Accounts & sign-in
PrepAI uses Google sign-in as its only authentication method — there is no email/password form, no separate sign-up page, and no password to forget. Your first sign-in creates your account automatically.
Why Google-only
Google sign-in keeps the security surface small (no password storage, no reset flows to abuse) and gets you in with one click. It is the right fit for a free, zero-cost product: PrepAI never has to store or protect a password.
How it works on each platform
| Platform | Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Web (desktop and mobile browsers) | Firebase Authentication Google popup (signInWithPopup). If a popup is blocked, the app falls back to a redirect flow. |
| Native Android app | The native Google sign-in plugin obtains a Google ID token on-device, which is exchanged for the same Firebase session. This avoids embedding a web login inside the app, in line with store policies. |
Either way you end up as the same Firebase user, so your progress and settings are identical across web and mobile.
What a new account stores
On your first sign-in, PrepAI creates a user record containing:
- Your Google display name, email, and avatar URL (so the app can greet you and show your profile).
- A default role of candidate and a default plan of free.
- A last-seen timestamp, updated on subsequent sign-ins.
As you use the app, it also stores your practice progress, mock-interview sessions, reviews, gamification stats, and preferences (theme, editor choice). Your code solutions execute locally; see Privacy & data for the full picture.
Roles
PrepAI supports several roles that unlock different capabilities:
| Role | Can do |
|---|---|
| Candidate | Practice, take mock interviews, request and give peer reviews. |
| Mentor | Conduct mentor-led interviews and review solutions. |
| Instructor | Author content and questions. |
| HR reviewer | Access candidate data with consent, assign tests. |
| Admin | Moderation, analytics, and feature toggles. |
Most users are candidates. Elevated roles are granted by an administrator.
Signing out
Use the profile or settings menu to sign out. On the web, signing out clears your Firebase session in that browser; your saved progress stays safely on the server and returns the next time you sign in.
Deleting your account and data
PrepAI provides a self-service account deletion flow (the /data-deletion page in the app), which removes your account record and associated data. This is also linked from the app's privacy policy. See Privacy & data for what is deleted and what (if anything) is retained for legal reasons.
Troubleshooting sign-in
- "Popup closed by user" / popup blocked. Allow popups for the site or let the app use its redirect fallback.
- Wrong Google account. Sign out, then sign in again and pick the correct account from Google's chooser.
- Stuck on a loading screen. PrepAI waits for both the theme and your auth state before showing the app; a slow network can delay this. Refresh if it persists.