diff --git a/api/README.md b/api/README.md
index 5c281246..05664321 100644
--- a/api/README.md
+++ b/api/README.md
@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@ as long as you:
 
 ## running your own instance
 if you want to run your own instance for whatever purpose, [follow this guide](/docs/run-an-instance.md).
-it's *highly* recommended to use a docker compose method unless you run for developing/debugging purposes.
+we recommend to use docker compose unless you intend to run cobalt for developing/debugging purposes.
 
 ## accessing the api
-currently, there is no publicly accessible main api. we plan on providing a public api for
-cobalt 10 in some form in the future. we recommend deploying your own instance if you wish
-to use the latest api. you can access [the documentation](/docs/api.md) for it here.
+there is currently no publicly available pre-hosted api.
+we recommend [deploying your own instance](/docs/run-an-instance.md) if you wish to use the cobalt api.
 
-if you are looking for the documentation for the old (7.x) api, you can find
-it [here](https://github.com/imputnet/cobalt/blob/7/docs/api.md)
\ No newline at end of file
+you can read [the api documentation here](/docs/api.md).
+
+> [!WARNING]
+> the v7 public api (/api/json) will be shut down on **november 11th, 2024**.
+> you can access documentation for it [here](https://github.com/imputnet/cobalt/blob/7/docs/api.md).