Access codes

The Access codes tab lets you put your registration form behind one or more codes. When at least one active code exists on an event, attendees must enter a valid code before they can see or complete registration. Codes do not discount prices — they control access.

When to use access codes

Access codes are the right tool when you want to restrict who can reach the registration form at all. Common cases:

• Private or invite-only events where the link circulates publicly but registration must stay closed
• Member-only registration where codes go to members before the event opens publicly
• Pre-release access where a small group registers before general admission opens

Once an attendee enters a valid code, they see all ticket types for the event. Codes do not restrict access to specific ticket types or price tiers.

Creating an access code

Open the event, go to the Access codes tab, and click Add code. Each code has these fields:

• Code (required) — 2–50 characters; letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores only. The field auto-uppercases as you type. Validation is case-insensitive, so VIP2026 and vip2026 are the same code.
• Description (optional) — an internal note, up to 2,000 characters. Attendees never see this field.
• Max uses (optional) — a whole non-negative number. Leave blank for unlimited uses.
• Valid from / Valid until (optional) — date-time windows in the event's timezone. Leave both blank for no time restriction.
• Status — Active or Paused. New codes default to Active.

How gating activates

Registration gating is driven entirely by active codes. If an event has no codes at all, registration is open to anyone with the public link. The moment you add at least one active code, the registration form requires a code to proceed. The tab header shows "Registration is code-gated" when gating is on.

When a code rejects

When an attendee enters a code, the system checks five conditions in order. If any fail, the attendee sees a specific error:

• Code not found — "Invalid access code."
• Code is paused — "This code is paused."
• Valid from is in the future — "This code isn't active yet."
• Valid until has passed — "This code has expired."
• Max uses reached — "This code is no longer available."

The Used / Max column on the tab shows current usage against the limit for each code. A code increments its use count at the point of completed registration, not when the attendee previews ticket types.

Pausing vs deleting

Pause a code (toggle Status to Paused) when you want to temporarily disable it. The code stays in the list, retains its use count, and can be reactivated at any time. Attendees who try to use it receive "This code is paused."

Deleting a code is permanent. Registrations that used the code before deletion are not affected — existing registrations stand. The code immediately stops working for any new attempts.