This guide will walk you through how to quickly set up your Internet Identity (II) to securely login to any dApp on the Internet Computer blockchain.

1. Understanding Internet Identity

Internet identity is a secure digital form of identity that allows users to authenticate to dApps on the Internet Computer without needing traditional passwords. Unlike conventional systems where passwords are stored on centralized servers, Internet Identity uses cryptographic keys linked to devices (like biometric sensors) for authentication.

When you create an Internet Identity, a unique identifier known as a "principal" is generated for each dApp you authenticate with.

2. Prerequisites

A. For Desktop Users

Ensure your device has a secure sign-in method to store your passkey. For most devices, this means using either:

i)Windows Hello PIN (available on all Windows devices), or

ii)macOS Touch ID, PIN, or password (depending on available security options)

This process ensures that a passkey is stored securely for II login. You can use PINs as a default method since they are available on most systems.

B. For Mobile Users

You will need to enable screen lock on your mobile device. Internet Identity setup requires a minimum of a medium-security screen lock:

i)Android: A PIN, pattern, fingerprint, or facial recognition is required. Make sure to set this up before proceeding.

ii)iOS: Ensure your device has Face ID, Touch ID, or a secure passcode enabled. This will act as the biometric authentication for your II account.

Note: The goal is to enable a biometric or secure passcode login on your device to protect the II passkey. To keep things simple, this guide will use a PIN for both desktop and mobile devices. We also recommend using Chrome, Edge, or Firefox browser.

3. Creating your Internet Identity

When creating your Internet Identity, you have two options:

i) Visit https://identity.ic0.app directly. You will see a screen similar to this:

ii) Go to a dApp you wish to use that requires Internet Identity for authentication (for example, this one). When prompted to log in, you will be redirected to https://identity.ic0.app. You will see a screen similar to this:

The highlighted part in red is the name or URL of the dApp you are trying to authenticate to. 

In both of these options, select Create Internet Identity.

3.1 Creating Passkey

After selecting Create Internet Identity, you will be directed to a screen that requires you to create a passkey. This screen looks similar to this, for both desktop and mobile devices:

Select Create Passkey

The next step will differ slightly for mobile and desktop devices.

A. For Desktop Users

Note: For some browsers, depending on your setup, you might see a screen that requires you to set the passkey by saving it to your Google Password Manager. We will not be using this option. Select Save another way and select your desktop sign-in method or external security key to save your passkey.

You will be prompted to enter your desktop's sign-in method such as PIN, Touch ID, password, fingerprint, or Face ID, to store the passkey on your desktop device. Since we are using a PIN, windows users will see something similar to this:

Enter your PIN to proceed to the next step.

B. For Mobile Users

A screen appears that requires you to choose a device to store your passkey. The screen looks similar to this:

Select This device to save the passkey to your mobile device.

Another screen will appear that prompts you to enter your screen lock. Enter your screen lock to proceed to the next step.

3.2 Complete CAPTCHA

Complete CAPTCHA to proceed to the next step. This step is similar for both desktop and mobile devices.

3.3 Get Internet Identity

Congratulations! You now have your Internet Identity if you completed the previous steps. Your Internet Identity will be displayed on a screen similar to the one below:

Save the number somewhere safe and click I saved it, continue.

If you were trying to access any dApp before creating your Internet Identity, you will likely be redirected to that dApp. If you were creating the identity from the Internet Identity dApp, you would be directed to a screen that allows you to manage the Internet Identity. 

4. Using Internet Identity Across dApps

Now that you have an Internet Identity, you can log in to any dApp that authenticates with Internet Identity.

4.1 Logging into a dApp with Internet Identity

Visit any dApp that supports II and click Login or Login with Internet Identity if the option exists.

  • Select your Internet Identity.
  • Sign-in with your device's passkey.
  • You are in!

4.2 Managing your Internet Identity

  • Visit the Internet Identity dApp at https://identity.ic0.app.
  • Select your Internet Identity.
  • Here, you can add more devices to store your passkey or add recovery methods. We strongly recommend taking these steps.

We hope you found this guide very helpful! If you enjoyed it, why not log in with your Internet Identity and give us a round of applause? Your support means a lot to us!