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

# Quick start guide

> Get started with EaseLMS in minutes - from account creation to enrolling in your first course

## Get started with EaseLMS

This guide will walk you through signing up for an account, browsing courses, and enrolling in your first course. You'll be learning in under 5 minutes.

<Note>
  This guide is for learners using an existing EaseLMS instance. If you're setting up your own instance, see the [installation guide](/installation).
</Note>

## Create your account

Get started by creating your learner account on the EaseLMS platform.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to the signup page">
    Visit your EaseLMS instance and click "Sign Up" or navigate directly to `/auth/learner/signup`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in your details">
    Provide your information:

    * **First name** - Your given name
    * **Last name** - Your family name
    * **Email** - Your email address (used for login)
    * **Password** - At least 8 characters
    * **Confirm password** - Must match your password

    <CodeGroup>
      ```typescript Signup fields theme={null}
      interface SignupForm {
        firstName: string
        lastName: string
        email: string
        password: string  // min 8 characters
        confirmPassword: string
        acceptedTerms: boolean
      }
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Accept terms and privacy policy">
    Check the box to agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

    <Warning>
      You must accept the terms to create an account.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit the form">
    Click "Sign Up" to create your account.

    Depending on the platform configuration:

    * **Email confirmation disabled** - You'll be immediately signed in and redirected to your dashboard
    * **Email confirmation enabled** - Check your inbox for a verification email before logging in
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Explore available courses

Once you're logged in, you'll land on your learner dashboard. From here, you can explore and enroll in courses.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to the courses page">
    Click "Courses" in the left sidebar or visit `/learner/courses` to view all available courses.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Browse and filter courses">
    Use the search and filter tools to find courses:

    **Search:**

    * Type in the search box to filter courses by title

    **Sort options:**

    * Relevance (default)
    * Title (A-Z)
    * Price: Low to High
    * Price: High to Low
    * Most Enrolled

    **Tabs:**

    * **All Courses** - Browse all available courses
    * **Enrolled** - View courses you're enrolled in
    * **Completed** - See courses you've finished
  </Step>

  <Step title="Preview a course">
    Click on a course card or the "Preview" button to view details:

    * Course description and requirements
    * Lesson list and curriculum
    * Course instructors
    * Preview video (if available)
    * Enrollment type (Free, Paid, or Recurring)

    <Note>
      Course preview pages show all the information you need to decide if a course is right for you.
    </Note>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Enroll in a course

When you've found a course you want to take, enrolling is simple.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Free courses">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Click the enroll button">
        From the course preview page or course card, click "Enroll".
      </Step>

      <Step title="Start learning">
        You'll be immediately enrolled and redirected to the course learning page at `/learner/courses/[course-slug]/learn`.

        The first lesson will load automatically.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Paid courses">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Click the buy button">
        From the course card or preview page, click "Buy" to purchase the course.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Complete payment">
        You'll be redirected to the payment gateway (Stripe or Flutterwave) to complete your purchase.

        **Supported payment methods:**

        * Credit/debit cards (Stripe)
        * Bank transfers (Flutterwave)
        * Mobile money (Flutterwave - African markets)

        <Note>
          Prices are automatically converted to your preferred currency based on your profile settings.
        </Note>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Payment confirmation">
        After successful payment:

        * You'll be redirected back to the courses page
        * You'll receive a payment confirmation email
        * Your enrollment will be activated automatically
        * The admin will receive a payment notification
      </Step>

      <Step title="Start learning">
        Navigate back to the course and click "Continue" to begin your first lesson.
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    <Warning>
      If payment fails or is canceled, you'll be redirected to the courses page with an error message. You can try again when ready.
    </Warning>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Take your first lesson

Once enrolled, you can start learning immediately.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Access the course">
    From your dashboard or courses page, click "Continue" on your enrolled course. You'll be taken to `/learner/courses/[course-slug]/learn`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate lessons">
    The course learning interface includes:

    **Left sidebar:**

    * Course title and progress
    * Complete lesson list with checkmarks for completed lessons
    * Click any lesson to navigate (if sequential progress is not required)

    **Main content area:**

    * Video player for video lessons
    * Text content for text lessons
    * Combined content for mixed lessons
    * Quiz interface for quiz lessons

    **Bottom navigation:**

    * "Previous" and "Next" buttons to move between lessons

    <CodeGroup>
      ```typescript Lesson types theme={null}
      type LessonType = 
        | 'video'   // Video with Media Chrome player
        | 'text'    // Rich text content
        | 'mixed'   // Video + text combined
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Watch videos and track progress">
    **For video lessons:**

    * The video player automatically tracks your progress
    * Progress is saved in real-time as you watch
    * Resume from where you left off when you return

    **For text lessons:**

    * Scroll through the content
    * Click "Mark as Complete" when finished

    <Note>
      Your progress is saved automatically and synced in real-time across devices.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete quizzes">
    Some lessons include quizzes to test your knowledge:

    1. Read each question carefully
    2. Select your answer(s)
    3. Click "Submit Answer" to check if you're correct
    4. Review explanations for incorrect answers
    5. Complete all questions to mark the lesson as done

    **Quiz question types:**

    * Multiple choice (single answer)
    * Multiple select (multiple answers)
    * True/false

    <Note>
      Some courses require a minimum quiz score to progress. Check the course settings for requirements.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Download resources">
    If the lesson includes downloadable resources:

    * Click the "Resources" tab in the lesson view
    * Download PDFs, documents, or other materials
    * Use resources to supplement your learning
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Track your progress

Monitor your learning journey from your dashboard.

<Steps>
  <Step title="View dashboard stats">
    Navigate to `/learner/dashboard` to see:

    * **Courses in Progress** - Number of enrolled courses you're actively taking
    * **Completed Courses** - Number of courses you've finished
  </Step>

  <Step title="Continue learning">
    The "Continue Learning" card shows:

    * All courses you're enrolled in but haven't completed
    * Progress percentage for each course
    * "Continue" button to resume from your last lesson

    <CodeGroup>
      ```typescript Progress calculation theme={null}
      // Progress is calculated as:
      const progress = Math.round(
        (completedLessons / totalLessons) * 100
      )

      // A course is complete when progress === 100%
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="View recommended courses">
    Discover new courses in the "Recommended Courses" section based on:

    * Available courses you haven't enrolled in
    * Platform recommendations
    * Your learning history
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Complete a course and earn your certificate

When you finish all lessons, you can access your certificate (if enabled for the course).

<Steps>
  <Step title="Complete all lessons">
    Work through every lesson in the course until your progress reaches 100%.

    <Note>
      Some courses require completing lessons sequentially. Others allow you to jump between lessons freely.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Access the course summary">
    Once complete, click "View Summary" from the course card or navigate to `/learner/courses/[course-slug]/learn/summary`.

    The summary page shows:

    * Course completion status
    * Your quiz scores (if applicable)
    * Time spent on the course
    * Certificate download (if enabled)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Download your certificate">
    If certificates are enabled for the course:

    1. Click "Download Certificate" on the summary page
    2. Your certificate will be generated as a PDF
    3. You'll receive a "Certificate Ready" email notification

    **Certificate types:**

    * **Completion** - For finishing all course content
    * **Achievement** - For meeting performance criteria
    * **Participation** - For active engagement
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Manage your account

Update your profile and preferences at any time.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to your profile">
    Click your profile icon in the top right or visit `/learner/profile`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update your information">
    Edit your:

    * Name and profile picture
    * Email address
    * Password
    * Preferred currency for pricing
    * Bio and other details
  </Step>

  <Step title="View purchase history">
    If you've purchased any courses, view your payment history and receipts in the profile section.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Browse courses" icon="book-open">
    Explore all available courses and find your next learning opportunity
  </Card>

  <Card title="View your dashboard" icon="chart-line">
    Track your progress and continue your learning journey
  </Card>

  <Card title="Self-host EaseLMS" icon="server" href="/installation">
    Install EaseLMS on your own infrastructure
  </Card>

  <Card title="Get support" icon="life-ring" href="mailto:contact@easelms.org">
    Contact us if you need help
  </Card>
</CardGroup>