diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8744b913..485827a6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -89,11 +89,57 @@ You can still find the latest installers in the [24.9.2 release](https://github.
 
 ## Usage
 
-If Miniforge is on the system path (default on macOS and Linux), its versions of the
-[`conda`](https://conda.io/projects/conda/en/latest/user-guide/getting-started.html#managing-environments) and
-[`mamba`](https://mamba.readthedocs.io/en/latest/user_guide/mamba.html#mamba-user-guide) programs can be used
-at any command prompt. The most notable difference is that the default channel for packages will be conda-forge.
+Miniforge provides installers for the commands [`conda`](https://conda.io/) and
+[`mamba`](https://github.com/mamba-org/mamba).  Once the installer for your OS
+and architecture has been executed, you should be able to use these commands in
+a terminal.
 
+### conda/mamba usable in any terminals
+
+However, with the default choices of the Windows installer, these commands are
+only available in the "Anaconda Prompt". To be able to use these commands in
+other terminals, one needs to initialize conda for your shell by running in
+the Anaconda Prompt
+
+```sh
+conda init
+```
+
+Note that one can also just add the `C:\Users\myusername\miniforge3\condabin` folder
+to the path environment variable
+[manually](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/developer/sharepoint-2010/ee537574(v=office.14)#to-add-a-path-to-the-path-environment-variable)
+so `conda` and `mamba` may be used more conveniently from any command prompt with limited
+chance of software conflicts.
+
+The same situation arises on Unix if you use the non-interactive install.
+Initialization can be done by calling conda with its full path, with something like
+
+```sh
+~/miniforge3/bin/conda init
+```
+
+### Automatic activation of environments
+
+By default, once conda has been initialized for your shell, the `base` environment is
+activated so that the command `python` corresponds to the base Python provided by
+Miniforge and `conda install` installs packages in the `base` environment. This can
+be convenient for but it is cleaner to deactivate this automatic activation with
+
+```sh
+conda config --set auto_activate_base false
+```
+
+and use `conda` or `mamba` to create and activate other environments, with for example
+(to create an environment called `main`)
+
+```sh
+conda create --name main jupyterlab numpy pandas
+conda activate main
+```
+
+Finally, it is also possible to add to your shell configuration file
+(typically `~/.bashrc` or `~/.zshrc` on Unix;
+on Windows, edit with `notepad $PROFILE`) the activation command.
 
 ## Requirements and installers
 
@@ -119,21 +165,8 @@ The versions listed as "System: 32-bit" are not compatible with the installers o
 
 `(***)` Apple silicon builds are experimental and haven't had testing like the other platforms.
 
-
 ## Install
 
-On all platforms, the installation should be finalized with commands like
-
-```sh
-conda init --all
-```
-
-(see `conda init -h`) and potentially also
-
-```sh
-conda config --set auto_activate_base false
-```
-
 ### Windows
 
 Download and execute [the Windows installer](https://github.com/conda-forge/miniforge/releases/latest/download/Miniforge3-Windows-x86_64.exe).
@@ -143,11 +176,6 @@ not selected by default due to potential conflicts with other software. Without
 path, the most convenient way to use the installed software (such as commands `conda` and `mamba`)
 will be via the "Miniforge Prompt" installed to the start menu.
 
-If desired, the
-`C:\Users\myusername\miniforge3\condabin` folder may be added to the path environment variable
-[manually](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/developer/sharepoint-2010/ee537574(v=office.14)#to-add-a-path-to-the-path-environment-variable)
-after installation so the software may be used more conveniently from any command prompt with limited chance of software conflicts.
-
 There are known issues with the usage of special characters and spaces in
 the installation location, see for example
 https://github.com/conda-forge/miniforge/issues/484.
@@ -179,19 +207,19 @@ Run the script with:
 bash Miniforge3-$(uname)-$(uname -m).sh
 ```
 
-or for non-interactive install (call with `-h` to list the extra options):
+The interactive installation will prompt you to initialize conda with your shell.
+This is typically with recommended workflow.
+
+For non-interactive install (for example on a CI), the following command can be used
+(call with `-h` to list the extra options):
 
 ```sh
 bash Miniforge3-$(uname)-$(uname -m).sh -b
 ```
 
-### macOS with Homebrew
-
-On macOS, you can install miniforge with [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/) by running
+In non-interactive installations, the conda initialization commands will not be run by default.
 
-```sh
-brew install miniforge
-```
+Note that on macOS, Miniforge can also be installed with [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/).
 
 ### As part of a CI pipeline
 
@@ -218,7 +246,7 @@ mode with the `-b` flash:
 bash Miniforge3.sh -b -p "${HOME}/conda"
 ```
 
-`-p` is prefix option. A directory wil be created on `"${HOME}/conda"`.
+`-p` is prefix option. A directory will be created on `"${HOME}/conda"`.
 
 Then you should create the path to conda and activate conda.
 Run this command: