diff --git a/vite.config.mts b/vite.config.mts
index a52e4c81c..12ad46362 100644
--- a/vite.config.mts
+++ b/vite.config.mts
@@ -17,10 +17,21 @@ const SHOULD_MINIFY = process.env.ENABLE_MINIFY === 'true'
 // vite dev server will listen on all addresses, including LAN and public addresses
 const VITE_REMOTE_DEV = process.env.VITE_REMOTE_DEV === 'true'
 const DISABLE_TEMPLATES_PROXY = process.env.DISABLE_TEMPLATES_PROXY === 'true'
-const DISABLE_VUE_PLUGINS = process.env.DISABLE_VUE_PLUGINS === 'true'
+const DISABLE_VUE_PLUGINS = false // Always enable Vue DevTools for development
 
-const DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL =
-  process.env.DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL || 'http://127.0.0.1:8188'
+// Hardcoded to staging cloud for testing frontend changes against cloud backend
+const DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL = 'https://stagingcloud.comfy.org'
+// To use local backend, change to: 'http://127.0.0.1:8188'
+
+// Optional: Add API key to .env as STAGING_API_KEY if needed for authentication
+const addAuthHeaders = (proxy: any) => {
+  proxy.on('proxyReq', (proxyReq: any, _req: any, _res: any) => {
+    const apiKey = process.env.STAGING_API_KEY
+    if (apiKey) {
+      proxyReq.setHeader('X-API-KEY', apiKey)
+    }
+  })
+}
 
 export default defineConfig({
   base: '',
@@ -28,16 +39,31 @@ export default defineConfig({
     host: VITE_REMOTE_DEV ? '0.0.0.0' : undefined,
     proxy: {
       '/internal': {
-        target: DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL
+        target: DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL,
+        changeOrigin: true,
+        secure: false,
+        configure: addAuthHeaders
       },
 
       '/api': {
         target: DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL,
+        changeOrigin: true,
+        secure: false,
+        configure: (proxy, _options) => {
+          addAuthHeaders(proxy)
+        },
         // Return empty array for extensions API as these modules
         // are not on vite's dev server.
         bypass: (req, res, _options) => {
           if (req.url === '/api/extensions') {
             res.end(JSON.stringify([]))
+            return false // Return false to indicate request is handled
+          }
+          // Bypass multi-user auth check from staging
+          if (req.url === '/api/users') {
+            res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json')
+            res.end(JSON.stringify({})) // Return empty object to simulate single-user mode
+            return false // Return false to indicate request is handled
           }
           return null
         }
@@ -45,29 +71,39 @@ export default defineConfig({
 
       '/ws': {
         target: DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL,
-        ws: true
+        ws: true,
+        changeOrigin: true,
+        secure: false,
+        configure: addAuthHeaders
       },
 
       '/workflow_templates': {
-        target: DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL
+        target: DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL,
+        changeOrigin: true,
+        secure: false,
+        configure: addAuthHeaders
       },
 
       // Proxy extension assets (images/videos) under /extensions to the ComfyUI backend
       '/extensions': {
         target: DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL,
-        changeOrigin: true
+        changeOrigin: true,
+        secure: false
       },
 
       // Proxy docs markdown from backend
       '/docs': {
         target: DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL,
-        changeOrigin: true
+        changeOrigin: true,
+        secure: false
       },
 
       ...(!DISABLE_TEMPLATES_PROXY
         ? {
             '/templates': {
-              target: DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL
+              target: DEV_SERVER_COMFYUI_URL,
+              changeOrigin: true,
+              secure: false
             }
           }
         : {}),