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# Create Your First Profile in PlayAbility

A profile is a saved control setup. It contains the mappings that connect inputs such as face gestures, head movement, voice, keyboard, mouse, or a physical gamepad to gamepad, keyboard, mouse, or PlayAbility actions.

## Create the profile

1. Open **Profiles** from the sidebar.
2. Select **Create your first profile**. If another profile already exists, select **Add a new profile** instead.
3. On **Select a base template**, browse the templates or use **Filter by output**.
4. Choose a starting point:
   - Select **Starter** for an empty profile.
   - Select a template such as **Head and Face to Gamepad**, **Head and Face to Keyboard**, **Head and Face to Mouse**, or **Racing Game** for example mappings you can customize.
5. Select **Use this template**.

PlayAbility creates the profile, makes it the current profile, and opens it in **Mapping**.

## Add your first mapping

A mapping has two parts: the action PlayAbility will produce and the trigger that will activate it.

1. In **Mapping**, select **Add actions**.
2. Choose an output category such as **Gamepad**, **Keyboard**, **Mouse**, or **Settings**.
3. Select one or more actions, then select **Add**.
4. On the new action row, select **Select a trigger**.
5. To build a new trigger, select **Create a new trigger +**.
6. Under **How do you want to control it?**, choose an available input type.
7. Select or enter the specific input and adjust any settings shown.
8. Choose an **Action Mode** when needed, then select **Save**.

For example, add the gamepad **A Button** action and use a smile, a keyboard key, or a spoken word as its trigger. Start with one simple mapping so it is easy to test before adding the rest of your controls.

If a suitable trigger already exists in the profile, you can select its card and choose **Use this trigger** instead of creating a duplicate.

## Turn on the required controls

1. Make sure **Main Output** is enabled.
2. If the profile uses face gestures or head tracking, start **Face Detection**.
3. If the profile uses spoken words or phrases, start **Voice Detection**.
4. If the profile uses a webcam or microphone, confirm the correct device under **Settings** > **General**.

The detection controls can be started from the controls beside the webcam preview. The first start may require Windows permission to use the camera or microphone.

## Verify the profile

1. Open **Profiles** and confirm the profile card says **Current profile**.
2. Return to **Mapping**.
3. Activate the trigger you configured.
4. Confirm the mapping responds in PlayAbility's live feedback and the target app receives the expected action.
5. Test the trigger several times from a comfortable resting position before adding more mappings.

## Troubleshooting and limitations

### The action appears in Mapping but nothing happens

Confirm that the action has a trigger, **Main Output** is enabled, and the relevant **Face Detection** or **Voice Detection** control is running. Also confirm that the intended profile says **Current profile** on the **Profiles** page.

### The trigger activates too easily or not often enough

Edit the trigger and adjust its threshold, delay, deadzone, sensitivity, or movement range as applicable. Make one small change at a time and test again.

### The camera or microphone is wrong

Open **Settings** > **General**, select the intended device under **Webcam** or **Microphone**, and restart the relevant detection control.

### The profile cannot be edited

A profile marked **Read-Only** cannot be changed. Load an editable profile or follow the upgrade option shown in the app. Some profile-management features and additional editable profiles require PlayAbility Pro Edition.

### Creating another profile would replace the current one

Follow the profile-limit prompt carefully. Export or share a profile before replacing it if you need to keep a backup.

### Controls still appear after switching profiles

Mappings in the special **Global** profile run alongside every regular profile. Check the Global profile if an action remains active after loading a different profile.

## Related articles

- [Manage Profiles and Choose a Template](https://help.playability.gg/en/article/manage-profiles-and-choose-a-template-ogzx1x/)
- [Build and Edit a Mapping](https://help.playability.gg/en/article/build-and-edit-a-mapping-u0q0bs/)
- [Create a Face-Controlled Gamepad Profile](https://help.playability.gg/en/article/create-a-face-controlled-gamepad-profile-176wcyq/)
- [Accounts, Pro Features and Offline Use](https://help.playability.gg/en/article/accounts-pro-features-and-offline-use-rtp9u6/)