diff --git a/docs/DEMO_GIF.md b/docs/DEMO_GIF.md
index dbff5d7..4ad4476 100644
--- a/docs/DEMO_GIF.md
+++ b/docs/DEMO_GIF.md
@@ -45,14 +45,14 @@ loads quickly on GitHub and PyPI.
 
 The scripted flow should stay focused on the first-time user path:
 
-1. Initialize a clean workspace.
-2. Show topic progress with `pythonlings list`.
-3. Show a hint and official docs link with `pythonlings hint variables1`.
-4. Open the Pythonlings TUI.
-5. Show the first pending exercise in the coding screen.
-6. Open and close the local docs window with `F5` and `Esc`.
-7. Open the topic picker with `F4`.
-8. Quit with `Ctrl+Q`.
+1. Run `pythonlings` with no setup — it creates `~/.pythonlings` and opens the
+   first pending exercise (zero-config first run).
+2. Show the first pending exercise in the coding screen.
+3. Open and close the local docs window with `F5` and `Esc`.
+4. Open the topic picker with `F4`.
+5. Quit with `Ctrl+Q`.
+6. Show topic progress with `pythonlings list`.
+7. Show a hint and official docs link with `pythonlings hint variables1`.
 
 ## Fallback Workflow
 
diff --git a/docs/assets/demos/pythonlings-demo.gif b/docs/assets/demos/pythonlings-demo.gif
index 97873d4..f7d345d 100644
Binary files a/docs/assets/demos/pythonlings-demo.gif and b/docs/assets/demos/pythonlings-demo.gif differ
diff --git a/docs/demo.tape b/docs/demo.tape
index 7ddb0bb..d809f80 100644
--- a/docs/demo.tape
+++ b/docs/demo.tape
@@ -8,36 +8,41 @@ Set Padding 16
 Set Framerate 16
 Set TypingSpeed 35ms
 
-Type "pythonlings init --path /tmp/pythonlings-demo"
+# Hidden setup: a throwaway HOME so `pythonlings` creates a fresh ~/.pythonlings
+# without touching the real one, from a non-workspace directory so zero-config
+# resolution kicks in. None of this is recorded.
+Hide
+Type 'export HOME=/tmp/pythonlings-demo && rm -rf "$HOME" && mkdir -p "$HOME" && cd "$HOME" && clear'
 Enter
-Sleep 1s
-
-Type "cd /tmp/pythonlings-demo"
-Enter
-Sleep 300ms
-
-Type "pythonlings list"
-Enter
-Sleep 1.5s
-
-Type "pythonlings hint variables1"
-Enter
-Sleep 1.5s
+Sleep 500ms
+Show
 
+# Zero-config: one command creates the workspace and opens the first exercise.
 Type "pythonlings"
 Enter
-Sleep 2s
+Sleep 3s
 
+# Coding screen -> local Python reference (F5), then close it (Esc)
 Escape
 Type@0ms "[15~"
 Sleep 2s
-
 Escape
 Sleep 700ms
 
+# Topic picker (F4)
 Escape
 Type@0ms "OS"
 Sleep 1.5s
 
+# Quit back to the shell
 Ctrl+Q
-Sleep 500ms
+Sleep 800ms
+
+# There's a CLI too: progress and hints
+Type "pythonlings list"
+Enter
+Sleep 1.5s
+
+Type "pythonlings hint variables1"
+Enter
+Sleep 1.8s