> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://hedera-0c6e0218-mintlify-bc559771.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting Started

> Frequently asked questions for getting started with Hedera, covering Developer Portal eligibility, account creation, and other onboarding fundamentals.

## Developer Portal

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Which regions are eligible to create a Hedera Portal Profile?">
    The Hedera Portal is available globally with the exception of the following regions:

    * Belarus
    * Crimea
    * Cuba
    * Iran
    * Japan
    * North Korea
    * Syria
    * Sudan
    * Ukraine

    If you are a citizen of or residing in any of the regions listed above, you are prohibited from accessing the services. This list is subject to change without notice.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I log in to the Hedera Developer Portal?">
    If you already have an active profile, please visit the [Hedera Developer Portal login](https://portal.hedera.com/) page.

    If you haven't created a profile for the Hedera Developer Portal, you can [create one here](https://portal.hedera.com/register).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I enable 2-factor authentication in the Hedera Developer Portal?">
    Currently 2-factor authentication is not supported by the Hedera Developer Portal. Check back soon for updates regarding 2-factor authentication.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is the Hedera Developer Portal?">
    The [Hedera Developer Portal](https://portal.hedera.com/) is for anyone looking to get started building on the Hedera previewnet or testnet.

    **The Hedera Developer Portal offers the following functionalities to developers:**

    * Gain access to the Hedera testnet or previewnet for application development, via public/private key generation.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Mainnet Account Creation

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How do I start developing on the Hedera network? Do I need a mainnet account to start?">
    **DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT:**

    Go to the Hedera Portal to create an account on testnet and use that for development (it's free and you don't need to buy hbar). If/when you need a mainnet account (where transactions cost real hbar), it's best to create that mainnet account through one of the [supported wallets](https://hedera.com/account-creation).

    **EXAMPLES & DOCUMENTATION:**

    We have SDKs for Java, Javascript, Go, and .NET. There are examples in the GitHub repositories for the SDKs. [Technical documentation](/) is available online.

    **HELP FROM HEDERA & COMMUNITY:**

    Reach out any time to the community of developers and Hedera/Hashgraph team members in the [Hedera Discord server](http://hedera.com/discord).

    **ADDITIONAL LEARNING RESOURCES:**

    * [Get Started](https://hedera.com/get-started)
    * [Learning Center](https://hedera.com/learning/what-is-hedera-hashgraph)
    * [Whitepapers](https://hedera.com/papers)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I create a Hedera mainnet account?">
    Please visit the [Hedera buying guide](https://www.hedera.com/buying-guide/) for a list of known third-party wallets across mobile (iOS / Android), desktop, hardware, and custodial, which support HBAR cryptocurrency and instant Hedera account creation.

    Hedera does not endorse or recommend any specific wallet provider.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I deploy my application on the Hedera mainnet?">
    Yes, many applications are currently deployed on the Hedera mainnet, generating millions of transactions per day. However, we recommend starting application development on the Hedera testnet, before migrating to the mainnet.

    To get started building on the Hedera testnet or mainnet, please visit the [official developer documentation](/).

    The Hedera developer [quick-start guide](/#getting-started) is also available.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Which network services are available on the Hedera mainnet?">
    The Hedera mainnet supports developers using all of Hedera's network services.

    The network services on the Hedera mainnet are [throttled](/learn/networks/mainnet).

    The Hedera developer [quick-start guide](/#getting-started) is also available.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why is the Hedera Mainnet not responding?">
    During the mainnet beta period, it is expected that the network will experience very brief periods of scheduled downtime for maintenance.

    Anticipated maintenance activities include adding additional nodes to the network and updating the core software running on mainnet (beta) nodes. The network's consensus state will remain unchanged in the case of any downtime or network failures, and any transactions sent to the network during periods of downtime will be rejected.

    The status of Hedera's mainnet and testnets is publicly available at [status.hedera.com](https://status.hedera.com/).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Testnet Account Creation

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How do I create an account on the Hedera testnet?">
    To start building and testing your application on the Hedera testnet, you'll need to create a Hedera account.

    **Step 1**: Create a [Hedera Developer Portal profile](https://portal.hedera.com/register/) and confirm your email address.

    **Step 2**: After logging into the Hedera Developer Portal, select "Testnet" from the network drop-down menu.

    **Step 3**: Click or tap the "Create Account" button to generate your public / private key pair and account ID for use with the Hedera SDK — the public / private key and Hedera account ID will appear in a moment.

    **Step 4**: Start building on the Hedera Testnet by visiting the [official documentation](/#getting-started) and selecting your language.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I start building my application on the Hedera testnet?">
    You'll first need to follow these instructions to create an account on the Hedera testnet.

    After you've created your account, visit the [official documentation](/#getting-started) and select your language to get started building.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What network services can I use on the Hedera testnet?">
    The Hedera testnet supports developers using all of Hedera's network services.

    The network services on the Hedera testnet are [throttled](/learn/networks/testnet).

    The Hedera developer [quick-start guide](/#getting-started) is also available.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do Hedera testnet applications require HBAR cryptocurrency for development?">
    Applications built on Hedera testnets require testnet cryptocurrency to utilize the Hedera services for application development. Testnet cryptocurrency does not have any value.

    Fees on the Hedera testnet are the same as the mainnet; you can find the [fee schedule and estimator](https://www.hedera.com/fees/) here.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Previewnet Account Creation

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What is the Hedera Previewnet?">
    The Hedera developer community and our ecosystem partners have expressed interest in early access to Hedera codebase features and functionality, prior to their release on the Hedera testnet and mainnet. In response to this feedback, we started looking into the idea of a second testnet — the "previewnet" — which would run a development version of the Hedera codebase.

    The Hedera previewnet is designed to offer developers in the Hedera community early exposure to features coming down the pipe. It's not always stable and accounts / data are likely to be lost when the network codebase is upgraded.

    As of right now, you'll need to use the latest version of the SDK in the language of your choice to interact with the previewnet. You can find all of the Hedera SDKs in our [documentation](/native/fundamentals#sdks).

    The source of truth for Hedera network, mirror node, and planned network upgrades for Hedera's mainnet, testnet, and, now, previewnet, will always be available at [status.hedera.com](https://status.hedera.com/).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Which network services can I use on the Hedera previewnet?">
    The Hedera previewnet supports developers using all of Hedera's network services — it will be the first to support any up-and-coming services, as well.

    The network services on the Hedera previewnet are [throttled](/learn/networks/testnet#overview).

    The Hedera developer [quick-start guide](/#getting-started) is also available.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I start building my application on the Hedera Previewnet?">
    First, follow [these instructions](/support/faq/getting-started#how-do-i-create-an-account-on-the-hedera-previewnet) to create a previewnet account in the developer portal.

    Once your accounts are ready, head to [Getting Started](/learn/getting-started) to begin building.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I create an account on the Hedera previewnet?">
    To build and test your application on the Hedera previewnet, you'll need a Hedera account. Here's how to create one:

    **Step 1**: Create a [Hedera Developer Portal profile](https://portal.hedera.com/register/) and confirm your email address.

    **Step 2**: Log in to the portal and select "Previewnet" from the network drop-down menu.

    **Step 3**: Click "Create Account" to generate your public/private key pair and account ID. They'll appear in a moment for use with the Hedera SDK.

    **Step 4**: [Start here](/learn/getting-started) and start building on previewnet.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I create a login for the Hedera Developer Portal?">
    To create a login for the Hedera Portal, please [visit the registration page](https://portal.hedera.com/register).

    We recommend keeping your login credentials in a password manager, such as 1Password or LastPass. Hedera has no affiliation and does not endorse any particular password manager, however, so your use of a third-party password manager is at your own risk.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I forgot my Hedera Developer Portal password.">
    If you forgot your password, visit the Hedera Developer Portal login page and click on the "Forgot Password" link to reset it.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>