> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ederspark.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quick start guide

> Get up and running with Freiya in 5 minutes. Create your account, add your first paper, and start chatting with AI

This guide will help you start using Freiya in just a few minutes. By the end, you'll have your account set up, your first paper added, and you'll be ready to explore all of Freiya's features.

<Tip>
  Already have an account? Skip to [adding your first paper](#add-your-first-paper).
</Tip>

## Create your account

You can sign up for Freiya using email or Google OAuth, both are quick and secure.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Email signup">
    1. Visit [freiya.ederspark.com/auth/signup](https://freiya.ederspark.com/auth/signup)
    2. Enter your name, email, and password
    3. Click **Sign Up**
    4. Check your email for a verification code
    5. Enter the 5-digit code to verify your account

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/ederspark/yxCZJlg-K_tQjw-Q/images/signup.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=yxCZJlg-K_tQjw-Q&q=85&s=ee461c2abab04a89247ac45ed1f2956a" alt="Signup form with name, email, and password fields" width="1919" height="905" data-path="images/signup.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Google OAuth">
    1. Visit [freiya.ederspark.com/auth/signup](https://freiya.ederspark.com/auth/signup)
    2. Click **Continue with Google**
    3. Select your Google account
    4. Grant permissions to Freiya
    5. You're in! No email verification needed
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Info>
  New accounts start on the Free tier with 5 papers and 2 collections. You can upgrade anytime.
</Info>

## Take a tour

After signing in, you'll see the main Freiya interface:

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/ederspark/N9Loo-DAzGyD8ORq/images/dashboard-homepage.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=N9Loo-DAzGyD8ORq&q=85&s=4e13064b14ae27c15a5fc6f0e2029ee5" alt="Annotated screenshot of main dashboard with sidebar, chat area, and top bar" width="1918" height="910" data-path="images/dashboard-homepage.png" />
</Frame>

**Key interface elements:**

* **Sidebar** - Navigate between chats, papers, collections, and settings
* **Main area** - Your current view (chat, paper library, or PDF viewer)
* **Top bar** - Quick actions, search, and account menu
* **Chat input** - Start a conversation with AI (on chat page)

## Add your first paper

Let's add a research paper to your library. Freiya supports three methods:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Search by DOI">
    The fastest way to add papers with complete metadata.

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Click Add Paper">
        Find the **Add Paper** button in the top-right corner
      </Step>

      <Step title="Select DOI search">
        Choose **Search by DOI** from the options
      </Step>

      <Step title="Enter the DOI">
        Paste the DOI (e.g., `10.1234/example.doi`)
      </Step>

      <Step title="Review and save">
        Freiya automatically fetches title, authors, abstract, and more. Click **Save**
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://placehold.co/800x500/4F46E5/white?text=Add+Paper+Modal" alt="Add Paper modal with DOI search tab and input field" />
    </Frame>

    <Tip>
      Find DOIs on journal websites, Google Scholar, or at the bottom of PDF papers.
    </Tip>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Manual entry">
    Add papers that don't have a DOI or when you want to customize metadata.

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Click Add Paper">
        Open the Add Paper dialog
      </Step>

      <Step title="Select manual entry">
        Choose **Manual Entry** tab
      </Step>

      <Step title="Fill in details">
        Enter title, authors, year, publication, and abstract
      </Step>

      <Step title="Save the paper">
        Click **Save** to add to your library
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Upload PDF">
    Upload a PDF and Freiya extracts metadata automatically.

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Click Add Paper">
        Open the Add Paper dialog
      </Step>

      <Step title="Select PDF upload">
        Choose **Upload PDF** tab
      </Step>

      <Step title="Select your file">
        Browse and select a PDF from your device
      </Step>

      <Step title="Review and save">
        Verify the extracted metadata and click **Save**
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    <Warning>
      PDF uploads are limited by file size based on your tier (10MB free, 50MB Pro).
    </Warning>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Start an AI chat

Now let's try Freiya's AI chat feature:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to chat">
    Click **Chat** in the sidebar or press `Ctrl/Cmd + N` for a new chat
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select a model">
    Choose an AI model from the dropdown (Free tier users see basic models)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ask a question">
    Type your question in the input box. Try asking about your paper!

    **Example:** "Analyze the impact of remote work on employee productivity and well-being"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Get AI response">
    Watch as the AI streams its response in real-time
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/ederspark/N9Loo-DAzGyD8ORq/images/chat-interface.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=N9Loo-DAzGyD8ORq&q=85&s=4db02574945a6cd2a8802ff280ead09d" alt="Chat interface showing AI conversation with streaming response" width="1373" height="887" data-path="images/chat-interface.png" />
</Frame>

<Tip>
  Your chats are automatically saved and titled. Find them in the sidebar under "Chats".
</Tip>

## Try the PDF viewer

If your paper has a PDF, you can read and annotate it in Focus mode:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open a paper">
    Go to your paper library and click on a paper
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click View PDF">
    Click the **View PDF** or **Focus** button
  </Step>

  <Step title="Highlight text">
    Select any text to see the highlighting toolbar
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a color">
    Pick a highlight color (yellow, green, blue, red, purple, orange)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a comment">
    Optionally add a comment to your highlight
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/ederspark/yxCZJlg-K_tQjw-Q/images/focus-highlights.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=yxCZJlg-K_tQjw-Q&q=85&s=906539db6a8fc0009945c8e764af1dff" alt="PDF viewer with highlighted text and annotation toolbar" width="1919" height="909" data-path="images/focus-highlights.png" />
</Frame>

All your highlights are saved and can be exported for your writing later.

## Create a collection

Keep your research organized by creating collections:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Collections">
    Click **Collections** in the sidebar
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click New Collection">
    Click the **New Collection** button
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name your collection">
    Enter a name like "Thesis Chapter 1" or "Machine Learning Papers"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add papers">
    Drag papers into your collection or use the "Add to Collection" button
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Free tier users can create 2 collections. Upgrade to Pro for 20 collections.
</Note>

## What's next?

You're all set! Here are some suggestions for what to explore next:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Explore AI chat" icon="comments" href="/features/ai-chat">
    Learn about model selection and usage tracking
  </Card>

  <Card title="Organize your library" icon="folder" href="/features/paper-management">
    Master tags, search, citations, and library management
  </Card>

  <Card title="Advanced annotations" icon="highlighter" href="/features/pdf-viewer">
    Discover all PDF viewer features and annotation tools
  </Card>

  <Card title="Upgrade your plan" icon="arrow-up" href="/account/subscription-tiers">
    Unlock more papers, collections, and advanced AI models
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Helpful shortcuts

Speed up your workflow with these keyboard shortcuts:

| Action           | Shortcut       |
| ---------------- | -------------- |
| New chat         | `Ctrl/Cmd + N` |
| Add paper        | `Ctrl/Cmd + P` |
| Quick search     | `Ctrl/Cmd + K` |
| Open settings    | `Ctrl/Cmd + ,` |
| Toggle dark mode | `Ctrl/Cmd + D` |

[See all keyboard shortcuts →](/reference/keyboard-shortcuts)

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How many papers can I add on the free tier?">
    The Free tier includes 5 papers total with a limit of 5 papers per month. Pro and Nova tiers give you 500 papers and 500/month.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I upload my own PDFs?">
    Yes! You can upload PDFs on all tiers. File size limits are 10MB (Free), 50MB (Pro), and 100MB (Nova).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do AI usage limits work?">
    Each model type has a monthly message allocation based on your tier. Usage resets on the 1st of each month.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I export my papers and citations?">
    Yes! You can export citations in multiple formats including BibTeX, RIS, APA, MLA, Chicago, and more. Highlights can be exported as Markdown.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is my research data private?">
    Absolutely. Your data is encrypted, secure, and private. Only you can access your papers, chats, and annotations. See our privacy policy for details.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Need help?

If you run into any issues or have questions:

* 📧 Contact our support team at [support@ederspark.com](mailto:support@ederspark.com)
* 📚 Browse the [complete documentation](/)
* 💡 Check out [tips and best practices](/guides/tips-best-practices)

Welcome to Freiya! We're excited to help you streamline your research workflow.