First run

The first time you open Arca, a short setup creates your account and your household. It takes about five minutes, and you can skip anything and come back to it later.

The steps

1. Welcome. A quick look at what Arca does. Choose Get started.
2. About you. Your first and last name, your email address (you sign in with it) and, if you like, your birthday.
3. Password. At least 8 characters. A strength meter and a short checklist help you pick a good one.
4. Two-factor sign-in. Scan the QR code with an authenticator app (Google Authenticator or any other) and type the 6-digit code. From then on you’re asked for a code when you sign in on a new device.
5. Backup codes. Ten codes that each sign you in once if you lose your phone. Download or copy them and keep them somewhere safe.
6. Photo and language. A profile photo (optional) and English or Dutch.
7. Make it yours. Light, dark, or the same as your device.
8. Budget strategy. How your income is split over needs, wants and savings. 50 / 30 / 20 works for most households; you can pick another preset or set your own.
9. Your first bill. Rent, energy, a subscription: Arca will expect it every month. Quick picks fill in the name.
10. Import transactions. Upload a CSV export from your bank. ING, Rabobank, ABN AMRO, bunq, Revolut and Knab are recognised automatically.
11. App lock. A 4 to 6 digit PIN that’s asked whenever Arca opens.
12. All set. A summary of what was set up. Choose Open Arca.

Skip what you’re not sure about

Every step except your name, email and password can be skipped with Skip for now. Two-factor sign-in, the app lock, bills and imports can all be set up later from Settings or the add menu.

The first account is the admin

The person who goes through the setup first becomes the admin of the household. Admins can manage who signs in; see Sign-in and security.

Other people in your household

Everyone else joins through an invite link that an admin makes in Settings → Users: opening the link starts this same setup for them. They join the same household as a member: they see and use the same accounts, budgets and goals, but can’t manage users. See Inviting someone.

After the setup

Home shows a Get started checklist until you have some history:

• Import a bank CSV (or connect your bank)
• Set a monthly budget
• Add at least one recurring bill
• Create a savings goal

Arca also explains new things the first time you see them, with a small tip card next to the feature. Tap Got it to close one, or Don’t show again to stop them. Tips for features added later still show once.