The onboarding flow
This page describes the full path from opening the app for the first time to using your dashboard. The same flow applies on the web app and the iOS (PWA) app.
Overview
Section titled “Overview”Onboarding has three main steps:
- Sign in — Create or log into your Check My Solar account (email or Google/Apple).
- Link Fox Cloud — Connect your Fox ESS inverter data (Quick Connect or API key).
- Guided tour (first-time only) — Optional walkthrough of the dashboard and features.
If your Fox Cloud session expires later, you’ll see the Link Fox Cloud step again to re-authenticate; you don’t need to sign in to Check My Solar again.
Step 1: Sign in
Section titled “Step 1: Sign in”When you’re not logged in, you see the login screen.
- Sign in with email: Enter your email, then use the magic link (or verification code) sent to your inbox. No password is stored.
- Sign in with Google or Sign in with Apple: Use the button for your provider and complete the browser or native sign-in.
After a successful sign-in, the app checks whether you have at least one Fox Cloud account linked.
- If no → you go to Step 2: Link Fox Cloud.
- If yes → you go straight to the dashboard (and skip the first-time guided tour).
See Creating an account for more detail on sign-up and login.
Step 2: Link Fox Cloud
Section titled “Step 2: Link Fox Cloud”If you have no Fox Cloud account linked (or your Fox session has expired), you see the Link Your Fox Cloud Account screen. You stay signed in to Check My Solar; this step only connects your solar data from Fox Cloud.
Quick Connect (recommended)
Section titled “Quick Connect (recommended)”- Tap Connect with Fox Cloud (or Re-authenticate with Fox Cloud if your session expired).
- You’re redirected to Fox Cloud to sign in and authorize Check My Solar.
- After you approve, you’re sent back to the app and your inverter(s) are linked.
The app manages the connection and renewal for you; no API key is needed.
API key (advanced)
Section titled “API key (advanced)”- Switch the toggle to API Key.
- Optionally enter an Account name (e.g. “Home”).
- Enter your Fox Cloud API key (from Fox Cloud → User Center → API Management).
- Tap Link API Key.
Your key is stored securely. You may need to create a new key in Fox Cloud if it expires.
See Linking your inverter for where to get an API key and what access the app needs.
After linking
Section titled “After linking”- You see a short “Successfully linked” message, then you’re taken to the dashboard.
- If this is your first time completing linking (you’ve never finished onboarding before), the app will show the guided tour next.
Step 3: Guided tour (first-time only)
Section titled “Step 3: Guided tour (first-time only)”Right after you link Fox Cloud for the first time, a welcome tour may appear. It’s only shown once per device; you can skip it or go through it.
The tour has several steps:
| Step | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Welcome to Check My Solar | Intro: solar monitoring, generation, battery, consumption, real-time data. |
| Stay Informed | Push notifications and email reports (daily/weekly/monthly), battery and operation-mode alerts, tomorrow’s solar forecast. |
| Dashboard Overview | Main dashboard and key metrics; tap cards for more detail. |
| Entity Views | Solar, Battery, Grid, and House views; string performance, grid voltage, battery status, consumption. |
| Customize Your Experience | Opening the menu for settings: energy rates, notifications, dashboard layout. |
At each step you can:
- Back / Next to move through the tour.
- Skip tour to close it and go to the dashboard.
- On the last step, Get Started to finish and start using the app.
After you complete or skip the tour, you won’t see it again on this device. You can still change notifications and account & settings from the menu anytime.
If you see “Link Fox Cloud” again
Section titled “If you see “Link Fox Cloud” again”If your Fox Cloud session expires (e.g. after a long time or a security refresh), the app will show the Link Fox Cloud screen again. You are still signed in to Check My Solar; you only need to:
- Use Connect with Fox Cloud (Quick Connect), or
- Use API Key and enter a valid key
Once linked again, you return to the dashboard. The guided tour does not run again.
Summary
Section titled “Summary”| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Not signed in | Login screen (email or Google/Apple). |
| Signed in, no Fox link | Link Fox Cloud (Quick Connect or API key). |
| First time after linking | Optional guided tour, then dashboard. |
| Later visits | Dashboard directly (or Link Fox Cloud if session expired). |
Next: Dashboard overview to use the app day to day.