AI WORLD HQGetting started with Perplexity for answers that show their sources
Learn how to ask Perplexity a question, see the AI‑generated answer, and click the source links that prove where the information came from.
Hook: By the end of this guide you’ll be able to type a natural‑language question into Perplexity, read a concise answer, and open the exact web pages that the AI used – a handy skill for research, shopping or learning.
- Device: Any computer, tablet or smartphone with a modern web browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox).
- Internet: A stable connection; Perplexity needs to reach the live web to gather sources.
- Account (optional): You can use the free version without signing in, but a free account lets you keep a short search history.
- Time: Expect to spend about 5–10 minutes the first time you try it.
Open the Perplexity website
Action: In your browser’s address bar, type https://www.perplexity.ai and press Enter.
What you see: The home page loads with a clean, white background and a large search bar centred on the screen, often labelled “Ask anything…” or similar.
What happens next: The page may display a brief tagline about AI‑powered answers, and the cursor automatically lands in the search bar, ready for you to type.
If it looks different: Some browsers show a banner at the top or a slightly different colour scheme; just look for a prominent text box where you can type a question.
Success check: You’ll know it worked when the cursor is blinking inside the centred search bar and the page title reads “Perplexity – AI Search Engine”.
Type a complete natural‑language question
Action: Click inside the search bar, then type a full sentence that describes exactly what you want to know.
What you see: As you type, the bar may expand slightly and a small “Enter” icon (often a right‑pointing arrow) appears on the right side.
What happens next: When you press Enter or tap the arrow icon, Perplexity sends your request to its large language model (LLM – the AI brain behind the answer) and begins scanning the web for relevant sources.
If it looks different: On some mobile layouts the arrow may be replaced by a “Search” button below the bar; tap that instead.
Success check: You’ll know it worked when the page shows a loading animation (spinning dots) followed by a formatted answer panel appearing below the search bar.
Review the answer and explore source citations
Action: Read the answer that appears, then locate the numbered brackets like [1] or [2] that sit beside specific facts.
What you see: Directly under the answer’s heading you’ll see a row of small source cards, each containing a website title and a tiny thumbnail; the numbered brackets are clickable links next to the text.
What happens next: Clicking a bracket or source card opens a preview tooltip, and clicking the preview (or the link itself) usually opens the original web page in a new browser tab.
If it looks different: Some versions show the citations as superscript numbers or as “source 1”, “source 2” labels; the principle is the same – look for any numbers or labelled links attached to the facts.
Success check: You’ll know it worked when a new tab loads the external website and the address bar shows a familiar domain (e.g., travelblog.com) matching the citation.
Ask a follow‑up question in the same chat
Action: Scroll to the bottom of the answer panel, locate the smaller input field labelled “Ask a follow‑up” (or similar), click inside it, and type a new question that builds on the previous answer.
What you see: The follow‑up field sits directly under the original answer, often with a faint border and a “Send” icon on the right.
What happens next: After you press Enter or tap the send icon, Perplexity remembers the earlier conversation and refines its answer, still displaying source citations for the new information.
If it looks different: On some devices the follow‑up field may be a separate pop‑up that appears when you click a “+” icon; use that pop‑up to type your question.
Success check: You’ll know it worked when a fresh answer box appears, showing only the filtered campsites and new numbered citations beside each entry.
Use Focus mode to limit where the AI looks
Action: Before typing a new question, find the button labelled Focus (usually positioned to the right of the main search bar) and click it.
What you see: A small menu drops down with options such as “All web”, “Academic papers”, “YouTube videos”, and “No web (local only)”.
What happens next: Selecting an option tells the LLM to restrict its source‑gathering to that category; after you choose, the search bar remains active for you to type a new query.
If it looks different: Some layouts show a gear icon instead of the word “Focus”; tap the gear and look for a “Source filter” or similar wording.
Success check: You’ll know it worked when the answer summarises a video’s steps and provides timestamps or direct links to the relevant YouTube video in the source cards.
- Skipping the full sentence: Typing only a keyword like “vacuum cleaners” often yields a brief list without citations. Fix: Phrase your query as a complete question or instruction, e.g., “What are the top‑rated vacuum cleaners for pet hair and where can I read reviews?”
- Ignoring the citation numbers: Assuming the answer is correct without checking the sources can lead to outdated or inaccurate information. Fix: Click at least one citation to verify the original article, especially for important decisions.
- Not using Focus when you need specific media: Asking for video tutorials but leaving Focus on “All web” may give a text‑only answer. Fix: Tap the Focus button first and select the media type you need before typing your question.
Open a new browser tab, go to perplexity.ai, type:
“What are three unique indoor activities to do in Melbourne on a rainy afternoon?”
Press Enter, read the concise list, and click one of the numbered sources to see the original article. You’ll have experienced the full cycle in under two minutes.
✦ Original step-by-step guide by AI World Co.'s AI editorial team. Written in plain language, reviewed for accuracy.
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