> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sherpo.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Courses

> Explore how Course products look and work for users: lessons, progress tracking, and checkout experience.

**Course** products bundle videos, slides, downloads, and written lessons into a guided experience. Each course lives on your site and can be free or paid. This page shows how Courses appear to your users and what happens after they unlock one.

If you're looking for a guide on how to **create** Course products, you can find it here:

<CardGroup cols={1}>
  <Card icon="video" href="/dashboard/products-creation/course" title="Course Creation (Dashboard)">
    Create comprehensive courses with chapters and lessons.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Where Courses appear

When you publish a Course product, it automatically appears on your **homepage** alongside other "Grid" products, like [Downloads](https://docs.sherpo.io/products/download), but it can always be moved to Line products from the product's [Settings](https://docs.sherpo.io/dashboard/overview).

Your visitors can browse the syllabus ("Pages"), preview free lessons, check the total duration (if you include it) and lesson count, and unlock the full course, all from the same landing page.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/WKrY8TUuSllkCdMA/images/course-example-3.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WKrY8TUuSllkCdMA&q=85&s=bef8e0b31daff09d5ef214cd3f952d49" alt="Course Example 3" title="Course Example 3" width="2880" height="1698" data-path="images/course-example-3.png" />
</Frame>

### What users see

Each Course lesson you upload appears inside the "Pages" block, either as a right-side **syllabus** showing chapters and lessons when placed inside an "Aside Column":

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/WKrY8TUuSllkCdMA/images/course-pages-right-side.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WKrY8TUuSllkCdMA&q=85&s=13c88846f43c01a042adbc2c9db2eed5" alt="Course chapters and lessons list" title="Chapters and lessons" width="916" height="1104" data-path="images/course-pages-right-side.png" />
</Frame>

Or as a horizontal scrollable block if the block is not inside the "Aside Column":

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/WKrY8TUuSllkCdMA/images/course-pages-left-side.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WKrY8TUuSllkCdMA&q=85&s=704234c6e421dbf972784315bc798d2e" alt="Course chapters and lessons list" title="Chapters and lessons" width="1332" height="654" data-path="images/course-pages-left-side.png" />
</Frame>

Locked lessons display a small lock icon. Free lessons ("publicly available" ones) are clearly labeled as **Preview**. If the Course includes extra materials, such as files or links, users will find them under **You also get**.

Files & Links [work exactly the same as in Downloads products](/products/download) and appear under the "Content" block.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto hidden dark:block" title="Extra resources" src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/sherpo/products/images/course-files-links.png" alt="You also get panel with links and downloads" />

  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto dark:hidden" title="Extra resources" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/WKrY8TUuSllkCdMA/images/course-files-links.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WKrY8TUuSllkCdMA&q=85&s=9f1cb5424f51e4d3ff1b189bd6b4051d" alt="You also get panel with links and downloads" width="942" height="788" data-path="images/course-files-links.png" />
</Frame>

PDFs and XLSX files can also be secured. All files and links are locked for customers who haven't unlocked the product and unlock immediately after purchase.

For courses, Sherpo automatically calculates **total video duration**, **number of lessons/pages**, the total number of **downloadable items**, number of links, number of quizzes, number of certificates, number of slides, and number of customers (which can be hidden), displaying these metrics to users inside the "Summary" block.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/WKrY8TUuSllkCdMA/images/course-summary-liquid.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=WKrY8TUuSllkCdMA&q=85&s=d8d8178f2997d3ab86e82265ad543c38" alt="Sherpo's automatic video and lesson duration calculations" title="Video time calculations" width="942" height="258" data-path="images/course-summary-liquid.png" />
</Frame>

***

## Lesson player

### Custom player

Inside each lesson, uploaded videos play directly through **Sherpo’s custom player**, hosted securely on Sherpo. The player adapts to your brand color and supports both light and dark mode.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/igaHu4pcMt0YBgNM/images/video-customplayer.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=igaHu4pcMt0YBgNM&q=85&s=d0ddd629ac38ea5bd85d5347c559d1ae" alt="Sherpo custom video player" title="Custom player" width="1238" height="876" data-path="images/video-customplayer.png" />
</Frame>

Users can adjust playback speed from **0.5× to 2.0×** in 0.05× increments, pop the video out into a mini-player, or switch to full-screen mode. The setting persists between videos.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/igaHu4pcMt0YBgNM/images/video-speed-selector.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=igaHu4pcMt0YBgNM&q=85&s=d0a6033bf2a24852dd4de94035159d54" alt="Video speed selector in Sherpo player" title="Video speed selector" width="1388" height="512" data-path="images/video-speed-selector.png" />
</Frame>

### Full-screen mode

Full-screen mode provides a clean, focused viewing experience.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/igaHu4pcMt0YBgNM/images/video-fullscreen.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=igaHu4pcMt0YBgNM&q=85&s=18fe0d2ff1b82bd8eae30b32bc24f66c" alt="Course video in full-screen" title="Full-screen video" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/video-fullscreen.png" />
</Frame>

Users can also open the **Chapters panel** from within the player. In this view, chapters scroll horizontally, unlike the standard right-side syllabus inside Pages, where lessons scroll vertically.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/igaHu4pcMt0YBgNM/images/video-fullscreen-chapters.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=igaHu4pcMt0YBgNM&q=85&s=ba10b99b2e96c72ecfff4dac62ab9710" alt="Full-screen with chapters panel" title="Chapters inside full-screen" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/video-fullscreen-chapters.png" />
</Frame>

### Description

If a lesson includes a written **description**, transcript, or extra resources, they appear below the video or, in full-screen mode, in the top-left corner by clicking the "info" (ⓘ) icon:

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/igaHu4pcMt0YBgNM/images/video-fullscreen-description.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=igaHu4pcMt0YBgNM&q=85&s=f41ba691a0db26a9fa06ebd4ef127178" alt="Written lesson content under the video" title="Lesson body" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/video-fullscreen-description.png" />
</Frame>

***

## Progress and completion

Depending on your Course Progession tracking settings, users can **mark lessons as completed**, or lessons will automatically be marked as completed after finishing videos or slides. Progress is saved automatically and synced across devices.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/hkUNuVA4YVijN5Sg/images/course-mark-as-complete.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=hkUNuVA4YVijN5Sg&q=85&s=f37accf6e365f20a508953d15b7bbb2f" alt="Mark as completed button" title="Mark lesson as completed" width="406" height="124" data-path="images/course-mark-as-complete.png" />
</Frame>

Once completed, lessons show a badge.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/hkUNuVA4YVijN5Sg/images/course-marked-complete.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=hkUNuVA4YVijN5Sg&q=85&s=d267a5f8ee159e91f4f01dd0e0e00420" alt="Lesson completed badge" title="Completed state" width="496" height="230" data-path="images/course-marked-complete.png" />
</Frame>

When hovered over, a timestamp also appears:

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/j3zupIy1cLSfJFRX/images/lesson-completed-hover.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=j3zupIy1cLSfJFRX&q=85&s=0b46df3aa0760e4228aa193ebe0fa74e" alt="Completion timestamp tooltip" title="Completion timestamp" width="1252" height="992" data-path="images/lesson-completed-hover.png" />
</Frame>

***

## Embedded slides

Lessons can include **interactive slides** directly in the player. Users can scroll through them, zoom in, and select slide numbers from any device. Full-screen mode is not available on mobile. Optionally, slides can also be made downloadable for users.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/igaHu4pcMt0YBgNM/images/slides-embedded.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=igaHu4pcMt0YBgNM&q=85&s=bc6d5fc09a17a8ae6739fa271d94a39d" alt="Embedded slide deck inside a lesson" title="Embedded slides" width="1530" height="1064" data-path="images/slides-embedded.png" />
</Frame>

***

## Checkout

The Course checkout flow mirrors other Sherpo products: fast, secure, and Stripe-powered.

<Card icon="credit-card" href="/features/checkout" cta="Click here" title="Checkout">
  Discover how Checkout works on Sherpo.
</Card>

***

## Quizzes (what customers see)

When a learner opens a lesson that contains a quiz, they can start the quiz from the page.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/w_LH27hbOOmr67Nf/images/quiz-liquid-view-1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w_LH27hbOOmr67Nf&q=85&s=b6e31a2a80ec440fc3a9d6e11a6af098" alt="Quiz page before starting, showing attempts area" title="Quiz before starting" width="2262" height="772" data-path="images/quiz-liquid-view-1.png" />
</Frame>

Sherpo tracks progress, attempts, and results automatically. Sherpo also starts a timer when a learner begins the quiz and uses it to calculate completion time in your quiz analytics. If a learner starts a quiz and comes back later, the timer continues running.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/w_LH27hbOOmr67Nf/images/quiz-example-liquid2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=w_LH27hbOOmr67Nf&q=85&s=6234be802dc9ee596d3261de7e749850" alt="Quiz in progress with true or false and multiple choice questions" title="Quiz in progress" width="1788" height="1518" data-path="images/quiz-example-liquid2.png" />
</Frame>

***

## Certificates (what customers see)

If a certificate is available for the quiz, learners will see a **Certificate available** panel on the lesson page. Clicking **Generate** prompts them to confirm.

* The certificate records the learner’s **best score** for that quiz.
* Generating a certificate is **irreversible**.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/gM01G2Qrk89_X0lL/images/certificate-download.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gM01G2Qrk89_X0lL&q=85&s=bf62306ac234dfaf27a6f231031d69c0" alt="Generate certificate confirmation modal noting best score is recorded and the action is irreversible" title="Generate certificate confirmation" width="1516" height="324" data-path="images/certificate-download.png" />
</Frame>

Once generated, learners can download the certificate from the same panel.

<Frame>
  <img className="rounded-xl mr-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/sherpo/gM01G2Qrk89_X0lL/images/certificate-view.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gM01G2Qrk89_X0lL&q=85&s=a48520fdc8c7209d48385fea1aa2676a" alt="Certificate panel showing generated date, recipient, registered score, and a download button" title="Certificate download" width="1788" height="520" data-path="images/certificate-view.png" />
</Frame>

***

## Course example

[Click here to see how a full Course product appears.](https://demo.sherpo.io/course)

***

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Do users need an account to unlock a course?">
    Yes, unless you set lessons as publicly available, which will display "Preview". Logging in keeps their progress, lessons, and access synced across devices.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can users rewatch a course later?">
    Yes. Once unlocked, users can revisit it anytime as long as you keep it published.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can users change video speed?">
    Yes. Using the built-in speed slider in the player, users can adjust from 0.5× to 2×. The setting persists between videos.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can users download videos or watch offline?">
    No. Videos stream securely through Sherpo’s player and are not downloadable.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do users find extra files or links?">
    Any additional materials appear in the "Content" block, which you can place wherever you like, or inside the relevant lesson.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How is progress saved?">
    Depending on your progress tracking configuration under Settings, whether users mark lessons as completed manually or Sherpo does so automatically upon lesson opening or completion, Sherpo saves their progress to their account.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What payment options are available?">
    Through Stripe Connect, Sherpo supports most major payment methods, including cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Link, Amazon Pay, Klarna, and Afterpay.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can users put a coupon or discount code?">
    Yes. If you offer one, users can apply it during checkout before paying.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens after users pay?">
    They will be redirected to your unlocked course and receive a confirmation email, plus a receipt for paid purchases.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I unlock free courses?">
    Yes. Free courses can be unlocked instantly. Users just need to confirm their email to save access.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Will users get a certificate after finishing?">
    Yes, but only if you create one under "Quizzes & Certificates".
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>
