diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index aaf111b..33c1f6b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
         "type": "git",
         "url": "https://github.com/PropelAuth/react"
     },
-    "version": "2.0.32",
+    "version": "2.1.0",
     "license": "MIT",
     "keywords": [
         "auth",
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
         "user"
     ],
     "dependencies": {
-        "@propelauth/javascript": "^2.0.23",
+        "@propelauth/javascript": "^2.0.24",
         "hoist-non-react-statics": "^3.3.2",
         "utility-types": "^3.10.0"
     },
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
         "build:types": "tsc --emitDeclarationOnly",
         "build:js": "rollup -c",
         "lint": "eslint --ext .ts,.tsx .",
-        "build": "npm run test && npm run lint && npm run build:types && npm run build:js",
+        "build": "npm run test && npm run build:types && npm run build:js",
         "test": "npm run lint && jest --silent",
         "prepublishOnly": "npm run build"
     },
diff --git a/src/AuthContext.tsx b/src/AuthContext.tsx
index 0a8ef77..2570267 100644
--- a/src/AuthContext.tsx
+++ b/src/AuthContext.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import {
     AccessTokenForActiveOrg,
     AuthenticationInfo,
+    IAuthClient,
     RedirectToAccountOptions,
     RedirectToCreateOrgOptions,
     RedirectToLoginOptions,
@@ -46,8 +47,7 @@ export interface InternalAuthState {
     defaultDisplayIfLoggedOut?: React.ReactElement
 }
 
-export type AuthProviderProps = {
-    authUrl: string
+type BaseAuthProviderProps = {
     defaultDisplayWhileLoading?: React.ReactElement
     defaultDisplayIfLoggedOut?: React.ReactElement
     /**
@@ -55,15 +55,44 @@ export type AuthProviderProps = {
      */
     getActiveOrgFn?: () => string | null
     children?: React.ReactNode
+}
+
+type AuthProviderWithAuthUrl = BaseAuthProviderProps & {
+    authUrl: string
     minSecondsBeforeRefresh?: number
+    client?: never
+}
+
+type AuthProviderWithClient = BaseAuthProviderProps & {
+    client: IAuthClient
+    authUrl?: never
+    minSecondsBeforeRefresh?: never
 }
 
-export interface RequiredAuthProviderProps
-    extends Omit<AuthProviderProps, "defaultDisplayWhileLoading" | "defaultDisplayIfLoggedOut"> {
+export type AuthProviderProps = AuthProviderWithAuthUrl | AuthProviderWithClient
+
+type BaseRequiredAuthProviderProps = Omit<
+    BaseAuthProviderProps,
+    "defaultDisplayWhileLoading" | "defaultDisplayIfLoggedOut"
+> & {
     displayWhileLoading?: React.ReactElement
     displayIfLoggedOut?: React.ReactElement
 }
 
+type RequiredAuthProviderWithAuthUrl = BaseRequiredAuthProviderProps & {
+    authUrl: string
+    minSecondsBeforeRefresh?: number
+    client?: never
+}
+
+type RequiredAuthProviderWithClient = BaseRequiredAuthProviderProps & {
+    client: IAuthClient
+    authUrl?: never
+    minSecondsBeforeRefresh?: never
+}
+
+export type RequiredAuthProviderProps = RequiredAuthProviderWithAuthUrl | RequiredAuthProviderWithClient
+
 export const AuthContext = React.createContext<InternalAuthState | undefined>(undefined)
 
 type AuthInfoState = {
@@ -103,18 +132,22 @@ function authInfoStateReducer(_state: AuthInfoState, action: AuthInfoStateAction
 
 export const AuthProvider = (props: AuthProviderProps) => {
     const {
-        authUrl,
-        minSecondsBeforeRefresh,
         getActiveOrgFn: deprecatedGetActiveOrgFn,
         children,
         defaultDisplayWhileLoading,
         defaultDisplayIfLoggedOut,
     } = props
+
+    const clientRefProps =
+        "client" in props && props.client
+            ? { client: props.client }
+            : { authUrl: props.authUrl!, minSecondsBeforeRefresh: props.minSecondsBeforeRefresh }
+
+    const authUrl =
+        "client" in clientRefProps ? clientRefProps.client!.getAuthOptions().authUrl : clientRefProps.authUrl
+
     const [authInfoState, dispatch] = useReducer(authInfoStateReducer, initialAuthInfoState)
-    const { clientRef, accessTokenChangeCounter } = useClientRef({
-        authUrl,
-        minSecondsBeforeRefresh,
-    })
+    const { clientRef, accessTokenChangeCounter } = useClientRef(clientRefProps)
 
     // Refresh the token when the user has logged in or out
     useEffect(() => {
diff --git a/src/index.test.js b/src/index.test.js
index 2b56a9e..f78e55d 100644
--- a/src/index.test.js
+++ b/src/index.test.js
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ it("redirectToLoginPage calls into the client", async () => {
         return <div>Finished</div>
     }
     render(
-        <AuthProvider authUrl={AUTH_URL}>
+        <AuthProvider client={mockClient}>
             <Component />
         </AuthProvider>
     )
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ it("redirectToSignupPage calls into the client", async () => {
         return <div>Finished</div>
     }
     render(
-        <AuthProvider authUrl={AUTH_URL}>
+        <AuthProvider client={mockClient}>
             <Component />
         </AuthProvider>
     )
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ it("redirectToCreateOrgPage calls into the client", async () => {
         return <div>Finished</div>
     }
     render(
-        <AuthProvider authUrl={AUTH_URL}>
+        <AuthProvider client={mockClient}>
             <Component />
         </AuthProvider>
     )
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ it("redirectToAccountPage calls into the client", async () => {
         return <div>Finished</div>
     }
     render(
-        <AuthProvider authUrl={AUTH_URL}>
+        <AuthProvider client={mockClient}>
             <Component />
         </AuthProvider>
     )
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ it("redirectToOrgPage calls into the client", async () => {
         return <div>Finished</div>
     }
     render(
-        <AuthProvider authUrl={AUTH_URL}>
+        <AuthProvider client={mockClient}>
             <Component />
         </AuthProvider>
     )
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ it("logout calls into the client", async () => {
         return <div>Finished</div>
     }
     render(
-        <AuthProvider authUrl={AUTH_URL}>
+        <AuthProvider client={mockClient}>
             <Component />
         </AuthProvider>
     )
@@ -409,6 +409,41 @@ it("logout calls into the client", async () => {
     expect(mockClient.logout).toBeCalled()
 })
 
+it("external client is not destroyed on unmount", async () => {
+    const { unmount } = render(
+        <AuthProvider client={mockClient}>
+            <div>Finished</div>
+        </AuthProvider>
+    )
+    await waitFor(() => screen.getByText("Finished"))
+    unmount()
+    expect(mockClient.destroy).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+})
+
+it("useAuthInfo returns auth info from external client", async () => {
+    const authenticationInfo = createAuthenticationInfo()
+    mockClient.getAuthenticationInfoOrNull.mockReturnValue(authenticationInfo)
+
+    const Component = () => {
+        const authInfo = useAuthInfo()
+        if (authInfo.loading) {
+            return <div>Loading...</div>
+        }
+        expect(authInfo.accessToken).toBe(authenticationInfo.accessToken)
+        expect(authInfo.user).toStrictEqual(authenticationInfo.user)
+        expect(authInfo.isLoggedIn).toBe(true)
+        return <div>Finished</div>
+    }
+
+    render(
+        <AuthProvider client={mockClient}>
+            <Component />
+        </AuthProvider>
+    )
+
+    await waitFor(() => screen.getByText("Finished"))
+})
+
 it("when client logs out, authInfo is refreshed", async () => {
     const initialAuthInfo = createAuthenticationInfo()
     mockClient.getAuthenticationInfoOrNull.mockReturnValueOnce(initialAuthInfo).mockReturnValueOnce(null)
@@ -583,9 +618,18 @@ it("AuthProviderForTesting can be used with useAuthInfo", async () => {
     await waitFor(() => screen.getByText("Finished"))
 })
 
+const AUTH_URL = "authUrl"
+
 function createMockClient() {
     return {
         getAuthenticationInfoOrNull: jest.fn(),
+        getAuthOptions: jest.fn().mockReturnValue({
+            authUrl: AUTH_URL,
+            enableBackgroundTokenRefresh: true,
+            minSecondsBeforeRefresh: 120,
+            disableRefreshOnFocus: false,
+            skipInitialFetch: true,
+        }),
         logout: jest.fn(),
         redirectToSignupPage: jest.fn(),
         redirectToLoginPage: jest.fn(),
@@ -600,10 +644,12 @@ function createMockClient() {
     }
 }
 
-const AUTH_URL = "authUrl"
-
 function expectCreateClientWasCalledCorrectly() {
-    expect(createClient).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ authUrl: AUTH_URL, enableBackgroundTokenRefresh: true, skipInitialFetch: true })
+    expect(createClient).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        authUrl: AUTH_URL,
+        enableBackgroundTokenRefresh: true,
+        skipInitialFetch: true,
+    })
 }
 
 function createOrg() {
diff --git a/src/index.tsx b/src/index.tsx
index b903d39..c7ca4bb 100644
--- a/src/index.tsx
+++ b/src/index.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-export { OrgMemberInfoClass, UserClass } from "@propelauth/javascript"
+export { createClient, OrgMemberInfoClass, UserClass } from "@propelauth/javascript"
 export type {
     AccessHelper,
     AccessHelperWithOrg,
+    IAuthClient,
+    IAuthOptions,
     OrgHelper,
     OrgIdToOrgMemberInfo,
     OrgIdToOrgMemberInfoClass,
diff --git a/src/useClientRef.tsx b/src/useClientRef.tsx
index aba5652..6b2d22b 100644
--- a/src/useClientRef.tsx
+++ b/src/useClientRef.tsx
@@ -6,37 +6,82 @@ type ClientRef = {
     client: IAuthClient
 }
 
-interface UseClientRefProps {
+// Props when creating a new client internally
+type UseClientRefCreateProps = {
     authUrl: string
     minSecondsBeforeRefresh?: number
+    client?: never
 }
 
+// Props when using an externally-provided client
+type UseClientRefExternalProps = {
+    client: IAuthClient
+    authUrl?: never
+    minSecondsBeforeRefresh?: never
+}
+
+type UseClientRefProps = UseClientRefCreateProps | UseClientRefExternalProps
+
 export const useClientRef = (props: UseClientRefProps) => {
     const [accessTokenChangeCounter, setAccessTokenChangeCounter] = useState(0)
-    const { authUrl, minSecondsBeforeRefresh } = props
 
-    // Use a ref to store the client so that it doesn't get recreated on every render
-    const clientRef = useRef<ClientRef | null>(null)
-    if (clientRef.current === null) {
-        const client = createClient({ authUrl, enableBackgroundTokenRefresh: true, minSecondsBeforeRefresh, skipInitialFetch: true })
-        client.addAccessTokenChangeObserver(() => setAccessTokenChangeCounter((x) => x + 1))
-        clientRef.current = { authUrl, client }
-    }
+    const externalClient = "client" in props ? props.client : undefined
+    const authUrl = "authUrl" in props ? props.authUrl : undefined
+    const minSecondsBeforeRefresh = "minSecondsBeforeRefresh" in props ? props.minSecondsBeforeRefresh : undefined
 
-    // If the authUrl changes, destroy the old client and create a new one
+    // Initialize ref immediately with external client (available during render)
+    // or null (will be set in useEffect for internally-created clients)
+    const clientRef = useRef<ClientRef | null>(
+        externalClient ? { authUrl: externalClient.getAuthOptions().authUrl, client: externalClient } : null
+    )
+
+    // Effect for external client: set up observer
     useEffect(() => {
-        if (clientRef.current === null) {
+        if (!externalClient) {
             return
-        } else if (clientRef.current.authUrl === authUrl) {
+        }
+
+        // Warning for disabled background refresh
+        const options = externalClient.getAuthOptions()
+        if (!options.enableBackgroundTokenRefresh) {
+            console.warn(
+                "[@propelauth/react] The provided client has enableBackgroundTokenRefresh disabled. " +
+                    "This may cause authentication state to become stale."
+            )
+        }
+
+        const observer = () => setAccessTokenChangeCounter((x) => x + 1)
+        externalClient.addAccessTokenChangeObserver(observer)
+
+        return () => {
+            externalClient.removeAccessTokenChangeObserver(observer)
+        }
+    }, [externalClient])
+
+    // Effect for internal client: create, set up observer, and manage lifecycle
+    useEffect(() => {
+        if (externalClient) {
             return
-        } else {
-            clientRef.current.client.destroy()
+        }
 
-            const newClient = createClient({ authUrl, enableBackgroundTokenRefresh: true, minSecondsBeforeRefresh, skipInitialFetch: true })
-            newClient.addAccessTokenChangeObserver(() => setAccessTokenChangeCounter((x) => x + 1))
-            clientRef.current = { authUrl, client: newClient }
+        const client = createClient({
+            authUrl: authUrl!,
+            enableBackgroundTokenRefresh: true,
+            minSecondsBeforeRefresh,
+            skipInitialFetch: true,
+        })
+
+        client.addAccessTokenChangeObserver(() => setAccessTokenChangeCounter((x) => x + 1))
+
+        clientRef.current = { authUrl: client.getAuthOptions().authUrl, client }
+
+        return () => {
+            client.destroy()
+            if (clientRef.current?.client === client) {
+                clientRef.current = null
+            }
         }
-    }, [authUrl])
+    }, [externalClient, authUrl, minSecondsBeforeRefresh])
 
     return { clientRef, accessTokenChangeCounter }
 }
@@ -49,6 +94,13 @@ export const useClientRefCallback = <I extends unknown[], O>(
         (...inputs: I) => {
             const client = clientRef.current?.client
             if (!client) {
+                console.error(
+                    "[@propelauth/react] Auth client is not initialized yet. " +
+                        "The client is created in a useEffect, which runs after render. " +
+                        "This error typically occurs when calling auth methods during component render. " +
+                        "To fix this, either move auth calls to useEffect/event handlers, or create " +
+                        "the client yourself with createClient() and pass it to AuthProvider via the 'client' prop."
+                )
                 throw new Error("Client is not initialized")
             }
             return callback(client)(...inputs)