--- title: "The onboarding flow" description: "Step-by-step flow from first visit to using the dashboard - sign in, link Fox Cloud, and the optional guided tour." --- > Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://checkmy.solar/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # The onboarding flow This page describes the full path from opening the app for the first time to using your dashboard. The same flow applies on the **web app** and the **iOS (PWA) app**. ## Overview Onboarding has three main steps: 1. **Sign in** - Create or log into your Check My Solar account (email or Google/Apple). 2. **Link Fox Cloud** - Connect your Fox ESS inverter data (Quick Connect or API key). 3. **Guided tour** (first-time only) - Optional walkthrough of the dashboard and features. If your Fox Cloud session expires later, you’ll see the **Link Fox Cloud** step again to re-authenticate; you don’t need to sign in to Check My Solar again. --- ## Step 1: Sign in When you’re not logged in, you see the **login screen**. - **Sign in with email**: Enter your email, then use the **magic link** (or verification code) sent to your inbox. No password is stored. - **Sign in with Google** or **Sign in with Apple**: Use the button for your provider and complete the browser or native sign-in. After a successful sign-in, the app checks whether you have at least one Fox Cloud account linked. - If **no** → you go to **Step 2: Link Fox Cloud**. - If **yes** → you go straight to the **dashboard** (and skip the first-time guided tour). See [Creating an account](/docs/getting-started/creating-an-account/) for more detail on sign-up and login. --- ## Step 2: Link Fox Cloud If you have no Fox Cloud account linked (or your Fox session has expired), you see the **Link Your Fox Cloud Account** screen. You stay signed in to Check My Solar; this step only connects your **solar data** from Fox Cloud. ### Quick Connect (recommended) 1. Tap **Connect with Fox Cloud** (or **Re-authenticate with Fox Cloud** if your session expired). 2. You’re redirected to **Fox Cloud** to sign in and authorize Check My Solar. 3. After you approve, you’re sent back to the app and your inverter(s) are linked. The app manages the connection and renewal for you; no API key is needed. ### API key (advanced) 1. Switch the toggle to **API Key**. 2. Optionally enter an **Account name** (e.g. “Home”). 3. Enter your **Fox Cloud API key** (from Fox Cloud → User Center → API Management). 4. Tap **Link API Key**. Your key is stored securely. You may need to create a new key in Fox Cloud if it expires. See [Linking your inverter](/docs/getting-started/linking-your-inverter/) for where to get an API key and what access the app needs. ### After linking - You see a short **“Successfully linked”** message, then you’re taken to the **dashboard**. - If this is your **first time** completing linking (you’ve never finished onboarding before), the app will show the **guided tour** next. --- ## Step 3: Guided tour (first-time only) Right after you link Fox Cloud for the first time, a **welcome tour** may appear. It’s only shown once per device; you can skip it or go through it. The tour has several steps: | Step | What it covers | |------|----------------| | **Welcome to Check My Solar** | Intro: solar monitoring, generation, battery, consumption, real-time data. | | **Stay Informed** | Push notifications and email reports (daily/weekly/monthly), battery and operation-mode alerts, tomorrow’s solar forecast. | | **Dashboard Overview** | Main dashboard and key metrics; tap cards for more detail. | At each step you can: - **Back** / **Next** to move through the tour. - **Skip tour** to close it and go to the dashboard. - On the last step, **Get Started** to finish and start using the app. After you complete or skip the tour, you won’t see it again on this device. You can still change [notifications](/docs/using-the-app/notifications/) and [account & settings](/docs/using-the-app/account-settings/) from the menu anytime. --- ## If you see “Link Fox Cloud” again If your **Fox Cloud** session expires (e.g. after a long time or a security refresh), the app will show the **Link Fox Cloud** screen again. You are still signed in to **Check My Solar**; you only need to: - Use **Connect with Fox Cloud** (Quick Connect), or - Use **API Key** and enter a valid key Once linked again, you return to the dashboard. The guided tour does **not** run again. --- ## Summary | Stage | What happens | |-------|----------------| | Not signed in | Login screen (email or Google/Apple). | | Signed in, no Fox link | Link Fox Cloud (Quick Connect or API key). | | First time after linking | Optional guided tour, then dashboard. | | Later visits | Dashboard directly (or Link Fox Cloud if session expired). | Next: [Dashboard overview](/docs/using-the-app/dashboard-overview/) to use the app day to day. ## Related pages - [Getting started overview](/docs/getting-started/) - [Creating an account](/docs/getting-started/creating-an-account/) - [Linking your inverter](/docs/getting-started/linking-your-inverter/) - [Onboarding flow](/docs/getting-started/onboarding-flow/) - [Dashboard overview](/docs/using-the-app/dashboard-overview/) - [Notifications](/docs/using-the-app/notifications/) Source: https://checkmy.solar/docs/getting-started/onboarding-flow/index.mdx