# Setting up Sidecar

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> **Info:**
>
> - This guide assumes you have an existing Statsig account. Go here to create a new free account if you don't already have one: https://statsig.com/signup
> - You need to use the Google Chrome web browser for this exercise.

## Set up Sidecar Chrome extension

### Step 1: Install Chrome extension

If you don't already have the Sidecar extension, visit the [Chrome Web Store](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/statsig-sidecar/blkgemeefnlkmicphlkodgdkhceibgcb) and select "Add to Chrome".

![Statsig Sidecar Extension in the Chrome Web Store](https://docs.statsig.com/images/guides/sidecar-experiments/setup/0fc7cf69-3668-4f1b-bdaf-c75a25ca96af.png)

### Step 2: Activate the extension

Select the Extensions toolbar button and choose "Statsig Sidecar" to activate the Sidecar extension.

![Chrome extensions menu with Statsig Sidecar option](https://docs.statsig.com/images/guides/sidecar-experiments/setup/e069d1f2-c437-4398-a381-681b76663178.png)

You now see an Experiment Config UI like this:

![Sidecar Empty Interface](https://docs.statsig.com/images/sidecarempty.png)

### Step 3: Update settings

Update the API keys in the Settings dialog for the extension to work. Open the Settings dialog from the "Settings" link in the top header.

![Sidecar Settings Dialog](https://docs.statsig.com/images/sidecarsettings.png)

Retrieve these keys from your Statsig project. Log in to the Statsig Console at https://console.statsig.com and navigate to Settings (https://console.statsig.com/settings).

Select the "Keys & Environments" panel, then copy both the Console API Key and Client API Key and paste them into the Settings dialog.

![Statsig console Keys & Environments panel showing API keys](https://docs.statsig.com/images/guides/sidecar-experiments/setup/754cc245-1821-4f75-a87d-08b536422587.png)

Select "OK" to save the API Keys.

## Install Sidecar on your website

Add a single script tag within the `<head>` portion of your website, replacing with your own [Client SDK Key](https://docs.statsig.com/access-management/api-keys) as shown below.

```plaintext
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/statsig-sidecar/dist/index.min.js?apikey=REPLACE_WITH_YOUR_CLIENT_SDK_KEY"></script>
```

> **Info:**
>
> Installing Sidecar JS through a Tag Manager can lead to flickering and other unpredictable behavior. Install Sidecar as a synchronous script tag instead.

### Additional options

Add these query string parameters to the Sidecar script URL for additional controls over Sidecar client behavior

- `&reduceflicker=0` disables the brief hiding of the `<body>` tag while the client initializes
- `&autocapture=0` disables event autocapture

Most website builders support adding script tags. Here are some common examples: [Webflow](https://university.webflow.com/lesson/custom-code-in-the-head-and-body-tags?topics=site-settings), [Wordpress](https://wordpress.com/go/website-building/how-to-properly-add-javascript-to-wordpress-3-top-methods/), [Wix](https://support.wix.com/en/article/embedding-custom-code-on-your-site), [Squarespace](https://support.squarespace.com/hc/en-us/articles/205815928-Adding-custom-code-to-your-site), [Weebly](https://weeblytutorials.com/embed-javascript-weebly).

You can copy the script code from within the Sidecar Chrome extension.

![Sidecar Script Code](https://docs.statsig.com/images/sidecargetscript.png)

You're now ready to create your first experiment.

## Next up: [Creating Experiments](https://docs.statsig.com/guides/sidecar-experiments/creating-experiments)
