We need the first deployment of an existing Next.js project to be Preview only, protected by Vercel Authentication. A Production deployment or Production-labelled bootstrap is outside our authorization, even temporarily and even with skipped domain assignment.

We observed an explicit vercel deploy --target preview --yes classified as Production. That deployment was removed, and the project now has zero deployments. Our build safeguard rejects VERCEL_ENV=production; payments are disabled.

Is there a supported project-setting, CLI or API path that guarantees the first deployment is Preview without ever creating a Production deployment record? If the platform requires account-side correction of bootstrap state, what supported process can provide it?

We have not tried Production bootstrap, removed safeguards or repeatedly submitted deployment requests. The private Help assistant suggested a Production bootstrap, and the private CI/CD case form requires a paid account. We are asking for a supported Preview-only resolution on Hobby.