Create your first connection

Your first connection is the step that turns Spanna from a clean interface into a useful database tool.

You only need a valid MongoDB connection string and a clear idea of which environment you are connecting to.

What you need

Before adding a connection, make sure you have one of these:

• a MongoDB Atlas connection string
• a local MongoDB server
• a self-hosted MongoDB deployment URI

If it is a shared or production-like environment, label it clearly from the start. That makes the sidebar much easier to trust later.

Add the connection

1. Open Spanna.
2. Click the add connection action in the left sidebar.
3. Paste your MongoDB connection string.
4. Give the connection a clear name.
5. Save the connection.

Verify that it works

Once the connection is saved:

• expand the connection in the sidebar
• open a database
• open a collection
• confirm documents load

If you want Cloud Sync

If you sign in with a free account, saved connections can sync across supported Spanna clients. If you prefer, you can skip sign-in at first and add it later.

Common connection problems

If the connection does not open, check:

• username and password
• Atlas network access rules
• SRV DNS resolution if you use mongodb+srv
• whether the target server is reachable from your machine

Most first-connection issues come down to credentials, IP allowlists, or DNS.