diff --git a/datastore/README.md b/datastore/README.md
index a43ad13237d..1fe931bb00a 100644
--- a/datastore/README.md
+++ b/datastore/README.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ This directory contains sample code used in Google Cloud Datastore documentation
 
 1. Ensure that you have:
   * Created a Google Developers Console project with the Datastore API enabled. Follow [these instructions](https://cloud.google.com/docs/authentication#preparation) to get your project set up. 
-  * Installed the Google Cloud SDK and run the following commands in command line: `gcloud auth login` and `gcloud config set project [YOUR PROJECT ID]`.
+  * Installed the Google Cloud SDK and run the following commands in command line: `gcloud auth application-default login` and `gcloud config set project [YOUR PROJECT ID]`.
   * Installed [Maven](https://maven.apache.org/) and Java 7 (or above).
 
 2. Compile the program by typing `mvn clean compile` in command line.
diff --git a/datastore/src/main/java/com/google/datastore/snippets/TaskList.java b/datastore/src/main/java/com/google/datastore/snippets/TaskList.java
index 495864f2364..1482e0784ba 100644
--- a/datastore/src/main/java/com/google/datastore/snippets/TaskList.java
+++ b/datastore/src/main/java/com/google/datastore/snippets/TaskList.java
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ private void assertArgsLength(String[] args, int expectedLength) {
    * Exercises the methods defined in this class.
    *
    * <p>Assumes that you are authenticated using the Google Cloud SDK (using
-   * {@code gcloud auth login}).
+   * {@code gcloud auth application-default login}).
    */
   public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
     TaskList taskList = new TaskList();
diff --git a/flexible/async-rest/README.md b/flexible/async-rest/README.md
index 3e7c6e1c19a..d88caad417e 100644
--- a/flexible/async-rest/README.md
+++ b/flexible/async-rest/README.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ First, complete the following steps:
 - Obtain an app key for the Google Places WebService API.
 - Download and install [the Beta build of the Google Cloud SDK](https://developers.google.com/cloud/sdk/#Quick_Start).
 - Install the Cloud SDK `app-engine-java` component.
-- Authenticate wth the gcloud SDK: gcloud auth login.
+- Authenticate wth the gcloud SDK: gcloud auth application-default login.
 - Install [Maven](http://maven.apache.org/download.cgi) if you haven't already.
 
 
diff --git a/flexible/sparkjava/README.md b/flexible/sparkjava/README.md
index 49a4eb7ee41..92c63df65cd 100644
--- a/flexible/sparkjava/README.md
+++ b/flexible/sparkjava/README.md
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Setup
 
 2. Set up the local development environment by [installing the Google Cloud
    SDK](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/) and running the following commands in
-   command line: `gcloud auth login` and `gcloud config set project [YOUR
+   command line: `gcloud auth application-default login` and `gcloud config set project [YOUR
    PROJECT ID]`.
 
 3. Ensure that you have Maven installed and configured to use Java 8. See
diff --git a/storage/json-api/README.md b/storage/json-api/README.md
index a7ead2b75f1..28255e23ceb 100644
--- a/storage/json-api/README.md
+++ b/storage/json-api/README.md
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Google Cloud Storage Service features a REST-based API that allows developers to
 Note that if it's been a while, you may need to login with gcloud.
 
    ```
-   gcloud auth login
+   gcloud auth application-default login
    ```
 
 ## Products