internet-id/docs/user-guide/quick-start.md

Quick Start: Register Your First Content

This tutorial will guide you through registering your first piece of content in about 5 minutes. We'll use the One-Shot workflow, which handles everything in a single step.

⏱️ What You'll Do

1. Select your file
2. Configure privacy settings
3. Register on blockchain
4. Get your verification badge
5. Share your proof

Time needed: 5 minutes
Cost: ~$0.01 in gas fees
Difficulty: Beginner

✅ Before You Start

Make sure you've completed:

• Wallet setup
• Connected to Internet ID
• Have at least $0.10 worth of ETH/MATIC in your wallet

Not ready? Go back to the Getting Started Guide.

📋 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Navigate to One-Shot Registration

1. Go to app.internet-id.io
2. Make sure your wallet is connected (top right should show your address)
3. Click "Register Content" in the navigation menu
4. Select "One-Shot Registration" tab

Step 2: Choose Your File

1. Click "Choose File" or drag and drop
2. Select your content file:
   • ✅ Videos (MP4, MOV, AVI, etc.)
   • ✅ Images (JPG, PNG, GIF, etc.)
   • ✅ Audio (MP3, WAV, FLAC, etc.)
   • ✅ Documents (PDF, TXT, etc.)
3. Wait for the file to load (large files may take a moment)

💡 Tip: Maximum file size is 100MB for web upload. For larger files, use the CLI tool.

Step 3: Configure Privacy Settings

You'll see two important checkboxes:

Upload Original to IPFS (Optional)

☐ Upload file to IPFS (makes content publicly accessible)

Unchecked (Default) - Privacy Mode:

• Only the file's hash is used
• Your original file stays on your device
• Manifest is uploaded, but NOT the file
• Recommended for private or sensitive content

Checked - Public Mode:

• File is uploaded to IPFS
• Anyone can download the original
• Good for content you want to distribute
• Recommended for public releases

🔒 Privacy Tip: If you're not sure, leave this unchecked. You can always upload the file later, but you can't make it private once uploaded.

Automatically Bind Platform Link (Optional)

☐ Bind platform URL after registration

If you've already posted this content on YouTube, TikTok, etc., you can bind it immediately:

• Check this box
• Enter the platform URL (e.g., https://youtube.com/watch?v=abc123)
• Saves time by doing both steps at once

Step 4: Review and Register

1. Check the Summary Box

   • File name and size
   • Content hash (this is your fingerprint!)
   • Network (e.g., Base)
   • Estimated gas fee

2. Click "Register Content"

3. Approve in MetaMask

   • MetaMask popup will appear
   • Review the gas fee (should be ~$0.01)
   • Click "Confirm"

4. Wait for Confirmation

   • Progress indicator will show: "Uploading manifest" → "Submitting transaction" → "Confirming"
   • Takes 5-15 seconds depending on network
   • Don't close the page!

Step 5: Success! 🎉

You'll see a success message with:

• ✅ Your content hash
• ✅ Transaction hash (blockchain proof)
• ✅ Link to view on block explorer
• ✅ Your verification badge

🎨 Your Verification Badge

You now have a verification badge! Here's what to do with it:

View Your Badge

1. Click "View Details" or go to Dashboard
2. Find your registered content
3. Click "Share" to see sharing options

Badge Options

• Badge Image: SVG that links to verification page
• QR Code: Scannable code for easy verification
• Verification Link: Direct URL to public verification page
• Embed Code: HTML to add to your website

Copy Everything at Once

Click "Copy All" to get:

Verification Badge: https://app.internet-id.io/api/badge/[hash]
Verification Link: https://app.internet-id.io/verify?hash=[hash]
QR Code: https://app.internet-id.io/api/qr?url=[verification_link]
Embed Code: <a href="..."><img src="..." /></a>

📢 Sharing Your Proof

On Social Media

Add your verification link to:

• YouTube video descriptions
• Twitter/X bio or tweets
• Instagram bio or captions
• TikTok bio

Example:

Verified with Internet ID ✓
🔗 https://app.internet-id.io/verify?hash=abc123...

On Your Website

Embed the badge:

<a href="https://app.internet-id.io/verify?hash=abc123...">
  <img
    src="https://app.internet-id.io/api/badge/abc123..."
    alt="Verified by Internet ID"
    width="200"
  />
</a>

In Video Content

Add QR code to:

• Video outro/credits
• Lower third graphics
• End screens

🔗 Binding to Platform Links

If you didn't bind during registration, you can do it now:

Quick Bind

1. Go to your Dashboard
2. Find your registered content
3. Click "Add Platform Link"
4. Enter the URL (e.g., YouTube video URL)
5. Click "Bind" and confirm in MetaMask

Supported Platforms

• YouTube
• Twitter/X
• TikTok
• Instagram
• GitHub
• LinkedIn
• Discord

See Platform Bindings for detailed guides for each platform.

✅ Verify It Works

Let's make sure everything is working:

1. Test Your Verification Link

   • Copy your verification URL
   • Open in a new browser tab (or incognito/private window)
   • You should see your content details and verification status

2. Check the Blockchain

   • Click the transaction hash link
   • View on block explorer (BaseScan, PolygonScan, etc.)
   • See your transaction permanently recorded

3. Try the Browser Extension (Optional)

   • Install Internet ID extension
   • Visit your platform link (e.g., YouTube)
   • Extension should show verification badge

🎓 What You Learned

Congratulations! You now know how to:

• ✅ Register content on blockchain
• ✅ Generate a unique content fingerprint
• ✅ Create a verification badge
• ✅ Share proof of ownership
• ✅ Bind to platform links

🚀 Next Steps

Go Deeper

• Upload and Register Content Guide - Advanced registration options
• Platform Bindings - Connect all your platforms
• Managing Content - Update and manage your content

Optimize

• Gas Fees Guide - Minimize costs
• Batch Operations - Register multiple files at once

Share

• Browser Extension - Install for easy verification
• Tell other creators about Internet ID!

🆘 Troubleshooting

Transaction Failed

• Check balance: Need enough for gas + small buffer
• Try again: Network congestion can cause failures
• Increase gas: Click "Edit" in MetaMask if transaction is stuck

File Upload Failed

• Check file size: Must be under 100MB for web
• Check internet connection: Upload requires stable connection
• Use CLI for large files: See CLI Usage Guide

Can't See My Content

• Wait a moment: Can take 30-60 seconds to index
• Refresh the page: Browser cache might be stale
• Check network: Make sure you're on the same network you registered on

Verification Link Doesn't Work

• Wait for confirmation: Need 1-2 block confirmations
• Check URL: Make sure you copied the full link
• Try again: Database might need a moment to update

💬 Get Help

Questions? We're here to help!

• FAQ - Common questions
• Troubleshooting Guide - Technical issues
• Discord - Community support
• Email - support@internet-id.io

🎉 Share Your Success

Registered your first content? Share it with the community!

• Tag us on Twitter: @InternetID
• Join our Discord and show off your badge
• Help other creators get started

Welcome to the Internet ID community! 🚀