diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 524c0ccad053..a31d9786dbe9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ This is very early stuff and exists primarily to get the crypto in place.
 Getting Started with Development
 ================================
 
+These steps are for **development only**.
+
 * Clone the repo
 * Open Chrome
 * Go to chrome://extensions/
@@ -14,6 +16,16 @@ Getting Started with Development
 * Click "Load unpacked extension..."
 * Point to the repo's directory
 
+Note that for development, the TextSecure staging environment uses a self-signed certificate, which Chrome will complain is insecure. So first visit <https://textsecure-service-staging.whispersystems.org/> in your browser and allow the certificate.
+
+Now, in the extension's options, you can register for TextSecure:
+
+* Select "Register" under "I'm new to TextSecure".
+* Enter a real phone number (Google Voice numbers work too) and country combination and choose to send an SMS. You will receive a real SMS.
+* Enter the verification code you received by SMS.
+
+You should now be able to use the extension. If you need to reset your development environment, open a browser console within the extension options page (or inspect `background.html`) and execute `localStorage.clear()` to clear out the settings.
+
 Tests
 =====
 Please write tests! Our testing framework is mocha and our assertion library is