How to sign up for an account with iNaturalist Next

If you're totally new to iNaturalist you'll want to set up an account so you can share your observations and get identification help. iNaturalist accounts are completely free.

Here's how to sign up for an account:

1. Tap on the "Log in to iNaturalist" button
2. Tap on "Don't have an account? Sign up" at the bottom of the next screen.
3. You're now on the Account Creation screen, which looks like this:

You are asked to enter an email address, a username, and a password.

• Email address: this must be a valid email address (e.g. in the format email@domain.com) and cannot be currently linked to an existing iNaturalist account. Your email address is what you will use if you need to reset your password, so it's best to choose an email address you check regularly and will not potentially lose access to (such as a school or employer email account).
  
  
• Username: sometimes called a "screen name", this is the unique handle linked to your account, and what your public content such as observations and identifications will be credited to. Your username does not have to contain your actual name. A username must be unique, begin with a letter, contain no spaces, and use only letters, numbers, dashes, and underscores.
  
  
• Password: passwords must contain at least six characters, but we recommend using a strong password and a password manager if possible.

Once you enter those and tap "Create an Account" you will see this screen:

Tapping or clicking on "Learn More" will display more information about that item. Check the box if you consent.

It's possible to make an account without licensing your photos, sounds, and observations so scientists can use your data (although we strongly recommend keeping that box checked, read more here), but you will not be able to make an account without consenting or agreeing to the other three points.