diff --git a/docs/commands/init.md b/docs/commands/init.md
index 9aa21e7e4fe..d62fb933fe4 100644
--- a/docs/commands/init.md
+++ b/docs/commands/init.md
@@ -8,7 +8,18 @@ description: Initialize a new project locally
 # `init`
 
 <!-- AUTO-GENERATED-CONTENT:START (GENERATE_COMMANDS_DOCS) -->
-Configure continuous deployment for a new or existing project. To create a new project without continuous deployment, use `netlify sites:create`
+Initialize a Netlify project in the current directory
+
+Links this directory to a new or existing Netlify project and saves the project ID locally.
+`netlify init` can be used with or without Git/continuous deployment.
+
+The init command can:
+- Create a new Netlify project, or link to an existing one
+- Add `.netlify/` to `.gitignore`
+- Create or update `netlify.toml` with detected build settings (optional)
+- Connect a Git repository for continuous deployment (optional)
+
+If no Git remote is detected, you can still create a project and deploy manually with `netlify deploy`.
 
 **Usage**
 
@@ -25,5 +36,14 @@ netlify init
 - `debug` (*boolean*) - Print debugging information
 - `auth` (*string*) - Netlify auth token - can be used to run this command without logging in
 
+**Examples**
+
+```bash
+netlify init
+netlify init --manual
+netlify init --force
+netlify init --git-remote-name upstream
+```
+
 
 <!-- AUTO-GENERATED-CONTENT:END -->
diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index ee86844d08a..23d43aa463b 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ Manage netlify functions
 
 ### [init](/commands/init)
 
-Configure continuous deployment for a new or existing project. To create a new project without continuous deployment, use `netlify sites:create`
+Initialize a Netlify project in the current directory
 
 ### [link](/commands/link)
 
diff --git a/src/commands/init/index.ts b/src/commands/init/index.ts
index ff9552ac350..40b2ebbdf4a 100644
--- a/src/commands/init/index.ts
+++ b/src/commands/init/index.ts
@@ -7,10 +7,27 @@ export const createInitCommand = (program: BaseCommand) =>
   program
     .command('init')
     .description(
-      'Configure continuous deployment for a new or existing project. To create a new project without continuous deployment, use `netlify sites:create`',
+      `Initialize a Netlify project in the current directory
+
+Links this directory to a new or existing Netlify project and saves the project ID locally.
+\`netlify init\` can be used with or without Git/continuous deployment.
+
+The init command can:
+- Create a new Netlify project, or link to an existing one
+- Add \`.netlify/\` to \`.gitignore\`
+- Create or update \`netlify.toml\` with detected build settings (optional)
+- Connect a Git repository for continuous deployment (optional)
+
+If no Git remote is detected, you can still create a project and deploy manually with \`netlify deploy\`.`,
     )
     .option('-m, --manual', 'Manually configure a git remote for CI')
     .option('--git-remote-name <name>', 'Name of Git remote to use. e.g. "origin"')
+    .addExamples([
+      'netlify init',
+      'netlify init --manual',
+      'netlify init --force',
+      'netlify init --git-remote-name upstream',
+    ])
     .addHelpText('after', () => {
       const docsUrl = 'https://docs.netlify.com/cli/get-started/'
       return `