# Login and Create a Workspace

{% hint style="success" %}
This is the first step to start with groundcover for all types of plans :rocket:
{% endhint %}

### Sign up to groundcover

The first thing you need to do to start using groundcover is [sign up](https://console.groundcover.com/) to groundcover console and create a workspace and a backend. Signing up is only possible using a computer and will not be possible using a mobile phone or tablet.

{% hint style="info" %}
It is highly recommended you use your corporate email address, as it will make it easier to use other features such as inviting your colleagues to your workspace. However, signing up using Gmail, Outlook or any other public domains is also possible.
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### Setup a backend

Follow the guidelines in the console to create a groundcover BYOC backend. Read more about groundcover architecture [here](/architecture/byoc.md).

<figure><img src="/files/qGPJhakQZzsn2y3cIRY0" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

After the backend was successfully provisioned, click on Go to App to see your groundcover workspace.

### Workspace Selection

When [signing in](https://app.groundcover.com) to groundcover for the first time, the platform automatically detects based on your authentication details the workspaces you joined or eligible to join. If you already joined one or more workspaces, you will be redirected to the last viewed workspace. If not and you have existing workspaces available, the workspace selection screen will be displayed, where you can choose the workspaces to join.

Available workspaces will be displayed **only** if either of the following applies:

* You have been invited to join existing workspaces and haven't joined them yet
* Someone has previously created a workspace that has auto-join enabled for the email domain that you used to sign in (applicable for corporate email domains only)

<figure><img src="/files/Wf4JI5ccy7vgjt4LephM" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### To join an existing workspace:

1. Click the **Join** button next to the desired workspace
2. You will be added as a user to that workspace with the user privileges that were assigned by default or those that were assigned to you specifically when the invite was sent.
3. You will automatically be redirected to that workspace.

### Workspace Auto-joining

Workspace admins can allow teammates that log in with the same email domain as them to join the Workspace they created automatically, without an admin approval. This capability is called "Auto-join". It is disabled by default, but can be switched on any time in the workspace settings.

{% hint style="warning" %}
If you logged in with a **public email domain** (Gmail, Yahoo, Proton, etc.) and are creating a new Workspace, you will not be able to switch on Auto-join for that Workspace.
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