First launch

On first launch MindDuck offers to create a workspace: your encrypted base for chats, documents and memory. There are three ways, and the choice depends on whether you already use MindDuck somewhere else.

A new workspace

Click Create new workspace. MindDuck creates encryption keys and protected storage on this device. No account or internet connection is needed for this.

You don't need to invent a password: the key is kept in the system's secret storage, and the device opens the workspace itself.

After that you'll see the Where would you like to start? screen with two items:

• Connect a model: a required step; without it the assistant can't answer. Details: Connecting a model.
• Import history from ChatGPT or Claude: optional. It works without a model too: import your old conversations and search them right away.

Chatting and importing need active access to MindDuck. Connecting a model doesn't give it by itself: first sign in to your account as described below.

Sign in to your MindDuck account

1. Open Settings → Account and click Sign in. This screen is available even when the workspace is closed.
2. In the browser, sign in to mindduck.app with your email and the code from the email. If you're already signed in on the site, you won't need the code again. Check that the right email is shown.
3. Click "Allow and return to the app" and go back to MindDuck.
4. Check your access on the Account screen. If you don't have a beta place yet, click Open the beta page, sign up for the beta on the site and then click Refresh in the Last checked row.

The site and the app use one account. If you already joined the beta on the site, sign in with the same email. The first successful sign-in with a code creates the account automatically; there is no separate registration and no password. Signing in only on the site doesn't connect the app yet.

Once you're signed in with active access, you can write, use AI, import history and edit documents. This is needed for local models too. Without signing in, or after your access ends, your data stays open for reading, searching and exporting. Details: Account.

Your MindDuck account doesn't connect Google Drive and doesn't move the workspace to another device. Those are separate steps below.

Connect to an existing workspace

If MindDuck is already set up on another device, don't create a new workspace: you'd get a second, separate one, and neither you nor the app can merge them later. Click Connect existing workspace and follow A second device.

If you have no other devices but you saved your recovery code, use the I have no other device - use my recovery code block on the same screen. Details: Recovery code.

Restore from a backup file

Recover from a backup file suits a clean device. You'll need two things:

1. a .mindduckbackup backup file;
2. your recovery code. It is kept separately and is never written into the file.

The wizard asks you to choose the file, enter the code and a device name. Details: Restoring on a new device.

The Settings screen is a checklist

Everything MindDuck needs is collected in Settings → Overview in the order you'll need it. Open it with the Settings button at the bottom of the sidebar.

At the top you see the overall state: Ready to work or Not ready to work yet. Below are the steps, each with its own label:

The labels mean: Required: must be done, Optional: up to you, Done: finished, Set: a setting is chosen, Later: becomes available after another step.

Close and reopen the workspace

On the next launch MindDuck opens the workspace by itself. If you need to close it manually, for example before handing the device to someone, click Close workspace in the sidebar menu. Then on the next launch MindDuck shows the Open your workspace screen and waits for you to click Open workspace.

While the workspace is closed, your data stays encrypted on the device.

What's next

• Account
• Connecting a model
• Access to your data and copies