---
url: /flint-acellemail/installation.md
description: >-
  Install Flint for AcelleMail in four steps — upload the plugin, activate it,
  activate your license, and connect your first AI engine. No core patches
  required.
---

# Installation

Get Flint from a fresh AcelleMail install to a working AI setup: upload, activate, license, connect an engine. No core patches, no SSH — everything happens in the AcelleMail admin.

**Prerequisites:** a server that meets the [Requirements](/flint-acellemail/requirements), your Flint license key, and an AI provider API key.

## 1. Upload the plugin

**Plugins → Upload Plugin** → upload the Flint zip from your Relyweb account.

AcelleMail installs it under `storage/app/plugins/relyweb/flint/` and runs its migrations automatically, adding the Flint configuration tables.

## 2. Activate

Activate the plugin from the Plugins list. A new **Flint** group appears in the sidebar — Dashboard, Engines, Feature Flags, the observability dashboards, and Settings. AI surfaces stay dormant until you finish the next two steps.

## 3. Activate your license

1. Go to **Flint → Settings → License**.
2. Paste your license key and click **Activate**.

![The License settings tab](/flint-acellemail/img/flint-installation-license.png)
*Flint → Settings → License*

License validation details:

* **Binding:** Validates and binds your domain, server IP, and installation path.
* **Storage:** Keys are stored encrypted in the database and displayed masked.
* **Unlocking:** Navigation tabs and AI capabilities unlock once the license verifies as **Active**. See [Licensing](/flint-acellemail/licensing).

## 4. Connect an engine

1. Go to **Flint → Settings → Engines & Keys**.
2. Click **Add Engine**, pick a **Provider**, select a **Model**, and enter your **API key** (leave blank for local Ollama).
3. Click **Test Connection** (confirms *"Connection successful"*), then click **Set as Default**.

See [Connect an engine](/flint-acellemail/guides/connect-an-engine) for the full provider walkthrough.

## 5. Verify

Open **Flint → Settings → Engines & Keys** and confirm your engine shows as **Default**. The chatbox, rewrite popover, subject suggestions and coaches are now ready to turn on in [Configuration](/flint-acellemail/configuration).

## Related pages

* [Requirements](/flint-acellemail/requirements)
* [Configuration](/flint-acellemail/configuration)
* [Connect an engine](/flint-acellemail/guides/connect-an-engine)
* [Licensing](/flint-acellemail/licensing)
* [Settings reference](/flint-acellemail/settings)