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Creating an Account

BookWish offers multiple ways to create an account, giving you flexibility in how you join the platform. You can choose to create a full account with email, use Apple or Google sign-in, or browse as a guest first.

Sign Up Methods​

Email Sign-Up​

The traditional email-based registration is straightforward and works on all platforms:

  1. Open BookWish and navigate to the welcome screen
  2. Tap "Sign Up" to begin the registration process
  3. Enter your information:
    • Email address (used for login and notifications)
    • Password (minimum 8 characters, must include uppercase, lowercase, and numbers)
    • Display name (how you'll appear to other readers)
  4. Complete the form and tap "Create Account"
  5. Verify your email (if required) by clicking the link sent to your inbox

Implementation Details:

  • Defined in /app/lib/state/auth_provider.dart (lines 115-149)
  • Password requirements: At least 8 characters with uppercase, lowercase, and numbers
  • Creates full user account with all features enabled immediately

Apple Sign-In​

For iOS users, Apple Sign-In provides a quick and secure way to create an account:

  1. Tap "Continue with Apple" on the welcome screen
  2. Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode
  3. Choose your email sharing preference (show real email or use Apple's private relay)
  4. Complete setup - BookWish will create your profile automatically

Google Sign-In​

Google authentication works across all platforms:

  1. Tap "Continue with Google" on the welcome screen
  2. Select your Google account from the list
  3. Grant permissions for BookWish to access your basic profile information
  4. Finish setup - your account is ready to use

What Happens After Sign-Up​

Once you create an account, BookWish automatically:

  1. Sets up your user profile with your display name and email
  2. Creates your first wishlist (optional, you can create one later)
  3. Initializes subscription service to determine your account tier
  4. Requests notification permissions (you can grant or deny)
  5. Registers your device for push notifications (if granted)
  6. Logs analytics for the signup method used

Code Reference: The signup flow is handled in /app/lib/state/auth_provider.dart, which manages authentication state, token storage, and post-signup initialization.

Account Tiers​

BookWish has several account types:

  • Free Reader: Up to 3 wishlists, basic features
  • Premium Reader: Unlimited wishlists, unlimited posts, create clubs and challenges
  • Bookstore Owner: Business account with store management features
  • Guest: Browse-only mode with limited functionality

Your initial account is a Free Reader account. You can upgrade to Premium at any time through the settings.

Guest Mode vs Full Account​

Not ready to commit? You can start with guest mode:

Guest Mode​

  • Browse books and explore the app
  • View public content from other users
  • No saved data (wishlists are temporary)
  • Cannot follow users or join clubs
  • Limited to basic features

Full Account​

  • Save wishlists permanently
  • Follow other readers
  • Join clubs and challenges
  • Share Lines and Reviews
  • Receive personalized recommendations
  • Stock alerts at your home store
tip

Guest accounts can be upgraded to full accounts at any time by adding email and password. All your guest data (wishlists, preferences) will be preserved during the upgrade.

Next Steps​

After creating your account: