# What first run actually asks you, and what sticks afterwards

Seven steps, only one of which you cannot skip. A couple of the choices are locked in once you move past them, which is worth knowing before you click through.

*https://perpetualtechnologies.co.uk/support/onboarding-walkthrough — last checked 2026-09-08*

## Steps

1. Consent is the only required step: read and accept the EULA and privacy notice. Nothing else in onboarding can be reached without it.
2. Voice is optional: pick how Cortex talks to you, a register and an explanation depth. It writes into CORTEX.md the moment your vault is created in the next step, and is locked after that: change it later from Settings, Cortex standing instructions instead.
3. Vault: pick or create the folder, with an optional starter-notes checkbox.
4. Ollama and API key are both optional, and either can be skipped entirely if you plan to add a provider later.
5. Tiers lets you set a model for each level, Cortex, Agents and sub-agents, or leave them on the default.
6. Account is last: create one or sign in. Creating one does not sign you in immediately; a confirmation email has to be clicked first.

## How to tell it worked

The final summary screen names the choices you made, and the app opens on Chat afterwards with your vault already pointed at what you chose.

## If it does not work

**You changed your mind about Cortex’s voice and it did not take.**

Voice only writes into CORTEX.md once, at the moment your vault is created during onboarding. Change it afterwards from Settings, AI & extensions, Cortex standing instructions instead, which rewrites the file directly.

**You skipped Ollama and the API key step and now Chat will not answer.**

That is expected: nothing can run a model until you add one. Add a provider key or install Ollama from Settings whenever you are ready.

## Related guides

- [Sign in, and see what your edition includes](https://perpetualtechnologies.co.uk/support/sign-in-and-edition)
- [Write standing instructions the assistant always follows](https://perpetualtechnologies.co.uk/support/standing-instructions)
- [Run a model on your own machine with Ollama](https://perpetualtechnologies.co.uk/support/connect-ollama)

## Still stuck

Bug reports belong in the app, in Settings, About. Those carry no contact details, so they
get fixed rather than answered. To get a reply, email us instead: that route targets two
business days. https://perpetualtechnologies.co.uk/contact