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Create a NEAR Account

To start developing applications in NEAR you will need a NEAR testnet account. This account will allow you to deploy and test your applications without spending any real money.

You can create a testnet NEAR account through one of the following methods:

Using a Wallet​

Go to wallet.near.org and choose one of the wallets listed there. Do not worry, the list has been curated, so you can be sure that all wallets listed there are safe to use.

In general, all wallets will offer similar functionality, so in theory you can choose any of them. However, know that some wallets will readily allow you to create named accounts (e.g. alice.testnet), which are easier to remember.

Remember to write down the seed phrase, as it is the only way to access your account!

Funding the Wallet

If the wallet created an account with no balance (0 NEAR), you will need to fund it using some testnet tokens. For this you can try one of the following faucets:

Testnet

Make sure to create a testnet account (ending with .testnet, e.g. alice.testnet), and not a mainnet account (ending with .near).

NEAR testnet is a separate network that allows you to test your applications without spending real money.

Through the CLI​

When developing smart contracts you will expend lots of time interacting with the NEAR blockchain through the command line interface (CLI).

First, you will need to install the NEAR CLI:

npm install -g near-cli-rs@latest

Once you have the CLI installed, you can create a new account using the following command:

near create-account <account.testnet> --useFaucet

This command will create a new account with the name <account.testnet> and fund it using the testnet faucet. Make sure to replace <account.testnet> with your desired account name.

Importing an Existing Account​

If you already have a NEAR account and want to use it with a wallet or the CLI, you can import it using your seed phrase or private key.

Into a Wallet​

To import an existing account into a wallet, follow the instructions provided by the specific wallet you are using. Most wallets will have an option to "Import Account" or "Restore from Seed Phrase"

How do I get my seed phrase from the CLI?

If you have created your account using the CLI, you can retrieve your seed phrase or private key using the following command:

near account export-account <account.testnet>

Follow the instructions and you will be able to see your seed phrase or private key

Into the CLI​

To import an existing account into the CLI, you can use the following command:

near account import-account

This command will prompt you to enter your seed phrase or private key. Once you enter it, the CLI will import your account and you can start using it.

Next Steps​

Now that you have created a NEAR account, you can start developing applications on the NEAR Protocol.

Here are some resources to help you get started: