> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.msgflash.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Send your first WhatsApp message through MsgFlash in a few minutes.

## Step 1 — Create your account

Create your account at [app.msgflash.com/signup](https://app.msgflash.com/signup).

The account starts on the Free plan:

* 1 instance
* 20 outbound messages per month
* 1 API key for testing

After email signup:

* your account is not automatically logged in
* you must first verify your email address
* then return to `/login`

***

## Step 2 — Connect WhatsApp

1. Open **Instances**
2. Create an instance
3. Connect it with the QR code
4. Wait for the `connected` status

***

## Step 3 — Generate an API key

1. Open **API Keys**
2. Create a new key
3. Copy it immediately

<Note>
  The Free plan now allows 1 test API key. The rest of the Free limits stay unchanged.
</Note>

Format:

```txt theme={null}
msgf_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
```

***

## Step 4 — Send your first message

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://srv.msgflash.com/api/v1/messages/send \
  -H "x-api-key: msgf_live_your_api_key_here" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "instanceId": "YOUR_INSTANCE_ID",
    "to": "+33612345678",
    "type": "text",
    "text": "Hello from MsgFlash!"
  }'
```

Response:

```json theme={null}
{
  "data": {
    "id": "a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-abcd-ef1234567890",
    "instanceId": "YOUR_INSTANCE_ID",
    "type": "text",
    "to": "+33612345678",
    "body": "Hello from MsgFlash!",
    "status": "queued",
    "createdAt": "2026-04-01T10:00:00.000Z",
    "updatedAt": "2026-04-01T10:00:00.000Z"
  }
}
```

***

## Step 5 — Check the status

```bash theme={null}
curl https://srv.msgflash.com/api/v1/messages/a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-abcd-ef1234567890 \
  -H "x-api-key: msgf_live_your_api_key_here"
```

Example once delivered:

```json theme={null}
{
  "data": {
    "id": "a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-abcd-ef1234567890",
    "status": "delivered",
    "providerMessageId": "BAE5D1A2B3C4D5E6"
  }
}
```

***

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Send with a template" icon="text" href="/guides/templates">
    Create a template and then use `templateId` and `variables` in your sends.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Schedule a message" icon="clock" href="/guides/schedule-message">
    Program a message for later.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Launch a campaign" icon="megaphone" href="/guides/campaigns">
    Send either a template or a direct message to all your contacts or a targeted segment.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Manage contacts" icon="users" href="/guides/contacts">
    Prepare your contact base before your campaigns.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>