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

# Create your Witt & Play account and get started

> Sign up with email and password or continue with Google or Apple. Learn what happens after sign-up and how the onboarding flow sets up your game feed.

Creating an account on Witt & Play takes under a minute. You can sign up with an email address and password, or skip the form entirely and continue with Google or Apple. Once your account is active, a short onboarding flow helps you tune your feed so the right games surface for you right away.

## Sign up with email

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to the sign-up page">
    Open Witt & Play and select **Sign up** from the authentication screen.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter your email and password">
    Type a valid email address and a password of at least 6 characters (maximum 100). Your password is validated before submission — you'll see an inline error if either field doesn't meet the requirements.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit and check your inbox">
    Click **Create account**. Witt & Play sends a verification link to the email address you provided.

    <Note>
      You won't be signed in immediately after submitting. You'll see a "Check your email" screen instead. You cannot access your account until you click the verification link in the email.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click the verification link">
    Open the email from Witt & Play and click the verification link. This confirms your address and signs you in, redirecting you to the app.

    <Tip>
      Didn't receive the email? Check your spam folder, then use the **Resend verification email** button on the confirmation screen to send a new one.
    </Tip>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Sign up with Google or Apple

If you'd prefer not to manage a separate password, you can use an existing account.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Choose your provider">
    On the authentication screen, click **Continue with Google** or **Continue with Apple**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Authorize access">
    Complete the sign-in flow in the popup or redirect. Google opens a standard Google sign-in screen; Apple goes directly to Apple's native sign-in screen.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Land in the app">
    After authorization, you're redirected back to Witt & Play and signed in. No email confirmation step is required for OAuth sign-ups.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What happens after sign-up

Once your account is created and your email is confirmed (for email sign-ups), two things happen:

1. **Referral tracking** — if you signed up through a member's referral link (a `?ref=` URL parameter), your profile is automatically linked to that member.
2. **Onboarding redirect** — on your first login, you're directed to the Welcome page to complete your preferences before you start browsing games.

## The onboarding flow

The Welcome page is where you tune your game feed. You only see it in full on your first login, but you can return to update your preferences at any time from **Profile** or by navigating directly to `/welcome`.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Pick your categories">
    Select one or more game categories: **Racquet & paddle**, **Team sports**, **Lawn & outdoor**, or **Cards & tabletop**. You must pick at least one to continue. Selecting a category reveals the individual sports within it so you can fine-tune further.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select individual sports">
    After choosing a category, tap any sport you want to see in your feed. Deselecting a category automatically removes all of its sports from your selection.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set your location">
    Enter your city and state manually, or tap **Use my current location** to auto-detect them. On mobile, Witt & Play prompts for location automatically on first load if you haven't set a city yet.

    <Note>
      Your city and state are geocoded to coordinates so Witt & Play can calculate distances to nearby games. If geocoding fails (the city can't be found in the selected state), you'll see an inline error and need to correct the entry before saving.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set your search radius">
    Use the slider to choose how far out you want to see games — from 5 miles to 100 miles. The default is 25 miles.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write an intro (optional)">
    Add a short blurb (up to 500 characters) introducing yourself to the community. You can also use the **Generate with AI** button to draft one based on your display name, selected sports, and location. See [New-members spotlight](/getting-started/set-preferences#new-members-spotlight) for details on the opt-in feature.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save and start finding games">
    Click **Start finding games**. Your preferences are saved and you're redirected to the main feed.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  By continuing through onboarding, you agree to Witt & Play's safety standards and code of conduct.
</Warning>

## Next steps

Your account is created and your feed is set up — but before you can join or host a game, you need to verify your identity.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Complete verification" icon="shield-check" href="/getting-started/verification">
    Work through the five-step checklist to unlock joining and hosting.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Set your preferences" icon="sliders" href="/getting-started/set-preferences">
    Learn more about every preference option and where to update them later.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>