> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cobalt-55-abhishek.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quick Start

> Connect a real app and trigger your first integration through the Refold API in about 10 minutes.

Refold connects your product to third-party apps through linked accounts, connectors, and workflows. This quickstart runs that loop end to end: get an API key, configure an app, connect it to a linked account, and run your first integration through the API. Plan about 10 minutes.

## Prerequisites

* **A Refold account.** Log in at [app.refold.ai](https://app.refold.ai). Don't have one? [Contact us](https://www.refold.ai/contact-us) to get set up.
* **No third-party credentials needed.** This quickstart uses the **Playground app** (`playground_app`), a built-in test connector for running the full loop.

<Note>
  Every API call uses the base URL `https://app.refold.ai` and sends your API key in the `x-api-key` header. Account-scoped calls also send the customer's `linked_account_id` as a header.
</Note>

## Get your API key

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Settings > Credentials">
    In the [Refold Console](https://app.refold.ai/settings/credentials), go to **Settings > Credentials**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy your key">
    Copy your API key and export it as an environment variable so the commands below can read it.

    ```bash theme={null}
    export REFOLD_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Configure the Playground app

Before a customer can connect an app, configure how Refold authenticates with it. The Playground app uses key-based auth.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Playground app">
    Go to **Apps > Playground app > Settings**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the auth method">
    Select **Key-based**, add the **API key**, and click **Save**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Real connectors may use OAuth 2.0 instead of key-based auth. See [Authentication](/v3/platform/concepts/connector/authentication) to set up an OAuth app for production.
</Note>

## Create a linked account

A linked account represents one of your customers. Create one through the API. You choose the `linked_account_id`, then reuse it in every account-scoped call.

```bash cURL theme={null}
curl -X POST https://app.refold.ai/api/v2/public/linked-account \
  -H "x-api-key: $REFOLD_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "linked_account_id": "demo-user-1",
    "name": "Demo User"
  }'
```

```json Output theme={null}
{ "success": true }
```

## Connect the app

Generate a [Connect portal](/v3/native/frontend/overview) URL for the linked account, then open it to connect the app.

```bash cURL theme={null}
curl -X POST https://app.refold.ai/api/v2/public/connect-url \
  -H "x-api-key: $REFOLD_API_KEY" \
  -H "linked_account_id: demo-user-1" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{ "name": "Demo User" }'
```

```json Output theme={null}
{ "hosted_url": "https://app.refold.ai/connect/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9..." }
```

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Connect portal">
    Open the `hosted_url` from the response in your browser.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect the Playground app">
    Find the **Playground app**, click **Connect**, and complete authentication.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  The Connect portal is Refold's hosted connection UI. You can build your own with the [frontend SDKs](/v3/native/frontend/overview).
</Note>

## Trigger your first integration

With the app connected, run a published workflow for the linked account through the workflow API. Pass the workflow's ID in the path and the Playground app's slug, `playground_app`, in the `slug` header.

<Note>
  The workflow must be **published** before you can run it. Get its ID from [List Workflows](/v3/api-reference/workflows/list-workflows) or the Console.
</Note>

```bash cURL theme={null}
curl -X POST https://app.refold.ai/api/v2/public/workflow/YOUR_WORKFLOW_ID/execute \
  -H "x-api-key: $REFOLD_API_KEY" \
  -H "linked_account_id: demo-user-1" \
  -H "slug: playground_app" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{ "payload": { "email": "jane@example.com" } }'
```

```json Output theme={null}
{
  "message": "Workflow execution started",
  "execution_id": "6a314c54d4616e99e7fa5a02"
}
```

Refold acknowledges with an `execution_id` and starts the run. Open **Logs** in the Console to follow it. To get the workflow output inline instead, add the `sync_execution: true` header. For every option, see [Execute Workflow](/v3/api-reference/workflows/execute-workflow).

## Choose your product

You've run the core loop. Now pick the product that fits how you ship integrations.

| Product                                                                | Who it's for                                                           |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [**Native**](/v3/native/get-started/overview)                          | SaaS teams embedding third-party integrations inside their own product |
| [**Integration Delivery**](/v3/integration-delivery/overview/overview) | Teams delivering bespoke enterprise integrations to their customers    |
| [**MCP**](/v3/mcp/get-started/what-is-mcp)                             | AI teams giving agents secure, governed access to enterprise systems   |