# Getting access

> Set up your Connect account from an invitation, sign in, and reset your password.

You reach Connect by **invitation**. The company running the project invites you
by email; you set a password, then sign in to view what they have shared.

## Set up your account

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the invitation">
    You receive an email inviting you to the project. Follow its link to **Set up
    your Connect account**.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Choose a password">
    Pick a password to complete setup. It must be at least **10 characters** and
    include an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, a number and a special
    character.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Sign in">
    Once set, you are taken to sign in.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Sign in

Go to [connect.gimlabs.io](https://connect.gimlabs.io) and sign in with your email
and password - the page reads **"Sign in using your Connect account."** You land
on the project's data.

## Forgot your password

On the sign-in page, choose **Forgot password?**, enter your email, and Connect
sends a reset link (it expires in an hour). Follow it to choose a new password.

## Your access

- Your access is to the **specific project (or projects)** you were invited to.
- It has an **expiry date**, and can be extended or revoked by the project team.
- What you can see and do - exporting, media, geology and so on - is set by the
  team that invited you.

<Callout type="warning" title="Access expired or missing?">
  If you cannot sign in or a project has disappeared, your access may have expired
  or been changed. Contact the person who invited you - they manage it from their
  GIMLabs tools. See [Troubleshooting](/connect/troubleshooting).
</Callout>