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

# Quickstart

> Get BaseLayer running in under 5 minutes.

# Quickstart

Three steps to give your AI a memory.

## Step 1: Download the desktop app

<a href="https://baselayer.id/download" target="_blank">Download BaseLayer for macOS →</a>

Available for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. Open the `.dmg` and drag BaseLayer to your Applications folder.

<Note>On macOS, Gatekeeper may ask you to confirm you want to open the app. Go to **System Settings > Privacy & Security** and click **Open Anyway**.</Note>

## Step 2: Create your account

Launch BaseLayer and sign in with any of these methods:

* **Magic link**: Enter your email, click the link we send you
* **GitHub OAuth**: One click
* **Google OAuth**: One click

That's it. Your cloud-hosted memory is ready to go.

## Step 3: Start capturing

Set up both capture methods so BaseLayer sees all your AI conversations.

### Chrome extension (for web AI)

1. Install the [BaseLayer Chrome extension](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/baselayer-sovereign-memory/bhpchdhfjgecpnphpmpgmkeajefnhmdn)
2. Click the extension icon and connect to BaseLayer
3. Start chatting. Done.

The extension automatically captures conversations on Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, OpenRouter, and Open WebUI.

### IDE watcher (for coding tools)

The desktop app automatically detects conversations in **Cursor**, **Claude Code**, **Windsurf**, **Antigravity**, **GitHub Copilot**, and **Aider**. No extensions or plugins needed. Just make sure the desktop app is running.

***

## What happens next

Once you start chatting with AI, BaseLayer works in the background:

1. **Conversations are captured**: The extension or IDE watcher sends your conversation data securely to your memory
2. **Knowledge is extracted**: The dream engine processes conversations, identifying people, projects, technologies, concepts, and the relationships between them
3. **Your memory grows**: Within minutes, you can recall anything you've discussed from any AI tool

## Import existing conversations

Already have months of AI conversation history? Import it so your memory starts with existing knowledge:

* **Claude**: Go to [claude.ai](https://claude.ai) → Settings → Account → Export Data. Upload the ZIP in BaseLayer under Settings → Import Data → Claude.
* **ChatGPT**: Go to [chatgpt.com](https://chatgpt.com) → Settings → Data Controls → Export Data. Upload the ZIP in BaseLayer under Settings → Import Data → ChatGPT.
* **Gemini**: Install the [Chrome extension](/integrations/chrome-extension) and visit your Gemini conversation history. The extension will capture your conversations as you browse them.

Importing is always free with no limits on ingestion, regardless of your plan. See [Importing History](/desktop/importing-history) for more details.

## Connect an AI for recall

Give your AI tools access to your memory via MCP (Model Context Protocol). The easiest way is OAuth:

* [Claude.ai](/integrations/claude-ai): Settings > Integrations > add BaseLayer (OAuth)
* [ChatGPT](/integrations/chatgpt): Settings > Apps > add BaseLayer (OAuth)
* [Claude Code](/integrations/claude-code): Add via CLI
* [Gemini CLI](/integrations/gemini-cli): Add via CLI

Once connected, your AI can call tools like `ask_question` to search your memory for synthesized answers, `record_memory` to store new knowledge, and `recent_conversations` to load context from your latest chats.

<Tip>Try asking your AI: "What do you know about my current project?" If BaseLayer is connected, it will search your memory automatically.</Tip>