diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4f214614..6990b887 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -62,7 +62,10 @@ See the [VSS API contract] for details.
 
 ### Implementation
 
-Currently, VSS-server has a Java-based implementation and is ready to use. Support for a Rust-based VSS-server is a work
+> [!CAUTION]
+> The Java-based implementation of VSS-server is now **deprecated**; please use the Rust-based VSS-server implementation instead.
+
+Currently, VSS-server has a deprecated Java-based implementation. Support for a Rust-based VSS-server is a work
 in progress.
 [VSS-rust-client] is a Rust-based client with support for client-side encryption, key obfuscation, retry mechanisms, and
 LNURL-auth.
diff --git a/java/INSTALL.md b/java/INSTALL.md
index dbe8da71..9fba4723 100644
--- a/java/INSTALL.md
+++ b/java/INSTALL.md
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+> [!CAUTION]
+> The Java-based implementation of VSS-server is now **deprecated**; please use the Rust-based VSS-server implementation instead.
+
 #  Installation guide without docker
 
 ## Ubuntu
diff --git a/java/README.md b/java/README.md
index 48342936..a8a9559f 100644
--- a/java/README.md
+++ b/java/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+> [!CAUTION]
+> The Java-based implementation of VSS-server is now **deprecated**; please use the Rust-based VSS-server implementation instead.
+
 # Versioned Storage Service (Java)
 
 This directory hosts the Java-based implementation of the Versioned Storage Service (VSS).