diff --git a/src/mcserial/server.py b/src/mcserial/server.py
index 5438b6f..057853b 100644
--- a/src/mcserial/server.py
+++ b/src/mcserial/server.py
@@ -28,6 +28,123 @@ class SerialConnection:
 # Active connections registry
 _connections: dict[str, SerialConnection] = {}
 
+
+def _detect_baud_rate_internal(
+    port: str,
+    probe: str | None = None,
+    timeout_per_rate: float = 0.3,
+    baudrates: list[int] | None = None,
+) -> dict:
+    """Internal baud rate detection (not exposed as MCP tool).
+
+    Used by open_serial_port for auto-detection.
+    """
+    import math
+    import time
+    from collections import Counter
+
+    # Common baud rates ordered by popularity
+    default_rates = [
+        115200, 9600, 57600, 38400, 19200,
+        230400, 460800, 921600,
+        4800, 2400, 1200,
+    ]
+    rates_to_try = baudrates or default_rates
+    results = []
+
+    def score_data(data: bytes) -> dict:
+        """Score data readability with sync pattern analysis."""
+        if not data:
+            return {"score": 0, "bytes_received": 0}
+
+        # Printable ASCII percentage
+        printable = sum(1 for b in data if 32 <= b <= 126 or b in (9, 10, 13))
+        printable_pct = (printable / len(data)) * 100
+
+        # Line endings indicator
+        has_newlines = b'\n' in data or b'\r' in data
+
+        # Null byte penalty
+        null_pct = (data.count(0x00) / len(data)) * 100
+
+        # 0x55 sync pattern detection
+        sync_count = sum(1 for b in data if b in (0x55, 0xAA))
+        sync_pct = (sync_count / len(data)) * 100
+
+        # Bit transitions (0x55 has 7 per byte)
+        transitions = sum(
+            sum(1 for i in range(7) if ((b >> i) & 1) != ((b >> (i + 1)) & 1))
+            for b in data
+        )
+        avg_transitions = transitions / len(data)
+
+        # Text clustering
+        counter = Counter(data)
+        text_cluster = sum(counter.get(b, 0) for b in range(0x20, 0x7F)) / len(data) * 100
+
+        # Entropy calculation
+        entropy = 0
+        for count in counter.values():
+            if count > 0:
+                p = count / len(data)
+                entropy -= p * math.log2(p)
+        norm_entropy = (entropy / 8) * 100
+
+        # Composite score
+        score = printable_pct
+        score += sync_pct * 0.5
+        score += min(100, (avg_transitions / 7) * 100) * 0.2 if avg_transitions > 3 else 0
+        score += text_cluster * 0.3
+        if has_newlines:
+            score += 15
+        if null_pct > 30:
+            score -= 40
+        if norm_entropy > 70:
+            score -= 20
+
+        # UTF-8 bonus
+        try:
+            data.decode('utf-8')
+            score += 10
+        except UnicodeDecodeError:
+            pass
+
+        return {
+            "score": round(max(0, min(100, score)), 1),
+            "bytes_received": len(data),
+        }
+
+    for rate in rates_to_try:
+        try:
+            conn = serial.Serial(port=port, baudrate=rate, timeout=timeout_per_rate)
+
+            if probe:
+                conn.write(probe.encode())
+                conn.flush()
+                time.sleep(0.05)
+
+            time.sleep(timeout_per_rate)
+            available = conn.in_waiting
+            data = conn.read(available) if available else b""
+            conn.close()
+
+            score_result = score_data(data)
+            if score_result["bytes_received"] > 0:
+                results.append({"baudrate": rate, **score_result})
+
+        except serial.SerialException:
+            continue
+
+    results.sort(key=lambda x: x["score"], reverse=True)
+    best = results[0] if results else None
+
+    return {
+        "detected_baudrate": best["baudrate"] if best and best["score"] > 50 else None,
+        "confidence": best["score"] if best else 0,
+        "results": results[:5],
+    }
+
+
 mcp = FastMCP(
     name="mcserial",
     instructions="""Serial port MCP server. Use tools to open/close/write to serial ports.
@@ -74,7 +191,7 @@ def list_serial_ports(usb_only: bool = True) -> list[dict]:
 @mcp.tool()
 def open_serial_port(
     port: str,
-    baudrate: int = DEFAULT_BAUDRATE,
+    baudrate: int | None = None,
     bytesize: Literal[5, 6, 7, 8] = 8,
     parity: Literal["N", "E", "O", "M", "S"] = "N",
     stopbits: Literal[1, 1.5, 2] = 1,
@@ -85,12 +202,18 @@ def open_serial_port(
     rtscts: bool = False,
     dsrdtr: bool = False,
     exclusive: bool = False,
+    autobaud_probe: str | None = None,
+    autobaud_timeout: float = 0.3,
 ) -> dict:
-    """Open a serial port connection.
+    """Open a serial port connection with optional auto-baud detection.
+
+    If baudrate is not specified (None), automatically detects the baud rate
+    by analyzing incoming data patterns. Works best when the device is actively
+    sending data or responds to a probe string.
 
     Args:
         port: Device path (e.g., '/dev/ttyUSB0', 'COM3')
-        baudrate: Baud rate (default from env or 9600)
+        baudrate: Baud rate. If None, auto-detect (recommended for unknown devices)
         bytesize: Data bits (5, 6, 7, or 8)
         parity: Parity checking (N=None, E=Even, O=Odd, M=Mark, S=Space)
         stopbits: Stop bits (1, 1.5, or 2)
@@ -101,9 +224,11 @@ def open_serial_port(
         rtscts: Enable hardware RTS/CTS flow control
         dsrdtr: Enable hardware DSR/DTR flow control
         exclusive: Request exclusive access (lock port from other processes)
+        autobaud_probe: String to send during auto-detection (e.g., "UUUUU" for sync)
+        autobaud_timeout: Timeout per rate during auto-detection (default 0.3s)
 
     Returns:
-        Connection status and details
+        Connection status and details (includes auto-detection info if used)
     """
     if port in _connections:
         return {"error": f"Port {port} is already open", "success": False}
@@ -111,6 +236,34 @@ def open_serial_port(
     if len(_connections) >= MAX_CONNECTIONS:
         return {"error": f"Maximum connections ({MAX_CONNECTIONS}) reached", "success": False}
 
+    # Auto-detect baud rate if not specified
+    detected_info = None
+    if baudrate is None:
+        # Import the detect function's logic inline to avoid circular issues
+        detection_result = _detect_baud_rate_internal(
+            port=port,
+            probe=autobaud_probe,
+            timeout_per_rate=autobaud_timeout,
+        )
+        if detection_result.get("detected_baudrate"):
+            baudrate = detection_result["detected_baudrate"]
+            detected_info = {
+                "auto_detected": True,
+                "detection_confidence": detection_result.get("confidence", 0),
+                "detection_candidates": [
+                    {"baudrate": r["baudrate"], "score": r["score"]}
+                    for r in detection_result.get("results", [])[:3]
+                ],
+            }
+        else:
+            # Fall back to default if detection fails
+            baudrate = DEFAULT_BAUDRATE
+            detected_info = {
+                "auto_detected": False,
+                "fallback_reason": "No data received or low confidence",
+                "using_default": DEFAULT_BAUDRATE,
+            }
+
     try:
         conn = serial.Serial(
             port=port,
@@ -127,7 +280,7 @@ def open_serial_port(
             exclusive=exclusive,
         )
         _connections[port] = SerialConnection(port=port, connection=conn)
-        return {
+        result = {
             "success": True,
             "port": port,
             "baudrate": baudrate,
@@ -140,6 +293,9 @@ def open_serial_port(
             "exclusive": exclusive,
             "resource_uri": f"serial://{port}/data",
         }
+        if detected_info:
+            result["autobaud"] = detected_info
+        return result
     except serial.SerialException as e:
         return {"error": str(e), "success": False}