> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bkmark.it/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Quickstart: Save Your First Bookmark in 5 Minutes
> Create a free Bkmark account, install the browser extension, save a bookmark, add a tag, and run your first search — step by step.
Getting up and running with Bkmark takes about five minutes. By the end of this guide you'll have a working account, the browser extension installed, a bookmark saved and tagged, and a feel for how search works. If you want to connect the API, there's a quick example at the end.
### Create your free account
Head to [bkmark.it/register](https://bkmark.it/register) and sign up with your email address. No credit card is required — the Free plan is free forever.
After confirming your email, you'll land on your **Dashboard**. This is your home screen: a live view of your most recently saved bookmarks, quick-access groups in the left sidebar, and a search bar at the top.
If you have an existing browser bookmarks file, go to **Settings → Import** to bring everything over in one step. Bkmark supports the standard Netscape HTML bookmark format exported by Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
### Install the browser extension
The extension is the fastest way to save pages as you browse.
1. Visit the extension page for your browser — **Chrome Web Store**, **Firefox Add-ons**, or **Edge Add-ons** — and click **Add to browser**.
2. Pin the Bkmark icon to your toolbar so it's always one click away.
3. Click the icon for the first time and sign in with the same account you just created.
Once signed in, the extension badge turns from grey to your account color, confirming it's connected.
Use the keyboard shortcut **Ctrl + Shift + B** (Windows/Linux) or **Cmd + Shift + B** (macOS) to open the save dialog from any tab without touching your mouse.
### Save your first bookmark
Open any webpage you'd like to save — an article, a tool, a documentation page, anything.
1. Click the Bkmark icon in your toolbar (or press the keyboard shortcut).
2. The save dialog opens. Bkmark has already pulled in the **title** and **URL** for you.
3. Optionally edit the title or add a short **description** in your own words.
4. Choose a **Group** from the dropdown, or type a new group name to create one on the spot.
5. Click **Save**.
The icon briefly animates to confirm the save. That's it — your bookmark is now in your library.
You can also save directly from the Bkmark web app:
1. Click the **+ New** button in the top-right corner of the dashboard.
2. Choose a bookmark type: **Link**, **Note**, **Code**, or **Image**.
3. Fill in the details and click **Save**.
### Organize with a tag
Tags let you slice your collection across multiple groups. Let's add one to the bookmark you just saved.
1. Click on the bookmark you saved to open its detail panel.
2. In the **Tags** field, type a word that describes the content — for example `design`, `reference`, or `to-read`.
3. Press **Enter** or **comma** to confirm the tag.
4. Add as many tags as you like, then click **Save changes**.
The tag now appears on the bookmark card. Click any tag anywhere in Bkmark to instantly filter your library to every bookmark sharing that tag.
On Pro and Team plans, enable **AI auto-tagging** in **Settings → AI** and Bkmark will suggest tags for you the moment a link is saved. You can accept all suggestions in one click.
### Use search
Click the search bar at the top of the dashboard (or press **/** on your keyboard) and type any word that might appear in a bookmark's title or description.
Bkmark scans your entire library as you type and shows matching results instantly. Click any result to open that bookmark's detail panel.
**Filtering tips:**
* Type `tag:design` to filter by a specific tag.
* Type `group:work` to search within a specific group.
* Combine filters: `tag:react group:work` narrows to bookmarks tagged `react` inside your Work group.
Pro and Team plans include **AI semantic search**. Instead of matching exact words, semantic search understands meaning — so a query like "articles about remote work culture" surfaces relevant bookmarks even if those words don't appear verbatim.
## Make your first API call
If you're on a Pro or Team plan, you can access your bookmarks programmatically using the Bkmark REST API.
**Get your API key:**
1. Go to **Settings → API**.
2. Click **Generate API key**.
3. Copy the key — you won't be able to see it again after closing the dialog.
**Fetch your bookmarks with curl:**
```bash theme={null}
curl https://api.bkmark.it/api/v1/bookmarks \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
```
A successful response looks like this:
```json theme={null}
{
"data": [
{
"id": "bk_01hx9kz2p4",
"title": "How to Write Great Documentation",
"url": "https://example.com/great-docs",
"description": "A guide to writing docs developers actually read.",
"tags": ["writing", "docs", "reference"],
"groupId": "grp_01hx8ab3c1",
"createdAt": "2025-06-01T10:22:00.000Z"
}
],
"pagination": {
"page": 1,
"perPage": 20,
"total": 142
}
}
```
API access requires a Pro or Team plan. See the [API Reference](/api/overview) for the full list of endpoints, query parameters, and response schemas.
## What's next?
Learn all the extension shortcuts and how to save different content types from your browser.
Connect Slack and Zapier to save bookmarks automatically from the tools you use daily.
Unlock AI features, the API, and unlimited storage by upgrading to Pro or Team.
Explore every available endpoint and build automations on top of your library.