, debug=False)
diff --git a/viewers.py b/viewers.py
index a3bee84..eaafe2a 100644
--- a/viewers.py
+++ b/viewers.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def create_viewer(data_dir: Path) -> str:
 
 
 def ensure_local_viewer(data_dir: Path) -> str:
-    """CLI default viewer – not secret, for local single-user use."""
+    """Shared dev viewer – predictable path, not secret."""
     db_path = viewer_db_path(LOCAL_VIEWER_ID, data_dir)
     if db_path.exists():
         return LOCAL_VIEWER_ID
@@ -61,3 +61,21 @@ def ensure_local_viewer(data_dir: Path) -> str:
     init_db(conn)
     conn.close()
     return LOCAL_VIEWER_ID
+
+
+def cli_viewer_marker(data_dir: Path) -> Path:
+    return data_dir / "cli-viewer-id"
+
+
+def get_or_create_cli_viewer(data_dir: Path) -> str:
+    """Persistent personal viewer for local CLI starts."""
+    data_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    marker = cli_viewer_marker(data_dir)
+    if marker.exists():
+        viewer_id = marker.read_text(encoding="utf-8").strip()
+        if is_valid_viewer_id(viewer_id) and viewer_exists(viewer_id, data_dir):
+            return viewer_id
+
+    viewer_id = create_viewer(data_dir)
+    marker.write_text(viewer_id, encoding="utf-8")
+    return viewer_id