Welcome to Chess.com! Before you can start playing some games, you’ll need to have an account. Here’s how to create one!

From the Chess.com home page click one of the sign up buttons on the left of the page:

Or just click here! https://www.chess.com/registerThen, you’ll be taken to a sign up page:

Click the "sign up" button to sign up using your email address, or alternatively, you can sign up using a social media account!

If you choose to sign up with Facebook, Google or Apple, you will be asked to sign into your social media account.

Once you’ve signed in to your social media account, the sign in info from your chosen account will be used for your new Chess.com account.

The account will be linked to your Chess.com account, and you won’t need to create a password for the account. You will sign in by logging into your chosen social media account!

Next, choose your skill level! How experienced are you at chess? This determines what your rating will start as. These are the options:

Click continue, and next you'll be asked to choose your email and password:

NOTE: If you chose to create your account using social media, you won't have to complete this step

Enter your email. This must be an email that you have access to, or you won’t be able to receive the activation email to activate your account! So be sure to pick a real email that you can log into! Your email is not publicly visible, and can only be seen by you!

Choose a strong password! Passwords must be at least six characters, and good passwords use letters and numbers. To be really secure, you can mix in some capital letters or even put in some special characters! If your password is too weak (such as 123456) it won’t be allowed.

Click Continue to Pick your username! This is the name others will see when playing chess. It can be your real name, or anything you want, as long as it follows our community guidelines here. If someone else has already picked the name, you’ll see a notice to pick something else.

You're almost there! Next, choose a theme:

How do you want your chessboard and pieces to look? This can be changed or customized further after you finish creating your account!

Choose an option and click 'Continue'

Next, select any friends who you want to connect with!

You can choose from Facebook friends, or invite them by email. Click 'later' to skip this step.

All new accounts get 1 week of Diamond for free!

Click 'Redeem 1 Week FREE' to get your free week of Diamond, unlocking all features on the site!

If you don't want to do t his, you can click 'No, thank you'

Finally, choose whether you want to enable notifications or not:
​

This is the final option on your new account! Click ‘OK’ or 'No, thank you' and you’re ready to start playing chess! Just like that!

Remember to check your email! Even though your account is created, be sure to check your email for the activation email!

You won’t be able to chat or post in forums until you’ve activated your account!

If you can’t find this email, check your spam folder. If you STILL can’t find it, contact support and we’ll take care of it for you!

After activating your account, you will also need to play 10 games of any kind in order to fully unlock the account and be able to post and chat as normal.

Tap 'sign up' at the top left corner of your screen (if you are using an Apple device it will say 'Log In' on the top right):

Then choose whether to sign up using an email, or by signing in to an existing Google or Facebook account, or if on an Apple device you can sign up using your Apple account:

If you choose to sign up Google or Facebook, you will be asked to sign into your social media account.

The Google or Facebook account you choose will be linked to your Chess.com account, and you won’t need to create a password for the account. You will sign in by logging into your chosen social media account!

Or, sign up with an email.

You must choose an email that you have access to, or you won’t be able to receive the activation email to activate your account! So be sure to pick a real email that you can log into!

Choose a strong password! Passwords must be at least six characters, and good passwords use letters and numbers. To be really secure, you can mix in some capital letters or even put in some special characters!

Pick your username! This is the name others will see when playing chess. It can be your real name, or anything you want. If someone else has already picked the name, you’ll see a notice that the username is taken:

When you’ve got a username you like, click 'Create Account'

You will then be asked for your chess skill level:

Pick the one which most closely reflects your chess experience, or your rating, if you know it!

After choosing your skill level, you'll be asked to pick a starting theme for your board and pieces! This can be changed later, and as often as you like.

Then your account will be created and you can hop into a game and get started!

Remember to check your email! Even though your account is created, be sure to check your email for the activation email!

You won’t be able to chat or post in forums or add an avatar until you’ve activated your account!

If you can’t find this email, check your spam folder. If you STILL can’t find it, contact support and we’ll look into it!