A Guide for Ordinary People to Use DeepSeek

3/13/2026

This Guide for Ordinary People to Use DeepSeek helps you get started with DeepSeek and DeepSeek 4—from basics to real-world use in learning, work, and daily life.

👉 Start Creating — Use DeepSeek on Limax AI and start creating now.

DeepSeek interface overview

1. Introduction to DeepSeek

DeepSeek is an AI assistant for everyday users. Think of it as an always-on digital helper: daily tasks, work problems, study questions, code, summaries, and charts—you can try asking it for all of these. It supports multiple languages and is easy to use, making it a good fit for beginners.

1.1 Why DeepSeek Stands Out

Strong reasoning: It doesn’t just answer; it infers your intent. For example, if you ask “I’ve been really stressed lately,” it may ask whether it’s work or life-related before giving advice.
Good at code and math: Helpful for developers and students—code snippets, debugging, and step-by-step solutions.
Accessible and free: Works in many languages and offers free usage so you can experiment without cost.
Open and transparent: Open-source components and clear documentation for those who want to go deeper.

1.2 Mobile App: Download and Register

Search for “DeepSeek” in your app store, install the official app (blue whale icon), then sign up with your phone number and verification code. Agree to the terms and log in to start.

Tip: Confirm the developer (e.g. official DeepSeek) to avoid fake apps. If you don’t receive the code, check network or SMS settings.

1.3 Web Version: Register and Use

Open your browser and go to https://chat.deepseek.com/. Then:

Enter your phone number.
Click “Send verification code.”
Enter the code you receive.
Read and accept the user agreement and privacy policy.
Click “Log in” and start typing in the chat box.

If the code doesn’t work, try refreshing or checking your connection; you can also contact support.

1.4 First-Time Tips

Be patient: Like any new tool, use it a few times to get used to the interface and style of answers.
Ask freely: Don’t worry if the question seems too simple or complex—ask in natural language (e.g. “Help me plan a trip to Paris” or “How do I take better photos with my phone?”).
Set a small goal: For example, “Write a short story with DeepSeek” or “Make a study plan”—goals help you practice consistently.

👉 Start Creating

DeepSeek features overview

2. Interface and Features

The web version has a sidebar where you can:

History: Review past conversations.
Favorites: Save important answers for later.
Settings: Adjust theme, font size, and other preferences.

2.2 Deep Thinking: More Relevant Answers

“Deep thinking” is one of DeepSeek’s standout features. The model spends more time reasoning about your question and often gives more complete, tailored answers.

How to use: Enable “Deep thinking” when asking; wait for the longer response. If the direction is wrong, add a short follow-up and it will adjust.

2.3 Web Search

With “Web search” on, DeepSeek can look up recent information and cite sources. Useful for news, trends, or up-to-date facts.

How to use: Turn on “Web search” before or when asking; the answer may include references you can click to verify.

2.4 Document Context

You can upload documents (drag and drop or use the upload button). DeepSeek can read the text and output in different formats, such as:

Markdown, mind-map code (e.g. for Markmap),
Mermaid flowcharts, CSV, SVG, HTML, etc.

Example: Upload a paper and ask to “Turn this into a Markdown mind map.” Copy the output into Markmap to view the diagram.

Tip: Combine deep thinking and web search when you need accurate or up-to-date results.

3. Practical Use: Getting Real Value from DeepSeek

3.1 A Simple Prompt Formula

Structure your request like this for clearer, more actionable answers:

Formula: What I want to do + who it’s for / where it’s used + desired outcome + but I’m worried about…

Examples:

Study: “I want a winter study plan for my 10-year-old to improve math, but I’m worried they won’t cooperate.”
Work: “I need a concise progress-report PPT for next week’s team meeting, but I’m short on time.”
Life: “I want to plan a Spring Festival trip to Yunnan for the family—relaxing and fun—but I’m worried about budget.”

The more specific you are, the more useful the answer.

3.2 “Explain in Simple Terms”

If the answer is too technical, ask: “Explain in simple terms” or “Say it in plain language.” DeepSeek will rephrase in everyday words.

3.3 Add Your Role and Context

Including your role and situation helps DeepSeek tailor advice. For example:

“I’m a primary school teacher; how can I help students improve writing?”
“I’m a fitness coach; how can I help clients gain muscle safely?”
“I’m a product manager; how can I improve team collaboration?”

You can then ask for more detail, e.g. “Any special tips for a new team?”

3.4 Ask for Structured Output

Specify the format you need so you can use the output directly. Examples:

“Write an article on environmental protection with a clear intro, body, and conclusion.”
“Summarize the main ideas of Poor Charlie’s Almanack as a Markdown mind map.”
“Draw a user shopping journey on an e‑commerce site in Mermaid.”

DeepSeek in practice

4. Example Workflows

Example 1: Mind Map of a Book

Goal: Summarize a book and get a mind map for review and sharing (e.g. Asking the Right Questions).

Steps:

Ask: “Summarize the main content of Asking the Right Questions and output a Markdown mind map.” If you have a PDF, upload it and ask the same.
Copy the Markdown output into Markmap (or similar) to generate the map.
Adjust layout and style, then export as image or PDF if needed.

Tip: If the book isn’t in the training data, upload the PDF and use deep thinking so the model can extract from the file.

Example 2: Research Report to PPT

Goal: As a market analyst, quickly draft a report on “AI in healthcare” and turn it into a PPT.