> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.soax.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Quickstart
> Go from signup to your first successful proxy request in under 5 minutes. Covers both the dashboard and terminal.
This guide walks you through making your first proxy request with SOAX. By the end, you'll have a working connection that returns a response through one of our residential proxy IPs.
## 1. Create your account
Go to [soax.com/signup](https://soax.com/signup) and create an account. You'll need to verify your email address before you can access the dashboard. Check your inbox (and spam folder) for the verification link.
## 2. Choose a package
Before you can make requests, you need an active package. After verifying your email, log in to the [dashboard](https://platform.soax.com) and select a package that fits your needs.
## 3. Make your first request
Once your package is active, you have two ways to make your first request: through the dashboard using **Quick Connect**, or from your **terminal** using curl.
### Option A: Quick Connect (dashboard)
Quick Connect is the fastest way to test your connection without writing any code.
In the dashboard sidebar, click [**Packages**](https://platform.soax.com/packages).
Select your proxy type (residential or mobile), pick a country, and choose whether to use a rotating connection or a session.
Quick Connect generates a connection string with your credentials. Copy it.
Use the built-in test button to send a request and confirm your proxy is working. You should see a response with an IP address that's different from your own.
For more details on Quick Connect options, see the [Quick Connect guide](/dashboard/quick-connect).
### Option B: curl (terminal)
If you prefer working from the command line, you can test your connection with a single curl command.
Replace `pk_abc123` with the package key from your dashboard:
```bash theme={null}
curl -x proxy.soax.com:1337 -U "country-us:pk_abc123" https://checker.soax.com/api/ipinfo
```
The username (`country-us` above) carries your rules — where to exit, whether to hold a session, how to handle errors. The password is your package key. They're joined by a colon and sent on every request. See [Authentication](/getting-started/authentication) for the full format.
You should get a JSON response like this:
```json theme={null}
{
"status": true,
"data": {
"ip": "185.123.45.67",
"country_code": "US",
"country_name": "United States",
"region": "California",
"city": "Los Angeles",
"isp": "Spectrum",
"carrier": ""
}
}
```
The `ip` field should be different from your real IP, and the `country_code` should match what you targeted. That means your request was routed through a SOAX proxy node.
You can find your proxy credentials in the dashboard under **Quick Connect**. The username and password are the same whether you connect through the dashboard or the terminal.
## 4. Verify it's working
A successful proxy request means:
* You get a `200` response with `"status": true` (not a timeout or authentication error).
* The `ip` in the response is different from your own.
* If you set a country target, the `country_code` matches what you requested.
If something went wrong, check the [Connection debugging](/troubleshooting/connection-debugging) page for common issues, or review [Error codes](/troubleshooting/error-codes) if you received a specific error.
## Next steps
Understand the difference between residential and mobile proxies.
Learn about username/password auth and IP Auth.
Working Python code for residential and mobile proxies.
Working Node.js code for residential and mobile proxies.