# Getting Started

This section helps you get oriented with Chamilo 2.0. You will learn how to log in, navigate the main interface, and configure your profile.

## Logging In

To access Chamilo, open your browser and navigate to the URL provided by your institution (for example, `https://chamilo.yourschool.edu`). Enter your username and password on the login page and click **Sign in**.

If your institution uses external authentication (such as Azure, Keycloak, or a university single sign-on system), you may see additional login buttons below the standard login form. Click the appropriate button to authenticate through your institution's identity provider.

> If you have forgotten your password, click the **Forgot password?** link on the login page. You will receive an email with instructions to reset it.

## First Look

After logging in, you will see the Chamilo home page. The interface is organized into three main areas:

![The Chamilo home page showing system announcements and course cards](https://3870221420-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FSHilSeDtvDev0n1c7wbJ%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6499177daacdd73afdc19f87ed527b4b1c71b7d5%2Fhome-page-teacher.png?alt=media)

* **Top bar** — Displays the platform logo, your message inbox (with a badge showing unread messages), and your user avatar. Click your avatar to access your profile and account settings.
* **Sidebar** — The left navigation panel gives you quick access to your courses, sessions, agenda, social network, and more. You can collapse it by clicking the toggle at its edge.
* **Main content area** — This is where the current page content is displayed. On the home page, you will see system announcements and your featured courses.

## Your Courses

From the sidebar, click **My courses** to see all the courses you are enrolled in as a teacher or student. Each course appears as a card showing:

![The My Courses page displaying course cards with thumbnails and quick-access actions](https://3870221420-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FSHilSeDtvDev0n1c7wbJ%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7e395a2f349a7e519b308a096544cf8bf2a82e03%2Fmy-courses-list.png?alt=media)

* The course image or thumbnail
* The course title
* Quick-access actions

If your institution uses **sessions** (time-bound training periods), you will also see a **My sessions** link in the sidebar, organized into current, past, and upcoming sessions.

Sessions in Chamilo are a way to deliver the same course to different groups of learners at different times, without duplicating the course content. Think of a session as a scheduled edition or cohort of a course. More on that topic later.

## Next Steps

* [Understanding the Interface](https://docs.chamilo.org/2.x/teacher-guide/teacher-guide/getting-started/understanding-the-interface) — A detailed look at every part of the Chamilo interface
* [Your Profile](https://docs.chamilo.org/2.x/teacher-guide/teacher-guide/getting-started/your-profile) — How to manage your personal information and preferences