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

# Authentication & Sign In

> Create your account and sign in to OpenBio

## Creating Your Account

Getting started with OpenBio is quick and easy using Google or email/password authentication.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to the Sign In Page">
    Visit [openbio.tech](https://openbio.tech) or click "Launch App" on the top right of this page, then click the **"Sign In"** button in the top right corner. You'll be directed to the authentication page.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Sign In Methods

Choose your preferred authentication method:

### Sign In with Google

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click 'Sign in with Google'">
    On the authentication page, click the **"Sign in with Google"** button. This button is prominently displayed in the center of the page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Your Google Account">
    A Google sign-in popup will appear. Select the Google account you want to use with OpenBio.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Grant Permissions">
    Google will ask you to grant OpenBio permission to access your basic profile information (name, email, and profile picture). Click **"Allow"** to continue.

    <Info>
      OpenBio only requests access to your basic profile information. We never access your Google Drive, Gmail, or other Google services.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete Setup">
    Once you grant permissions, you'll be automatically redirected to create your first project. Your account is now created and ready to use!
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Sign In with Email and Password

<Steps>
  <Step title="Choose Email/Password Option">
    On the authentication page, click **"Sign in with Email"** or **"Create Account"** if you're new to OpenBio.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter Your Credentials">
    **For new users**: Enter your email address and create a secure password.

    **For existing users**: Enter your registered email and password.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify Your Email">
    New users will receive a verification email. Click the verification link to confirm your email address.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Access OpenBio">
    Once verified (or signed in), you'll be redirected to create your first project or access your existing workspace.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  **Forgot your password?** Click **"Forgot Password"** on the sign-in page, enter your email, and follow the reset instructions.
</Info>

## Switching Between Accounts

You can link multiple authentication methods to your OpenBio account in Settings → Account. This allows you to sign in using either Google or email/password interchangeably.

## Security & Privacy

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How is my data protected?" icon="shield">
    OpenBio uses industry-standard security practices:

    * **Firebase Authentication**: Google's secure authentication system
    * **Token-Based Security**: Session tokens are securely managed and automatically refreshed
    * **User Isolation**: Your research data is completely isolated from other users
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What information does OpenBio access?" icon="user-lock">
    OpenBio only accesses:

    * Your name (for personalization)
    * Your email address (for account identification)
    * Your profile picture (for display purposes)

    We **never** access your Google Drive, Gmail, Calendar, or any other Google services.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I revoke access?" icon="user-slash">
    Yes! You can revoke OpenBio's access to your Google account at any time:

    1. Go to your [Google Account Permissions](https://myaccount.google.com/permissions)
    2. Find "OpenBio" in the list of apps
    3. Click "Remove Access"

    Note that this will sign you out and prevent you from using OpenBio until you sign in again.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Signing Out

<Steps>
  <Step title="Log out of your account">
    Click your **profile picture** in the bottom left corner of the sidebar and select **"Log Out"** from the dropdown menu. You'll be redirected to the sign-in page.

    <Check>Your work is automatically saved as you go, so you don't need to worry about losing progress when you sign out.</Check>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The Google sign-in popup doesn't appear" icon="circle-exclamation">
    **Solution**: Check if your browser is blocking popups. Look for a blocked popup icon in your browser's address bar and allow popups for OpenBio.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I get an authentication error" icon="triangle-exclamation">
    **Solution**:

    * Clear your browser cache and cookies
    * Try signing in again
    * If the problem persists, try using a different browser or incognito/private mode
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I'm signed in but can't access features" icon="lock">
    **Solution**:

    * Refresh the page
    * Sign out and sign back in
    * Check your internet connection
    * If issues continue, contact support
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

Now that you're signed in, you're ready to explore OpenBio!

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="First Steps" icon="shoe-prints" href="/user-guide/getting-started/first-steps">
    Learn the basics of using OpenBio
  </Card>

  <Card title="Interface Overview" icon="desktop" href="/user-guide/getting-started/interface-overview">
    Get familiar with the OpenBio interface
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Warning>
  **Important**: Never share your authentication tokens or session information with anyone.
</Warning>