diff --git a/mne/io/nirx/nirx.py b/mne/io/nirx/nirx.py
index 5d9b79b57cc..eb4101be0af 100644
--- a/mne/io/nirx/nirx.py
+++ b/mne/io/nirx/nirx.py
@@ -41,7 +41,10 @@ def read_raw_nirx(
     Parameters
     ----------
     fname : path-like
-        Path to the NIRX data folder or header file.
+        Path to the NIRX data folder (directory containing NIRX files) or
+        the ``.hdr`` header file within that folder. The function will
+        automatically find and read all required NIRX files from the
+        directory.
     %(saturated)s
     %(preload)s
     %(encoding_nirx)s
diff --git a/mne/utils/docs.py b/mne/utils/docs.py
index 54b2c9f1363..fe1bc00d5ef 100644
--- a/mne/utils/docs.py
+++ b/mne/utils/docs.py
@@ -2884,6 +2884,11 @@ def _reflow_param_docstring(docstring, has_first_line=True, width=75):
 called .nosatflags_wlX. As NaN values can cause unexpected behaviour with
 mathematical functions the default behaviour is to return the
 saturated data.
+
+.. note::
+    This function expects ``fname`` to be a path to a directory containing the
+    NIRX data files (e.g., ``.hdr``, ``.wl1``, ``.wl2``, etc.). If you have a
+    ``.snirf`` file, use :func:`mne.io.read_raw_snirf` instead.
 """
 
 docdict["niter"] = """