# Sign in and activate MAO

Connect this MAO install to your account and activate your access.

Signing in connects this MAO install to your MAO account so the app can check your access. It does not sign your agent providers in.

## Sign in

1. On the licence gate or account screen, choose **Sign in**.
2. Complete the email magic-link step in your browser, then approve **Connect MAO on [device]**.
3. Return to MAO and wait for the app to finish connecting.
4. If the browser cannot return to MAO, choose **Use a code instead** in the app, copy the code shown in the browser, paste it into the account screen, and choose **Continue**.

> **Tip:** If MAO cannot open your browser, choose **Copy link** and open that link yourself. Choose **Open again** on the waiting screen to reopen it later.

> **Limit:** You need an MAO account to start the app. A new account has a 7-day trial; the app can work offline only while its access token is valid. Agent-provider accounts are separate.

Source: https://trymao.dev/docs/getting-started/account-sign-in