# Getting Started

This guide will walk you through your first experience with Invoke—from opening a project to having your first AI-powered coding conversation.

## [Launch Invoke](/content/docs/getting_started#launch-invoke/index.html)

When you first open Invoke, you'll see the Welcome screen with your options to get started.

From here, you can:

- **Open Folder** — Browse and select a project directory
- **Recent Projects** — Quickly reopen a previously opened project
- **Install CLI** — Set up command-line access to open projects from your terminal

## [Open a Workspace](/content/docs/getting_started#open-a-workspace/index.html)

### [Click "Open Folder"](/content/docs/getting_started#click-open-folder/index.html)

Click the **Open Folder** button on the Welcome screen. This opens your system's native file browser.

### [Select your project](/content/docs/getting_started#select-your-project/index.html)

Navigate to the folder containing your project and select it. This can be any directory—an existing codebase, a new empty folder, or a git repository.

### [Start working](/content/docs/getting_started#start-working/index.html)

Invoke opens your project in the main workspace. You'll see:

- **File Explorer** on the left with your project structure
- **Editor** in the center for viewing and editing files
- **AI Chat** on the side for conversations with the AI

**Pro tip:** Install the CLI to open projects directly from your terminal with `invoke .` or `invoke /path/to/project`.

## [Configure Your AI Provider](/content/docs/getting_started#configure-your-ai-provider/index.html)

Before chatting with the AI, you'll need to add an API key for at least one provider.

### [Open Settings](/content/docs/getting_started#open-settings/index.html)

Click the **Settings** icon (gear) in the bottom status bar, or use the keyboard shortcut.

### [Navigate to API Keys](/content/docs/getting_started#navigate-to-api-keys/index.html)

In the Settings dialog, click **API Keys** in the left sidebar.

### [Add your API key](/content/docs/getting_started#add-your-api-key/index.html)

Choose your preferred AI provider and enter your API key:

- **Anthropic**  
 1. Get your API key from [console.anthropic.com](https://console.anthropic.com/)  
 2. Paste it in the **Anthropic** field  
 3. Click **Save Key**  
 4. Toggle the switch to **Active**

- **OpenAI**  
 1. Get your API key from [platform.openai.com](https://platform.openai.com/api-keys)  
 2. Paste it in the **OpenAI** field  
 3. Click **Save Key**  
 4. Toggle the switch to **Active**

- **Google Gemini**  
 1. Get your API key from [Google AI Studio](https://aistudio.google.com/apikey)  
 2. Paste it in the **Google Gemini** field  
 3. Click **Save Key**  
 4. Toggle the switch to **Active**

- **xAI**  
 1. Get your API key from [xAI](https://console.x.ai/)  
 2. Paste it in the **xAI** field  
 3. Click **Save Key**  
 4. Toggle the switch to **Active**

### [Verify the connection](/content/docs/getting_started#verify-the-connection/index.html)

Once saved, your API key status will show as **Active** with a green badge. You're ready to start!

Keep your API keys secure. Invoke stores them locally in your system's secure keychain—they're never sent anywhere except to the AI provider.

## [Create an Account (Optional)](/content/docs/getting_started#create-an-account-optional/index.html)

Creating a Invoke account unlocks additional features and syncs your preferences.

### [Click your profile](/content/docs/getting_started#click-your-profile/index.html)

On the Welcome screen or in the main app, click the **profile icon** in the top-right corner.

### [Sign up or sign in](/content/docs/getting_started#sign-up-or-sign-in/index.html)

Choose **Create Account** to sign up, or **Sign In** if you already have an account.

### [Access your dashboard](/content/docs/getting_started#access-your-dashboard/index.html)

Once signed in, you can access your **Dashboard** to manage your subscription and preferences.

## [Send Your First Message](/content/docs/getting_started#send-your-first-message/index.html)

Now for the fun part—let's have your first conversation with Invoke!

### [Find the prompt input](/content/docs/getting_started#find-the-prompt-input/index.html)

Look for the prompt input area in the AI sidebar. You'll see a text field with the placeholder "Type @ to mention files..."

### [Choose a model](/content/docs/getting_started#choose-a-model/index.html)

Click the **model selector** dropdown at the top of the input area. Choose a model based on your configured API keys:

- **Grok** — xAI's powerful model
- **Gemini 2.0 Flash** — Google's fast model
- **GPT-4o** — OpenAI's general-purpose model
- **Claude 4.5 Sonnet** — Anthropic's powerful model

### [Select a mode](/content/docs/getting_started#select-a-mode/index.html)

Click the **mode selector** (or press `Shift+Tab`) to choose how you want the AI to work:

| Mode       | Best for                                      |
|------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| **Agent**  | Writing code, making changes, running commands |
| **Plan**   | Designing implementation before coding          |
| **Browser**| Web automation and testing                      |

### [Type your message](/content/docs/getting_started#type-your-message/index.html)

Try one of these to get started:

```
Explain what this project does
```

```
Help me add a new feature that...
```

```
Find and fix the bug in...
```

Type `@` to mention specific files or folders. This gives the AI targeted context about your code.

### [Send and watch the magic](/content/docs/getting_started#send-and-watch-the-magic/index.html)

Press **Enter** or click the **Send** button. The AI will:

- Read your message and understand your intent
- Analyze relevant files in your project (in Agent mode)
- Provide explanations, suggestions, or code changes
- Stream the response in real-time

## [Understanding the Response](/content/docs/getting_started#understanding-the-response/index.html)

When Invoke responds, you'll see:

- **Text explanations** — Clear descriptions of what the AI found or suggests
- **Code blocks** — Syntax-highlighted code with copy and apply buttons
- **File changes** — Diffs showing exactly what will change in your files
- **Tool usage** — Indicators when the AI reads files, searches code, or runs commands

In **Agent** mode, the AI can read your files, search your codebase, and execute terminal commands to help you. You'll see each action as it happens.

### [Applying Code Changes](/content/docs/getting_started#applying-code-changes/index.html)

When the AI suggests code changes:

1. Review the diff showing the before and after
2. Click **Apply** to accept the change
3. Or click **Discard** to reject it

Use **Sandbox mode** to preview changes safely before applying them to your actual files.

## [Next Steps](/content/docs/getting_started#next-steps/index.html)

You're all set! Here are some things to explore next:

[Installation\
\
Download and install Invoke on macOS, Windows, and Linux.](/content/docs/installation/index.html) [Pricing & Plans\
\
Choose the plan that fits your needs](/content/docs/pricing/index.html)