# Start Datashare

Open the Windows main menu at the left of the bar at the bottom of your computer screen and click on '**Datashare'**. (The numbers after 'Datashare' just indicate which version of Datashare you installed.)

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1e63521ee19fc15c7a39fa8e4cc433dbf9c3f2d7%2Fcapture-de-cran-33.png?alt=media&#x26;token=55751a1c-7973-4022-9f35-fa5b63853bc2" alt="Screenshot of Windows&#x27; homepage with an open menu with the entry &#x27;ICIJ&#x27; > &#x27;Datashare 1.3&#x27; highlighted"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

A window called 'Terminal' will have opened, showing the progress of opening Datashare. **Do not close this black window as long as you use Datashare**.

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6edb849f2869ec474264de492bf62e67d57c1c4b%2Fcapture-de-cran-40.png?alt=media&#x26;token=90b226f1-8598-4f94-95e5-9dd8e07022bc" alt="Screenshot of Windows&#x27; homepage with a Terminal Window showing logs of Datashare&#x27;s starting process"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**Keep this Terminal window open as long as you use Datashare.**

**Datashare should now automatically open in your default internet browser.**\
If it doesn’t, type '[localhost:8080](http://localhost:8080)' in your browser.

Datashare **must be accessed from your internet browser** (Firefox, Chome, etc), even though it works offline without Internet connection (see FAQ: [Can I use Datashare with no internet connection?](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/usage/faq/general/can-i-use-datashare-with-no-internet-connection)).

<figure><img src="https://2881303961-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LWCyd3pDXO_H4jk9DgG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-be0fe389d1f3e984c030055670ec88d2b7a3ae1b%2FScreenshot%202025-06-05%20at%2008.49.50.png?alt=media" alt="Screenshot of Datashare&#x27;s homepage, the projects&#x27; page with one project called &#x27;Default&#x27;"><figcaption><p>Datashare's homepage</p></figcaption></figure>

You can now [add documents to Datashare](https://icij.gitbook.io/datashare/local-mode/install-datashare-on-windows/add-documents-to-datashare-on-windows).