First launch

When Chithi starts without an account, it opens the onboarding screen. You can begin with one of four account families:

• Stalwart or another JMAP server
• Microsoft 365
• Google / Gmail
• Another IMAP / SMTP provider

Selecting one opens the account form in Settings. Chithi supports additional account types there, including Fastmail, standalone CalDAV and CardDAV, Nextcloud Talk, Matrix, Zoom, and La Suite Visio.

You can choose Skip and add an account later to inspect Chithi without an account. Open Settings when you are ready to add one.

Add your first account

1. Select a provider during onboarding. Its account form opens directly.
2. If you skipped onboarding, open Settings, choose Add account, and select the account type.
3. Enter the requested address, credentials, and server information.
4. Complete browser or embedded-window authorization if the account type requires it.
5. Save the account.

See Account setup for provider-specific requirements. For video meetings, continue with the guide for Nextcloud Talk, Matrix / Element Call, Zoom, or La Suite Visio.

What happens after saving

Chithi starts synchronization for the services enabled on the account. The status bar reports connection, synchronization, and operation errors. The Mail view restores the last selected enabled mail account and folder when possible.

Calendar-only, contacts-only, and video-conferencing accounts do not become the selected Mail account. Add them separately in Settings and use calendar and contacts accounts in their corresponding views. Meeting accounts are used from the Calendar event editor.

Credential storage

On desktop, passwords and OAuth tokens are stored in the operating system's credential store. Account configuration and synchronized data are stored under your local application-data directory. Android OAuth tokens use the application's private sandbox instead of the desktop keyring implementation.

Read Privacy and local data before adding sensitive accounts or deleting local files.