# Quickstart: Your first secure share

- url: https://www.plox.in/docs/quickstart
- excerpt: Upload a file, configure access, and share a trackable link in under five minutes.

**Plox Tip:** You don't need to read the entire docs site before sending your first link. This page is the shortest path from sign-up to a tracked share.

## Before you begin

- A free Plox account at [app.plox.in](https://app.plox.in).
- The file you want to share (PDF, PPTX, DOCX, XLSX, images, or video, up to your plan's [upload limit](/docs/upload-limits)).
- The email of at least one person you want to send it to (optional, but useful for testing analytics).

## 1. Upload your file

1. Open the **Documents** tab from the left sidebar.
2. Click **Upload Document**.
3. Drag-and-drop your file or click to browse from your device.

Plox encrypts the file on upload and indexes it for analytics. There's no folder structure to set up, your file is ready to share the moment the upload bar finishes.

## 2. Set access controls

Click the three dots (•••) next to your file and open **Access Controls**. The three most common starting points:

- **Track but stay open**, turn on **Require Email to View**. Captures every viewer's email; minimal friction; great for top-of-funnel.
- **Verified viewers only**, Require Email **plus** [Email Verification via OTP](/docs/email-verification-via-otp). Confirms the viewer is real before access.
- **Private send**, [Require Passcode](/docs/require-password-to-view) or [Allow Specific Emails](/docs/allow-access-to-specific-emails). Tightest control; share the credential out-of-band.

You can change controls **after** sharing, they apply to the next view, not retroactively. So it's safe to start permissive and tighten later.

![Access Controls: require an email, verify identity, set a passcode, watermark and more](mock:security)

## 3. Copy the link and share

Click **Copy Link** on the document row. Paste it anywhere, email, Slack, LinkedIn, a calendar invite. It works on any device and viewers don't need a Plox account.

![Live analytics: time per page, completion rate and revisit history](mock:analytics)

## 4. Watch the response

Within seconds of someone opening the link you'll see:

- An email alert in your inbox (if email is required)
- A live entry in **Analytics** showing time per page, completion %, and revisit history. See [Tracking your document](/docs/tracking-your-document) for the full playbook.

## What's next

- [Add your logo](/docs/add-your-logo), make every share branded.
- [Tracking your document](/docs/tracking-your-document), read the analytics signals like a pro.
- [What is a data room](/docs/what-is-a-data-room), when one file isn't enough.