Getting Started: Signing Up and Profiles

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Welcome to Bonfire! This guide will help you create your account, set up your profiles, and get comfortable with the basics.

1. Signing Up

  • Visit the Bonfire instance you want to join (e.g. https://yourinstance.tld). Some instances are invite-only, and you may need an invite link from an admin or existing member.
  • Click Sign Up and fill in your desired username, email, and password.
  • Check your email for a confirmation link.

2. Creating and Managing Profiles

After signing up, you can create multiple profiles under your account. For example:

  • A personal profile for friends and family
  • A work profile for professional contacts
  • A project or community profile (which you can share with collaborators)

To create or manage profiles:

  • Go to your account settings and select Profiles.
  • Click Create Profile to add a new one.
  • Set a username, display name, and bio
  • Choose privacy settings for each profile:
    • People need to make a request before they can follow me: When enabled, others must send a follow request that you approve before they can follow this profile.
    • Make my profile publicly discoverable: When enabled, your profile can be found in Bonfire directories, the fediverse, and search engines.
    • Make my content searchable: When enabled, your posts and content can be indexed and found via search in Bonfire, the fediverse, and search engines.
  • Switch between profiles as needed when posting or interacting.

Note: By default, your different profiles are not publicly linked—each appears as a separate identity.
For more details, see Your Bonfire Profile and Identity.

3. Completing Your Profile

  • Add a display name and avatar to help others recognize you.
  • Write a short bio to introduce yourself.
  • Choose the right settings for each profile. For details on account vs. profile settings, see Your Bonfire Profile and Identity.

4. Next Steps

Bonfire is flexible—take your time to explore profiles, boundaries, and extensions to make the space your own!