> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hire-balt.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect a tool

> The ways to connect a tool, and what happens when you connect several.

Open the tool in the catalog, then click **Connect**. The tool's page says, under **Connection**, how it connects.

| Connection | What happens |
| - | - |
| **Sign-in** | You're sent to the tool to sign in and authorize Balt. |
| **API key** | You paste a key the tool gives you. It's stored encrypted and won't be shown again. |
| **Company access** | The organization's owner authorizes Balt once for the whole team. See [Company access](https://docs.hire-balt.com/en/integrations/company-access.md). |
| **Built in** | Nothing to do: the tool is already available. |

## With a sign-in

**1. Read the steps first**

Some tools need preparing, like switching on access in their settings. The window says so before you go on.

**2. Name the account**

**Nickname for this account** tells this account apart from others, for example "Sales inbox".

**3. Choose who has access**

In **Who should have access?**, pick **Private** for you alone and the people you'll invite, or **Public** for the whole organization. Only an administrator can pick **Public**. See [Personal and organization accounts](https://docs.hire-balt.com/en/integrations/personal-and-organization.md).

**4. Authorize Balt**

Go on to the tool, sign in and authorize Balt. You then come back to the console.

For a calendar or a mailbox, the access choice doesn't appear: these accounts are always private.

## With an API key

![Connect a tool with an API key](https://mintcdn.com/balt/2sSdIKl16CvfyLFT/images/screens/en/connect-key-dialog.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=2sSdIKl16CvfyLFT\&q=85\&s=100c243b26cfddf89b4e9afcf20cc9d2)

Paste the key into **API key**, choose who has access, then click **Connect**. The key isn't checked at that point: a wrong key shows up the first time it's used.

## Several accounts for one tool

| Connection | How many accounts |
| - | - |
| **Sign-in** | As many as you like: **Add another account**, on the tool's page |
| **API key** | One per organization. Disconnect the first to use another. |
| **Company access** | One per organization |
| Custom integration | Several, told apart by their nickname |

When several accounts of one tool are open to you, Balt uses the most personal one: yours first, then a private account you were invited to, then an organization account.

## After connecting

Balt may explore the account to learn how the tool is organized at your company. What he finds goes into the account's **Notes** tab. See [Manage an account](https://docs.hire-balt.com/en/integrations/manage.md).


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