> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/n4ze3m/page-assist/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Quickstart
> Get started with Page Assist in minutes - from installation to your first AI conversation.
# Quickstart
This guide will help you set up Page Assist and have your first AI conversation in just a few minutes.
## Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure you have:
* Page Assist installed on your browser ([Installation guide](/installation))
* A local AI provider (we'll use Ollama in this guide)
## Setup guide
Ollama is a free, open-source tool that lets you run AI models locally on your computer.
1. Visit [ollama.com](https://ollama.com) and download Ollama for your operating system
2. Install and launch Ollama
3. Open a terminal and pull a model:
```bash theme={null}
ollama pull llama3.2
```
Ollama runs on `localhost:11434` by default. Page Assist will automatically detect it - no configuration needed!
**Alternative providers:**
* [LM Studio](/providers/lm-studio) - Another popular local AI runtime
* [Chrome AI](/providers/chrome-ai) - Built-in Gemini Nano (Chrome only)
* Any OpenAI-compatible API endpoint
You can access Page Assist in two ways:
**Sidebar mode** (recommended for quick access):
* Press `Ctrl+Shift+Y` (or `Cmd+Shift+Y` on Mac)
* Or right-click on any webpage and select **Page Assist** from the context menu
**Web UI mode** (for full-screen experience):
* Press `Ctrl+Shift+L` (or `Cmd+Shift+L` on Mac)
* Or click the Page Assist icon in your browser toolbar
You can customize these keyboard shortcuts from your browser's extension management page.
If you're using Ollama with default settings, Page Assist will automatically detect it. If you need to configure a different provider:
1. Click the **Settings** icon in Page Assist
2. Go to the **OpenAI Compatible API** tab
3. Click **Add Provider**
4. Select your provider type (Ollama, LM Studio, etc.)
5. Enter the API URL:
* Ollama: `http://localhost:11434`
* LM Studio: `http://localhost:1234/v1`
6. Click **Save**
Page Assist will automatically fetch available models from your provider.
Now you're ready to chat with your AI!
1. In the Page Assist interface, you'll see a model selector at the top
2. Select your preferred model (e.g., `llama3.2`)
3. Type a message in the input box at the bottom
4. Press **Enter** or click the send button
Your AI will respond based on the model you've selected.
**Try these example prompts:**
* "Explain quantum computing in simple terms"
* "Write a Python function to calculate fibonacci numbers"
* "What are the key differences between React and Vue?"
## Keyboard shortcuts
Page Assist includes several keyboard shortcuts to boost your productivity:
### Extension shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
| -------------- | ------------ | -------------------------------- |
| `Ctrl+Shift+Y` | Open sidebar | Opens the sidebar on any webpage |
| `Ctrl+Shift+L` | Open Web UI | Opens the Web UI in a new tab |
### Application shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
| -------------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| `Ctrl+Shift+O` | New chat | Starts a new chat conversation |
| `Ctrl+B` | Toggle sidebar | Opens/closes the chat history sidebar |
| `Shift+Esc` | Focus input | Focuses the message input field |
| `Ctrl+E` | Toggle chat mode | Toggles between normal chat and chat with current page |
Extension shortcuts can be customized from your browser's extension management page. Application shortcuts work within the Page Assist interface.
## Advanced features
### Chat with webpage
One of Page Assist's most powerful features is the ability to chat with the content of any webpage:
1. Open the sidebar on any webpage (`Ctrl+Shift+Y`)
2. Toggle the **Chat with Website** option (or press `Ctrl+E`)
3. Ask questions about the page content
**Example use cases:**
* "Summarize this article"
* "What are the main points discussed on this page?"
* "Explain this code in simpler terms"
### Knowledge base
Upload your own documents and chat with them:
1. Open Page Assist settings
2. Configure an embedding model in **RAG Settings** (recommended: `nomic-embed-text`)
3. Go to **Manage Knowledge**
4. Click **Add New Knowledge** and upload your files
5. In the chat input, click the knowledge base icon to select which documents to reference
**Supported formats:** PDF, DOCX, TXT, CSV, MD
Knowledge base processing happens entirely in your browser. Large documents may impact performance.
## Troubleshooting
### Can't connect to Ollama?
If Page Assist can't connect to Ollama:
1. Make sure Ollama is running (check your system tray/menu bar)
2. Verify Ollama is accessible by visiting `http://localhost:11434` in your browser
3. Check that at least one model is installed: `ollama list`
4. See the [connection issues guide](/troubleshooting/connection-issues) for more help
### Model not appearing?
1. Ensure the model is loaded in your AI provider
2. Refresh the model list by reopening Page Assist
3. For LM Studio, make sure a model is actively loaded before opening Page Assist
## Next steps
Learn about custom prompts, internet search, and more
Set up multiple AI providers and models
Check browser-specific features and limitations
Master all available keyboard shortcuts