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210 lines
7.9 KiB
210 lines
7.9 KiB
---
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layout: usenew
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permalink: /:collection/:path.html
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---
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# Get and use a Blockstack ID
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{:.no_toc}
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Through the Blockstack browser you can create an identity. Your identity is a
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point of contact as you interact with others through Dapps. Others may be
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individual users or companies or software. Unless you allow it, none of these
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others have access to anything other than your identity label, for example
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`moxiegirl.id.blockstack`. To learn more about you, others must ask and you can
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choose to share -- or not.
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This document explains one type of identity, the Blockstack ID. You learn how to
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create them, as well as when and how to restore them. It contains the following sections:
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* TOC
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{:toc}
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## Understand Blockstack IDs
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Interacting within the decentralized internet requires that you have at least
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one identity, though you can create several. Your identity is created through a
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registrar. Blockstack maintains a registrar for creating identities that you
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can use to interact with distributed applications (Dapps).
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To use the Blockstack Browser or to develop a decentralized application you
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require a Blockstack ID, for example `moxiegirl.id.blockstack`. A Blockstack ID
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is a digital identity that is registered With Blockstack. Your personal data and
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storage are built around this ID. Decentralized applications that want to access
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your data need your identity and your permission.
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When you first sign up through the Blockstack browser, you create an initial
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human-readable identity in the `id.blockstack` domain. This initial identity has
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the format:
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_`USERNAME`_`.id.blockstack`
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The _`USERNAME`_ portion must be unique. You enter an email and password to
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create the initial identity. Blockstack uses the password to:
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* seed a _recovery code_ an encrypted string, for example `36mWivFdy0YPH2z31EflpQz/Y0UMrOrJ++lH=0EI7c3mop2JuRBm5W1P0BwXxSTazJsUjOAmC55rFUWINqDqGccLio0iwzGclAhaHGZQ5M52`
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* seed a _recovery key_ which is a squence of words `applied binge crisp pictorial fiery dancing agreeable frogs light finish ping apple`
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The email is provided to allow either Blockstack or a decentralized application
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to communicate information to you. In Blockstacks' case, the email is used to
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send you reovery information.
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While Blockstack registers your human readable ID and the recovery key. _You_ must
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record the:
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* recovery key
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* recovery code (in the order the words apepar)
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* initial password
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Blockstack does not store them, so it can't give them to you later if they are
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lost.
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Your initial ID is created in the `id.blockstack` domain. The initial identity
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remains primary, and you need this primary ID and its associated information
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(recovery code, recovery key, and password) to use the browser again.
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Finally, the `id.blockstack` domain is sponsored by the Blockstack registrar and
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identities on it are free. Once you are using the Blockstack Browser, you can
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create additional identities outside of this domain and controlled by other
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registrars. Coin is required to purchase identities on other domains.
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## Create an initial Blockstack ID
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To create an inititial Blockstack ID, do the following:
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1. Open the [Blockstack web application in your browser](https://browser.blockstack.org/sign-up?redirect=%2F).
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The application prompts you for an email address.
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Blockstack uses this email address to send you recovery information.
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2. Enter an email address and press **Next**.
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The application prompts you to enter a password. Blockstack users this
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password to encrypt your recovery code. You must record and save this
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initial password.
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**NOTE**:The Blockstack team cannot restore your password for you.
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3. Enter a password, confirm it, and press **Next**.
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The browser prompts you to register a unique username in the `id.blockstack`
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domain. This is your identity in the decentralized internet. The format of the id
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is:
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_`username`_`.id.blockstack`
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You'll use this initial ID to access the Blockstack Browser.
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3. Enter a unique username and press **Check Availability**.
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When you choose an ID that is available, the system responds with the following:
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4. Press **Continue**.
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The system prompts you to save your **recovery code**. A recovery code is a
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sequence of words. These words allow you to recover an `id.blockstack`
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that you've created. You should store the words along with their order, for
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example, `#1 applied` and so forth.
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5. Click **I have written down all the words** when you are done.
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The system places you in the Blockstack browser. You can begin exploring and
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using Dapps.
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## Restore a Blockstack ID
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When you return to the Blockstack Browser, the browser prompts you to create a
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new Blockstack ID or restore an existing Blockstack ID. If you have a
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Blockstack identity, you can open the browser by restoring the identity. To
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restore an identity, there are two available methods.
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Method 1: Supply the identity recovery code (`36mWivFdy0YPH2z31E...`) and the
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password you provided when you _initially_ created your identity. Method 2:
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Supply the recovery key which is a sequence of words (`applied binge ...`)
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If you loose either the recovery code or the password you provided when you
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_initially_ created your identity, you can no longer use method 1 to restore
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your identity. If you lose the recovery key, you can no longer use method 2.
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Once you no longer have access to either method, your identity is estranged and
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not accessible by anyone.
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### Restore with a recovery key
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1. Open the [Blockstack web application in your browser](https://browser.blockstack.org/sign-up?redirect=%2F).
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2. Choose **Restore a Blockstack ID**.
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The system displays a dialog where you can enter your recovery code or a
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recovery key.
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3. Enter the recovery key.
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The recovery key is a squence of words.
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4. Press **Next**.
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The system prompts you for an email address. This email can be one you
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entered previously or an entirely new one. Blockstack doesn't store this
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address; it is used during your current Blockstack browser interaction to communicate
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important information with you.
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5. Enter an email and press **Next**.
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The system prompts you for an password and its confirmation. This password
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can be one you entered previously or an entirely new one. Write this password
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down. You can use the password during your current Blockstack browser
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interaction to reveal your keychain or change your password. Blockstack does
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not store this information past the session.
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6. Enter a password and press **Next**.
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The system welcomes you back.
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At this point, you can go onto work with Dapps or you can review your recovery key.
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### Restore with a recovery code and original password
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1. Open the [Blockstack web application in your browser](https://browser.blockstack.org/sign-up?redirect=%2F).
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2. Choose **Restore a Blockstack ID**.
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The system displays a dialog where you can enter your recovery code or a
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recovery key.
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3. Enter your recovery code.
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The recovery code is an encrypted string.
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4. Press **Next**.
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The system prompts you for an email address. This email can be one you
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entered previously or an entirely new one. Blockstack doesn't store this
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address; it is used during your current Blockstack browser interaction to
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communicate important information with you.
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5. Enter an email and press **Next**.
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The system prompts you for an password. This must be the password entered
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when you first created your identity. If you have forgetten this passowrd,
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Blockstack cannot provide it to you. Instead, you must switch to using your
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recovery key rather than your code to restore your identity.
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6. Enter your origin password and press **Next**.
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The system welcomes you back.
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At this point, you can go work with Dapps or you can review your recovery key.
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