# Setup

Set up your Orchard instance the first time you open it: enter your setup key and create the first operator account before any service is exposed.

To use Orchard you must first create the admin account. This is a one-time step: you
prove you own the instance with your setup key and create the first operator account.

<figure class="screenshot">

![The Orchard setup screen: a field for the setup key, then username and password fields to create the first operator account.](../../../assets/your-orchard-setup.png)

<figcaption>Orchard's one-time setup screen.</figcaption>

</figure>

## How to set up

- **Prove ownership with your setup key.** Enter the same `SETUP_KEY` you set in Orchard's `.env`. It confirms you're the one standing up this instance, so no one else can claim it first.
- **Create the admin account.** Choose any username and password for the first operator. You can change them later from your account settings, and Orchard hashes the password before storing it in its database.
- **Land on Home.** Once the account is created, Orchard signs you in and opens the [Home screen](/orchard/home/).