A real Nesktop desktop with the search, notes, bookmarks, and folders labelled
Getting Started

How to set up your first NESKTOP desktop in 5 minutes

A step-by-step walkthrough: sign up, apply a preset, replace the sample links with your own, and start using your visual desktop.

2026-01-052 min readNesktop Team

Step 1: Create your free account

Go to nesktop.com and click Start Free. You can sign up with your email or use Google sign-in. A free account gives you a full canvas with pages, bookmarks, folders, search widgets, notes, and more — plenty to get started and see if NESKTOP fits your daily routine.

Build your first desktop

Sign up free, pick a preset, and replace the sample links with your own. Five minutes is all it takes.

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Step 2: Choose a preset that matches your routine

After signing in, you will see the NESKTOP canvas. Open the Layouts menu and pick a preset: Lite gives you a clean, minimal desktop with a few essential links. Pro adds a search bar, notes, and more structure. Study & Research builds subject folders with note widgets. Project & Freelance creates a workspace layout for client work. Pick one and the canvas populates instantly.

Step 4: Set NESKTOP as your browser start page

Install the NESKTOP extension from the Chrome Web Store. Once installed, you can set NESKTOP as your new tab page — so every time you open a tab, your desktop is right there. You can also set https://nesktop.com/nesktop, or the shorter https://nesktop.com/canvas alias, as your browser home or startup page. Edge, Firefox, and Opera releases are being prepared; the web app remains available in every modern browser.

FAQ

Do I need to install anything to use NESKTOP?

No — NESKTOP is a web app that works in any browser. The browser extension is optional and adds extra features like new tab override and one-click saving, but the core desktop works without it.

Which preset should I start with?

If you are not sure, start with Lite — it is the simplest and fastest to customize. You can switch presets or create new pages later at any time.

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Build your first desktop

Sign up free, pick a preset, and replace the sample links with your own. Five minutes is all it takes.

Continue