SurfSense DocsQuick start
Set up SurfSense, add your sources, ask a question and make something in Studio
This page takes you from a fresh install to your first answer and your first Studio output. If you haven't installed SurfSense yet, start with Install.
Set up
The first time you open SurfSense, a short setup runs. You can't use the app until it's done, and you only see it once.
Start
On the welcome screen, click Start setting up.
Make your privacy choices
Answer Yes or No to each of these, then click Continue:
- Check for updates. Lets SurfSense ask whether a newer version exists.
- Share usage statistics. Lets SurfSense send anonymous counts of how the app is used.
Nothing is sent until you choose. Show exactly what’s sent lists what each one sends. You can change both later in Settings. See Privacy.
Choose a text generation model
This is the model that answers you in chat, and the one step you can't skip. Pick one of these:
- On this computer. SurfSense lists the models that fit your computer and marks one Recommended. Click Download, then Use. Your chats stay on your computer. If the model you want isn't listed, click Not listed? Search Hugging Face.
- Use a server. Connect vLLM, LM Studio, OpenRouter or any other OpenAI-compatible API.
- Use your ChatGPT plan. Sign in with your ChatGPT account.
- Use your Claude plan. Use your Pro, Max or Team plan through Claude Code on this computer.
SurfSense asks before it downloads a model or sends anything to a server. Models covers each option in detail.
Choose the optional models
The next steps are marked Optional: image generation, image editing, audio and video. Studio uses them to make images, infographics, podcasts and video. Choose a model for any you want, or click Skip. You can add them later in Settings.
Choose an embedding model
The embedding model finds what you ask about in your documents. The default works well for English. Pick a multilingual model if your documents are in other languages.
You can’t change the embedding model later. Choose it with care.
Click Finish. SurfSense opens your first workspace.
Use SurfSense
Add sources
In Sources, open the add menu and choose Upload files… or Upload folder…, or drag files onto the list. You can also use Add from the web… for a web page or video, or New note to write one yourself.
Each source is processed on your computer before you can use it. A source shows as processing until it's ready. Sources lists the file types SurfSense reads.
Ask a question
Type your question in the chat box and send it. The answer cites the sources each point came from. Click a citation to see the passage it points to.
A chat runs in one of two modes:
- Basic (Q&A) answers from your sources.
- Agentic does tasks across your files, with tools.
Make something in Studio
In Studio, pick a format, such as Slides, PDF, Podcast, Mind map or Flashcards. Choose the sources to use, add a prompt if you want to steer it, and click Generate.
The result appears under Artifacts when it's ready. Some formats need a model you skipped during setup; Studio tells you which one. See Studio.
Next steps
- Keep separate projects apart with workspaces.
- Give the agent tools like web search with plugins.
- Dictate instead of typing with voice.
Last updated on November 2, 2026