# Create an account

> This page is about FlutterFlow Studio (the visual builder), not FlutterFlow (the app builder you use by describing your app).

URL: https://docs.flutterflow.io/before-you-begin/setup-flutterflow

Ensure you meet system requirements and grasp technical concepts for smooth building in FlutterFlow Studio.

Create your free account to get started with FlutterFlow Studio. After you've set up your account, you'll be able to create as many projects as you like.

You can [**sign up**](https://app.flutterflow.io/create-account) via Apple, Google, or Github.

## System Requirements

The FlutterFlow Studio application can be accessed from your browser or installed as a desktop app.

### General recommendations:
- Use a screen that is at least **1280 x 1024** 

### Browser recommendations:
- FlutterFlow Studio works best on **Google Chrome** 
- We recommend keeping your browser up-to-date, specifically within the latest two versions
- You should allow pop-up and redirects and ClipBoard from _app.flutterflow.io_.

### Desktop recommendations:
- **macOS**: While FlutterFlow Studio should work on 10.13 or higher, we recommend using 13 or higher
- **Windows**: While FlutterFlow Studio should work on 7 or higher, we recommend using 10 or higher

:::note
Some Windows users may experience a crash. To fix this, install the [**Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 Redistributable (both x64 and x86)**](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170) from the official Microsoft site.
:::

For details on target platform system requirements, please see the [Flutter documentation](https://docs.flutter.dev/reference/supported-platforms).

### Desktop vs Web:
We recommend using the desktop application for improved performance and access to features like [**local run**](https://docs.flutterflow.io/testing/local-run). 

However, our desktop applications are currently in a preview phase, which may result in some instability. 

## Open Links in the Desktop App

On macOS and Windows, the desktop app can open FlutterFlow Studio links directly to a specific project page, settings tab, or dashboard view. A link can come from a chat message, a ticket, or the address bar of the web app.

The desktop app accepts these kinds of links:

- A `flutterflow://` link, such as `flutterflow://project/PROJECT_ID?tab=uiBuilder`. When you select one, your operating system opens it in the desktop app.
- A link copied from the FlutterFlow Studio web app.

If the link points to the project that's already open, the desktop app switches to the linked view without reloading the project. Otherwise, it opens the project at that view.

### Open a Link You've Copied

To open a copied link in the desktop app, follow these steps:

1. In a project, open the Command Palette by pressing **Command + K** on macOS or **Ctrl + K** on Windows, and then select **Open FlutterFlow Studio Link**. On macOS, you can also choose **File > Open FlutterFlow Studio Link…** or press **Command + Shift + O**.
2. Paste the link, and then select **Open**.

If the link doesn't point to a supported FlutterFlow Studio view, the dialog shows an error.

<div style={{
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    height: 0,
    width: '100%'}}>
    <iframe 
        src="https://demo.arcade.software/kncPCBcN0QsC4DCDNLbq?embed&show_copy_link=true"
        title=""
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        frameborder="0"
        loading="lazy"
        webkitAllowFullScreen
        mozAllowFullScreen
        allowFullScreen
        allow="clipboard-write">
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<p></p>

### Copy a Link to the Current View

In Desktop App, to share the view you're working on, open the Command Palette and select **Copy Desktop Link to Current View**. FlutterFlow Studio copies a `flutterflow://` link that opens the same project, tab, and page or component in the desktop app.

Copy a desktop link to the current view

### Open Web Links in the Desktop App Automatically

By default, project links open in the browser. To open them in the desktop app instead, follow these steps:

1. In the web app, go to your **My Account** page.
2. Under **Desktop Application**, turn on **Open in desktop app**. If your account page shows choices instead of a switch, select **Desktop app**.

When this setting is on and you open a project link in a new browser tab, the desktop app opens at the linked view. The first time, your browser might ask for permission to open the FlutterFlow Studio desktop app. The browser tab shows **Link opened in the FlutterFlow Studio desktop app**. To load the project in the browser instead, select **Open here instead**.

:::note
- The desktop app must be installed. This setting applies only to links opened from the web app.
- This setting applies only when you open a project link in a new browser tab. Navigating to a project from inside the web app, such as from the dashboard, stays in the browser. To keep a single link in the browser, add `?noRedirect=1` to the URL. If the URL already has query parameters, add `&noRedirect=1` instead.
:::

<div style={{
    position: 'relative',
    paddingBottom: 'calc(56.67989417989418% + 41px)', // Keeps the aspect ratio and additional padding
    height: 0,
    width: '100%'}}>
    <iframe 
        src="https://demo.arcade.software/XcRlaDulKjS9zRYVA1wO?embed&show_copy_link=true"
        title=""
        style={{
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            top: 0,
            left: 0,
            width: '100%',
            height: '100%',
            colorScheme: 'light'
        }}
        frameborder="0"
        loading="lazy"
        webkitAllowFullScreen
        mozAllowFullScreen
        allowFullScreen
        allow="clipboard-write">
    </iframe>
</div>
<p></p>