# Connect an account

Connect a social account in the Zernio dashboard so your AI assistant can post, reply and read analytics on it.

import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

Your assistant can only use accounts you've connected in Zernio. It takes a minute per account.

## Connect from the dashboard

<Steps>
<Step>

**Open New Connection**

In the [dashboard](https://zernio.com/dashboard), go to **Connections** and click **New Connection**.

<StepVideo src="/videos/for-you/connect-1-new-connection.mp4" caption="Opening New Connection" />

</Step>
<Step>

**Pick a profile**

Under **Add to profile**, choose the profile the account belongs to. A profile groups the accounts of one brand or client.

<StepVideo src="/videos/for-you/connect-2-profile.mp4" caption="Choosing the profile the account joins" />

</Step>
<Step>

**Pick the platform**

Click the platform, here YouTube. Zernio hands you to the platform's own sign-in: pick your account or channel and approve access. Some platforms then ask which page or organization to add.

<StepVideo src="/videos/for-you/connect-3-platform.mp4" caption="Choosing YouTube" />

</Step>
<Step>

**Check it in Connections**

You're back in the dashboard, and the account shows in **Connections** as **connected**.

<StepVideo src="/videos/for-you/connect-4-connected.mp4" caption="The YouTube channel in Connections" />

</Step>
</Steps>

## Connect someone else's account

Each platform row has two more buttons:

- **Phone:** connect from your phone, handy when the login lives in a mobile app.
- **Link:** create an invite link for the account's owner, so they sign in themselves and you never see their password.

## Next steps

- [Connect with MCP](/for-you/mcp): add Zernio to your assistant.
- [Things to ask](/for-you/prompts): requests that work well once an account is connected.
- [Troubleshooting](/for-you/troubleshooting): fixes when a connection fails.