# Configure neurons

In order to be able to manage the neurons via the Gold dApp, they need to be correctly configured. All that is needed is to add the user's principal from the Gold dApp as a **hotkey** to each of your neuron and it's automatically detected. This will let the Gold dApp know that the user is the rightful owner of the neuron. The guide below explains each step of how to add a neuron to the Gold dApp.

As most people use the NNS dApp to manage their neurons, this guide focuses on this workflow. 

{% hint style="warning" %}
:warning: <mark style="color:red;">**Attention**</mark>: When logging into the Gold dApp with the same Internet Identity as you have on the NNS dApp, you will receive a different principal. This is due to the nature of how Internet Identity works. That is why you are conneting your neurons via hotkeys to this dApp. Learn more about this [here](https://internetcomputer.org/docs/current/tutorials/developer-journey/level-3/3.5-identities-and-auth#internet-identity).&#x20;
{% endhint %}

## Adding neuron hotkeys

1. Login to the [Gold DAO dashboard](https://dashboard.gold-dao.org/). <br>

   <figure><img src="https://2669388926-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhyYilEcr51QGR1f1ZQ8w%2Fuploads%2FaTYPW3elfQZDYVSu90rL%2FScreenshot%202025-07-03%20at%2010.31.04.png?alt=media&#x26;token=2d0212fb-502b-49d9-9c37-fc1a25a02dc7" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
2. Navigate to the rewards page<br>

   <figure><img src="https://2669388926-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhyYilEcr51QGR1f1ZQ8w%2Fuploads%2FhpPuTAcOaQEUmCecO9cC%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=694852eb-1d9c-494a-a280-31ce041340ee" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
3. Click on the "+" to add a neuron

   <figure><img src="https://2669388926-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhyYilEcr51QGR1f1ZQ8w%2Fuploads%2FCATPWY7JKyHPfTDqz3CH%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=3da21e77-5003-4884-906b-352ff9018ff8" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
4. A modal will appear that shows your principal. Copy your principal and go to the next step.

   <figure><img src="https://2669388926-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhyYilEcr51QGR1f1ZQ8w%2Fuploads%2FvMwd8zvLxAp15NAtAWVx%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=f0b9bf2d-0b7d-49aa-936d-7ee687e73d7a" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
5. Open a new window and login to the [NNS dApp](https://nns.ic0.app/) with your Internet Identity which holds your neurons. Go to the "Neuron Staking" section and select the neuron that you want to add. On the neuron's page, scroll down to hotkeys and click on "Add Hotkey". Enter your principal that you copied in step 4. <br>

   <figure><img src="https://2669388926-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhyYilEcr51QGR1f1ZQ8w%2Fuploads%2FLnCrVlkyeRcTmsCguAWB%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ecf1ef12-f946-465e-bb8a-cce66d5f9f26" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
6. Go back to the Gold dApp. You may need to refresh the page. The neuron should now appear in your list of neurons :tada:<br>

   <figure><img src="https://2669388926-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhyYilEcr51QGR1f1ZQ8w%2Fuploads%2FiSvLquUgFGJz8J44VdcQ%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=307481ae-ba4a-435c-9cdc-f7e223142111" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Add followees

In order to receive rewards, your neuron needs to vote on proposals. You can either vote manually yourself or configure your neuron to follow other people's neurons. Make sure to follow a neuron on each topic if you are not planning to vote manually yourself,

<figure><img src="https://2669388926-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FhyYilEcr51QGR1f1ZQ8w%2Fuploads%2F3N7StruuYYvsm4bUOB1d%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cb0314dd-d094-4cd2-9aa5-d01c77797516" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

If you want to follow the official Gold DAO developer team neuron, you need to follow the following neuron: [7eac04f2e207c04b8a7ac01b7505c715821ebbd7bc9815cef0a6842514f3b832](https://dashboard.internetcomputer.org/sns/tw2vt-hqaaa-aaaaq-aab6a-cai/neuron/7eac04f2e207c04b8a7ac01b7505c715821ebbd7bc9815cef0a6842514f3b832)