---
title: "Quickstart: Cloud"
description: "Connect Basic Memory Cloud and create your first note in 2 minutes."
canonical_url: "https://docs.basicmemory.com/start-here/quickstart-cloud"
---
# Quickstart: Cloud

> Connect Basic Memory Cloud and create your first note in 2 minutes.

Basic Memory Cloud gives you a hosted MCP endpoint and a web app. Connect your AI assistant and start writing notes in minutes - no installation required.

<docs-video alt="Meet your workspace and write your first notes" poster="/videos/posters/docs-quickstart.png" src="https://docs.basicmemory.com/videos/docs-quickstart.mp4">



</docs-video>

<mermaid code="flowchart LR
    A[Sign Up] --> B[Connect AI]
    B --> C[Create Note]
    C --> D[View in App]
">



</mermaid>

---

## 1. Create an account

Sign up at [basicmemory.com](https://basicmemory.com/?utm_source=docs&utm_medium=docs&utm_campaign=quickstart-cloud). You'll need an active subscription to use the MCP endpoint.

After sign-up, the app prepares your workspace and opens a seeded **Getting Started** project — a short tutorial you can read (and edit) in place. A floating onboarding guide walks you through the same steps as this page: connect your agent, write your first note, and watch it appear live. The in-app **Help Center** (account menu → Help) keeps the same walkthrough available anytime — your MCP endpoint, setup guides, and a quick test prompt.

---

## 2. Connect your AI assistant

The published ChatGPT and Claude listings are the quickest setup paths. Choose your assistant, connect the listing, and complete the Basic Memory authorization flow.

### For Claude

<docs-video alt="Installing the Basic Memory Cloud connector in Claude and verifying it" poster="/videos/posters/docs-connect-claude.png" src="https://docs.basicmemory.com/videos/docs-connect-claude.mp4">



</docs-video>

1. Open the [Claude Directory](https://claude.ai/directory), or go to **Settings → Customize → Connectors** and select **+**.
2. Search for **Basic Memory Cloud**, open the published connector, and select **Install**.
3. Complete authorization, then ask Claude to list your Basic Memory projects.

The remote connector works across Claude web, desktop, mobile, Cowork, and Claude Code. Full walkthrough and manual connector fallback: [Claude Desktop](https://docs.basicmemory.com/integrations/claude-desktop).

### For ChatGPT

<docs-video alt="Installing the Basic Memory Cloud plugin in ChatGPT and using it in a chat" poster="/videos/posters/docs-connect-chatgpt.png" src="https://docs.basicmemory.com/videos/docs-connect-chatgpt.mp4">



</docs-video>

<steps>

### Open the plugin

Open [Basic Memory Cloud in ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com/plugins/plugin_asdk_app_6a49590bf6348191a16c0b87ca6b01b4), or select **Plugins** in the ChatGPT sidebar and search for **Basic Memory Cloud**.

### Connect

Select **Connect** and complete the Basic Memory authorization flow.

### Start a chat

Select **Try in chat**. In an existing conversation, type `@` and choose **Basic Memory Cloud**, or select **+ → More → Basic Memory Cloud**.

</steps>

See the [ChatGPT integration guide](https://docs.basicmemory.com/integrations/chatgpt) for the full walkthrough, managed-workspace notes, and manual custom MCP fallback.

<note>

If you need to configure a custom connector instead of using the stores, the remote MCP endpoint is `https://cloud.basicmemory.com/mcp`. The integration guides above have the current manual steps.

</note>

### For other assistants

See the [Integrations](https://docs.basicmemory.com/integrations) section for setup guides for:

- [Google Gemini](https://docs.basicmemory.com/integrations/gemini)
- [Cursor](https://docs.basicmemory.com/integrations/cursor)
- [VS Code](https://docs.basicmemory.com/integrations/vscode)
- [Claude Code](https://docs.basicmemory.com/integrations/claude-code)

---

## 3. Verify the connection

Ask your assistant:

```bash
List my basic memory projects
```

**Expected response** — something like:

```bash
You have 1 project:
- getting-started (default)
```

New accounts start with the seeded **Getting Started** tutorial project as the default.

<warning>

If you get an error, check the [Troubleshooting](https://docs.basicmemory.com/reference/troubleshooting) guide.

</warning>

---

## 4. Create your first note

Try this prompt:

```bash
Create a note called "My First Note" with a summary of what Basic Memory does.
```

Your assistant will use the `bm_write` tool to create a Markdown file in your cloud storage.

**Example conversation:**

```bash
You: Create a note called "My First Note" with a summary of what Basic Memory does.

AI: I'll create a note summarizing Basic Memory for you.

[Uses bm_write tool]

I've created "My First Note" in your knowledge base. The note covers:
- What Basic Memory is
- How the knowledge format works
- Key features like semantic search and relations
```

---

## 5. View your notes

Open [app.basicmemory.com/notes](https://app.basicmemory.com/notes) to see your new note in the sidebar. Notes written by your agent appear live — no refresh needed — and show up in the **Activity** view alongside your own edits.

In a compatible MCP client, you can also ask `Open Basic Memory` to browse the interactive app directly in the conversation. See [Pocketbook](https://docs.basicmemory.com/cloud/mcp-app).

**What you can do in the web app:**

- Browse all your notes in the folder tree
- Edit notes with the live Markdown editor
- Search across your knowledge base
- Import existing data from Claude, ChatGPT, or files
- Manage multiple projects
- Create snapshots for backup

<tip>

See the [Web App guide](https://docs.basicmemory.com/cloud/web-app) for the full tour — editing modes, keyboard shortcuts, projects, import, and settings.

</tip>

---

## 6. Invite your team

Basic Memory is better shared — one knowledge base for you, your teammates, and every agent connected to it. A decision captured in your Claude session becomes context for a teammate's Codex run.

Invite people from **Settings → Members** in the web app — they get an email, sign in, and start working in the shared projects right away. See [Basic Memory Teams](https://docs.basicmemory.com/teams/about) for workspaces, roles, and seats.

<docs-video alt="Inviting a teammate by email, and what they see when they accept" poster="/videos/posters/docs-teams-invite.png" src="https://docs.basicmemory.com/videos/docs-teams-invite.mp4">



</docs-video>

---

## What you can do now

Try these prompts with your assistant:

<table>
<thead>
  <tr>
    <th>
      Prompt
    </th>
    
    <th>
      What it does
    </th>
  </tr>
</thead>

<tbody>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <code>
        Create a note about [topic]
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Creates a new note with semantic structure
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <code>
        What have we discussed recently?
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Shows recently modified notes
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <code>
        Find notes about [topic]
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Searches your knowledge base
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <code>
        Continue our conversation about [topic]
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Loads context from previous notes
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <code>
        Add to my notes about [topic]
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Edits an existing note
    </td>
  </tr>
  
  <tr>
    <td>
      <code>
        Show me my notes on [topic]
      </code>
    </td>
    
    <td>
      Displays a formatted note
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody>
</table>

### Example workflow

```bash
You: "I've been researching coffee brewing methods. Create a note about pour-over technique."

AI: [Creates note with observations and tags]

--- Later ---

You: "What do I know about coffee brewing?"

AI: [Searches knowledge base, finds your pour-over note]
"Based on your notes, you've been exploring pour-over techniques..."

You: "Add a section about water temperature to my coffee notes"

AI: [Uses bm_edit to append new content]
```

---

## Next steps

<card-group>
<card icon="i-lucide-cloud" title="Cloud Guide" to="https://docs.basicmemory.com/cloud/cloud-guide">

Full cloud features including CLI tools, snapshots, and migration.

</card>

<card icon="i-lucide-layout-panel-left" title="Web App Guide" to="https://docs.basicmemory.com/cloud/web-app">

Learn the web interface for browsing and editing notes.

</card>

<card icon="i-lucide-refresh-cw" title="Cloud Sync" to="https://docs.basicmemory.com/cloud/cloud-sync">

Edit locally and sync with push and pull.

</card>

<card icon="i-lucide-file-text" title="Knowledge Format" to="https://docs.basicmemory.com/concepts/knowledge-format">

Learn the note structure with observations and relations.

</card>
</card-group>


## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](https://docs.basicmemory.com/sitemap.md) for all pages.