diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index d9e1267..864f0e4 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ NUXT_ADMIN_USERNAME=admin
 # Default from nuxt.config.ts: 123
 NUXT_ADMIN_PASSWORD=123
 
+# Optional static bearer token for software admin authentication.
+# Leave empty to disable this auth path. Only one exact token is accepted.
+NUXT_ADMIN_TOKEN=
+
 # Private internal port for the embedded Drizzle Studio worker.
 # Default from nuxt.config.ts: 64983
 NUXT_DRIZZLE_STUDIO_INTERNAL_PORT=64983
diff --git a/docs/api.md b/docs/api.md
index d8da5c8..b82d9fe 100755
--- a/docs/api.md
+++ b/docs/api.md
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ REST API endpoints documentation.
 
 Login as administrator.
 
+This endpoint is for browser-style admin login with username and password. It sets the session cookie used by the admin UI.
+
 **Request:**
 
 ```json
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@ Login as administrator.
 ```
 
 **Response:**
-Sets `admin_token` HTTP-only cookie and returns JWT token.
+Sets `admin_token` HTTP-only cookie and returns success.
 
 ### POST `/api/auth/logout`
 
@@ -41,17 +43,30 @@ Verify authentication token (admin only).
 - Cookie: `admin_token` (set automatically by login)
 - Or `Authorization: Bearer <token>`
 
+`Authorization: Bearer <token>` accepts two admin auth modes:
+
+- A valid admin JWT only when a client already has that token. `POST /api/auth/login` does not return the JWT in the response body; it sets the `admin_token` HTTP-only cookie for browser admin sessions.
+- The exact static token configured in `NUXT_ADMIN_TOKEN` for software-to-software admin access. External API clients should use this static token path.
+
 **Response:**
 
 ```json
 {
   "valid": true,
   "user": {
-    /* decoded JWT payload */
+    /* decoded JWT payload or static-token admin payload */
   }
 }
 ```
 
+**Static token example:**
+
+```bash
+curl \
+  -H "Authorization: Bearer $NUXT_ADMIN_TOKEN" \
+  http://localhost:3000/api/auth/verify
+```
+
 ## Database Admin
 
 ### GET `/api/admin/drizzle-studio/app`
diff --git a/docs/deployment-docker.md b/docs/deployment-docker.md
index 7b53780..b98d81a 100644
--- a/docs/deployment-docker.md
+++ b/docs/deployment-docker.md
@@ -48,9 +48,12 @@ Set a strong admin password as well:
 # In .env:
 NUXT_ADMIN_USERNAME=admin
 NUXT_ADMIN_PASSWORD=<your-strong-password>
+NUXT_ADMIN_TOKEN=<optional-static-admin-token>
 NUXT_JWT_SECRET=<paste-output-from-openssl>
 ```
 
+Set `NUXT_ADMIN_TOKEN` only if external software needs direct admin API access with `Authorization: Bearer <token>`. Leave it empty to disable that path. Only one exact token is accepted.
+
 Optional override for the embedded Drizzle Studio worker port:
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/docs/setup-production.md b/docs/setup-production.md
index 3ce365d..9b896b3 100755
--- a/docs/setup-production.md
+++ b/docs/setup-production.md
@@ -55,9 +55,12 @@ Set production values for:
 
 - `NUXT_ADMIN_USERNAME`
 - `NUXT_ADMIN_PASSWORD`
+- `NUXT_ADMIN_TOKEN` when external software needs direct admin bearer-token access
 - `NUXT_JWT_SECRET`
 - `NUXT_DRIZZLE_STUDIO_INTERNAL_PORT` when you need a non-default private Studio worker port
 
+Leave `NUXT_ADMIN_TOKEN` empty if you do not want static admin-token authentication. If you set it, keep it secret and rotate it by updating the environment and redeploying.
+
 ## Data Persistence
 
 - Quiz data is stored in SQLite at `.data/db/stage-flow-tools.sqlite3`.
diff --git a/nuxt.config.ts b/nuxt.config.ts
index cca2b92..f5451cf 100644
--- a/nuxt.config.ts
+++ b/nuxt.config.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ const configBase: InputConfig<NuxtConfig, ConfigLayerMeta> = {
   runtimeConfig: {
     // Private keys (only available server-side)
     adminPassword: '123',
+    adminToken: '',
     adminUsername: 'admin',
     drizzleStudioInternalPort: '64983',
     jwtSecret: 'tryUJ0zQbstPbTOrezme+Fv+KndzDNRx5lmSeelr2ial2/2yV8HqLeQ2felJafqf',
diff --git a/server/utils/auth.ts b/server/utils/auth.ts
index 9679744..54af9e0 100644
--- a/server/utils/auth.ts
+++ b/server/utils/auth.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 import { jwtVerify } from 'jose'
 import type { H3Event } from 'h3'
 
+type VerifiedAdminPayload = {
+  authMethod?: 'static-token'
+  isAdmin: true
+  username: string
+}
+
 /** Sets the admin_token cookie with protocol-aware security attributes. */
 export function setAdminCookie(event: H3Event, value: string, maxAge: number) {
   const isSecure = getRequestProtocol(event) === 'https'
@@ -14,12 +20,24 @@ export function setAdminCookie(event: H3Event, value: string, maxAge: number) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Extracts the JWT from cookies or headers.
+ * Extracts the admin auth token from cookies or headers.
  * @param event The H3 event object.
  * @returns The token string or undefined.
  */
 export function getToken(event: H3Event): string | undefined {
-  return getCookie(event, 'admin_token') || getHeader(event, 'authorization')?.replace('Bearer ', '')
+  return getHeader(event, 'authorization')?.replace('Bearer ', '') || getCookie(event, 'admin_token')
+}
+
+function getStaticAdminPayload(token: string, configuredToken: string): VerifiedAdminPayload | null {
+  if (!configuredToken || token !== configuredToken) {
+    return null
+  }
+
+  return {
+    authMethod: 'static-token',
+    isAdmin: true,
+    username: 'admin-token',
+  }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -38,6 +56,12 @@ export async function verifyAdmin(event: H3Event) {
     })
   }
 
+  const staticAdminPayload = getStaticAdminPayload(token, config.adminToken)
+
+  if (staticAdminPayload) {
+    return staticAdminPayload
+  }
+
   try {
     const secret = new TextEncoder().encode(config.jwtSecret)
     const { payload } = await jwtVerify(token, secret, { algorithms: [