# Quick start

Go from sign-up to your first AI video in about 10 minutes. These five steps match the **Quick start guide** inside the dashboard. Prefer watching? See the [documentation overview video](https://vidmachine.ai/docs).

## 1. Create your account

Sign up with Google or email. Your account includes free credits, so you can create your first video without adding a payment method.

## 2. Connect a channel

Open **Accounts** in the sidebar and connect YouTube and/or TikTok. You can skip this for now, but you need a connected account before VidMachine can publish for you.

![VidMachine Social Accounts page with the Connect YouTube and Connect TikTok buttons highlighted](https://vidmachine.ai/docs/getting-started/1-accounts.png)

Connect YouTube or TikTok under Accounts. Instagram appears when it is enabled for your account.

## 3. Create a project

Open **Projects** and click **Create Project**. Use one project per channel or niche — its settings apply to every video in it.

![VidMachine Projects page with the Create Project button highlighted](https://vidmachine.ai/docs/getting-started/2-projects.png)

Projects hold the channel settings. Click Create Project in the top-right.

Give the project a **Title** and a **Channel Description** (100–5,000 characters). The description is the main creative brief — the AI uses it for ideas, screenplays, and visuals. You can leave the other sections on their defaults and edit them later.

![Create Project modal with the Title and Channel Description fields filled in](https://vidmachine.ai/docs/getting-started/3-create-project.png)

Title and Channel Description are the only fields you must fill to start. See [How to create videos](https://vidmachine.ai/docs/guides/create-videos.md) for every setting.

## 4. Generate video ideas

Open **Videos** and click **Generate Video Ideas**, then pick your project. VidMachine writes a batch of titles (10 by default) from your channel description — 1 credit per batch. Keep the ideas you like.

![VidMachine Videos page with the Generate Video Ideas button highlighted](https://vidmachine.ai/docs/getting-started/4-videos-ideas.png)

Generate Video Ideas fills your idea pool. Each batch uses 1 credit.

## 5. Generate your first video

Open an idea from the list and click **Generate Video**. VidMachine runs the full pipeline: screenplay, scenes, media, optional narrator and captions, and the final export. You can leave the page — the video status stays visible on **Videos**.

![Video idea page with the Generate Video button highlighted](https://vidmachine.ai/docs/getting-started/5-idea-oneshot.png)

Generate Video builds the complete video from the idea. Credits are used based on length, content types, and models.

## After your first video

When the video is ready, set it to **Upcoming** with a post time or publish it right away. Connect accounts under **Accounts** if you skipped that step. To make videos automatically, open **Projects**, click **Schedule** on your project, and enable **Auto Generate Videos** — see [Automatic video generation](https://vidmachine.ai/docs/guides/automatic-video-generation.md).

## If something goes wrong

- **Generate Video Ideas is disabled or asks for a project** — create a project first, then select it in the dialog.
- **Channel Description is rejected** — it must be at least 100 characters. Describe your topic, audience, format, and tone.
- **Nothing publishes** — connect YouTube or TikTok under Accounts, then schedule the video or publish it manually.
- **Generation fails or looks stuck** — open the video to see its status and error. You can retry, or add fallback models in the project settings.
- **Out of credits** — see [Credits & billing](https://vidmachine.ai/docs/guides/credits-and-billing.md) for what uses credits and how to top up.

## What to read next

- [How to create videos](https://vidmachine.ai/docs/guides/create-videos.md) — every project setting and the manual workflow.
- [Automatic video generation](https://vidmachine.ai/docs/guides/automatic-video-generation.md) — accounts, schedules, and Auto Mode.
- [Credits & billing](https://vidmachine.ai/docs/guides/credits-and-billing.md)
- [API reference](https://vidmachine.ai/docs/api.md)