# Login accounts (optional)

Most of the Data Midsouth portal is open to the public — you don't need an account to browse the catalog, view visualizations, or read reports. 

***

### What you can do without an account

* Browse the [Catalog](/data-midsouth-portal/getting-started/tour-the-interface.md#the-catalog-grid)
* View Visualizations in your browser
* [Search & filter](/data-midsouth-portal/features/search-and-filter.md) the catalog
* [Download](/data-midsouth-portal/features/downloads-and-formats.md) a filtered data set
* [Request or suggest](/data-midsouth-portal/contribute-and-participate/request-or-suggest.md)a dataset or feature

***

### What requires an account

However, some features require you to be logged in, including bookmarking data assets.

#### **Bookmarks**

When signed in, a small bookmark icon will appear available on each [Data asset page](/data-midsouth-portal/features/data-asset-page.md) in the asset actions area. 

<figure><img src="/files/GtzjQn0Y9VWlj4qlsK8v" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Assets saved to your bookmarks will be accessible from Account > Bookmarks.

<figure><img src="/files/p3HT6ny9ZBrd8fSBIYvP" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### **Subscriptions and Notifications**&#x20;

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Coming soon!**
{% endhint %}

Receive a direct notification about changes or updates to a dataset.

***

### How to create an account

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Visit Data Midsouth

Go to datamidsouth.org
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Locate Sign in button

Found at the top right corner of the page

<figure><img src="/files/3kYfif8FwTbtlmTEoyCc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Select Create an Account

Enter your name, email address, and a password
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Verify Email

Check your email for a confirmation link and click it to verify your address
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### You're Done!&#x20;

{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

You can also create an account in Data Midsouth by clicking the "Sign Up" button below.&#x20;

<p align="center"><a href="https://account.opendatasoft.com/realms/opendatasoft/protocol/openid-connect/registrations?response_type=code&#x26;scope=openid+email&#x26;client_id=platform-user-auth&#x26;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Foauth2-callback.opendatasoft.com%2F%3Fstate%3DeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJleHAiOjE3NzQ1NTM3MDksInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhdGFtaWRzb3V0aC5vcmcvY2VudHJhbF9rZXljbG9hay9jYWxsYmFjay8ifQ.EQcpgnCgtJaDC1_iOOULPDOlJ7fU9XycCBYtcWdcutE&#x26;state=alumDSgyUkaiWbAY7AwWoorFltX1nvPo&#x26;acr_values=pw&#x26;origin_domain=datamidsouth&#x26;max_age=1209600&#x26;ui_locales=en&#x26;action=register&#x26;nonce=VekdWLejV7O02VdifGXhPskJ6aD3j1w3&#x26;code_challenge=SiUeohXfbVpKaEkfUDKH_bSLSs_4eQPIcz9hqAufVPA&#x26;code_challenge_method=S256" class="button primary" data-icon="user-plus">Sign up</a> </p>


---

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```
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