---
title: Get started with Keyguard
description: Install Keyguard, create its local vault, and add your first
  Bitwarden or KeePass account.
url: https://keyguard.dev/docs/getting-started/
platforms:
  - android
  - linux
  - macos
  - windows
premium: false
---

# Get started with Keyguard

In this tutorial, you install Keyguard, create its local vault, and add your first account. At the end, your items are in Keyguard and you can search them.

### Before you begin

- A Bitwarden or Vaultwarden account, or a KeePass (`.kdbx`) database. Keyguard can also create a new KeePass database.

## Install the app

1. Download Keyguard for your platform from the [Download](https://keyguard.dev/download/) page.
2. Install Keyguard.
3. Open Keyguard. It asks you to create a vault.

## Create the local vault

The app password protects Keyguard’s data on this device. It’s separate from your Bitwarden or KeePass password.

1. In **App password**, enter a new password.
2. Optional: to unlock with biometrics, select **Biometric authentication**. It appears only on devices that support it.
3. Select **Create a vault**. Keyguard opens your empty vault.

## Add an account

1. On the empty vault screen, select **Bitwarden** or **KeePass**.
2. Sign in to your Bitwarden account, or open your `.kdbx` file. Your items appear in the vault.

For a self-hosted server, SSO, or a database on WebDAV or S3, see [Connect to a Bitwarden server](https://keyguard.dev/docs/bitwarden/self-hosted/) or [KeePass databases](https://keyguard.dev/docs/keepass/).

## Search your vault

In **Search vault**, enter part of an item’s name. Matching items appear as you type.

## Next steps

- [Autofill](https://keyguard.dev/docs/autofill/)
- [Lock and unlock](https://keyguard.dev/docs/lock-and-unlock/)
- [Automatic backups](https://keyguard.dev/docs/backups/)
- [Import from another password manager](https://keyguard.dev/docs/migrating/)
- [Watchtower](https://keyguard.dev/docs/watchtower/)