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Managing attendee access with Magic Links

This article explains how magic links work, how to ensure attendees receive them, and how to troubleshoot common access issues.

Updated this week

As an event organizer, ensuring seamless and secure access to the event platform for your attendees is critical. Swapcard automates account creation upon registration, eliminating the need for attendees to sign up manually. Attendees gain access via magic links, a secure, password-free login method that enhances user experience and ensures swift entry into the platform.

How attendees receive Magic Links

Via Event Organizer Emails

Upon registration, attendees automatically receive event-related emails from the organizer, containing magic links that grant immediate access to their account.

  • Mobile Integration: When attendees open these emails on mobile devices with the event app installed, the links will open the app and log them in directly.

  • Validity Period: These magic links are valid for 72 hours. After expiration, attendees will be redirected to the login page, where they can request a new magic link by entering their email.

Via the Login Screen

If an attendee misses the initial email or the magic link expires, they can request a new link via the login page.

  • Web and Mobile Access: Whether using the event app or the web version, attendees can enter their email on the login screen. If they don’t have a password set, they will be prompted to use the magic link sent to their email.

  • Password Reset Option: If the attendee has forgotten their password, they can also request a password reset or choose to log in using a magic link instead.

Managing Login Issues for Attendees

Unrecognized email address

Sometimes, attendees may encounter issues where their email isn’t recognized during login. This could happen for several reasons:

  • They registered with a different email than they are attempting to use.

  • There was a typo in their registration email.

  • There may be a delay in syncing registration data with the event platform.

In such cases, advise attendees to double-check the email they used to register or wait a few minutes for the data sync. If the issue persists, they should reach out to you, the event organizer, for assistance.

Magic Link email not received

If an attendee doesn’t receive their magic link after the system indicates that it was sent, try the following steps:

  • Check spam or junk folders: Ask attendees to ensure the email didn’t land in their spam folder.

  • Send a one-time login code: Suggest they click on the Send me a one-time login code instead option on the “email is on its way” screen. This will send them a 6-character code they can use to log in.

  • Company firewalls: In cases where attendees are using corporate email addresses, the email may be blocked by their company’s firewall. Instruct them to ask their IT department to whitelist event-related emails.

Expired Magic Links

Magic links expire after 72 hours for security purposes. If an attendee’s link has expired, they simply need to re-enter their email on the login page, and a new magic link will be sent.

Event not found after login

Sometimes attendees may log in but not see the event on the platform. This could happen if:

  • The event is hosted on a dedicated mobile app or web domain, separate from Swapcard's general platform. Instruct attendees to click on any event-related email to be redirected to the correct domain.

  • They are part of multiple Communities within the event platform. Ask them to ensure they select the correct community from the Community Home page before accessing the event.

If attendees continue experiencing issues, advise them to contact your support team for further assistance.

Other Technical Issues

To prevent login issues, ensure that attendees are using a compatible browser (Google Chrome, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox) with pop-up blockers disabled. Copying and pasting magic links between different browsers may result in login errors, so direct them to open the link in the browser where they initiated the login.

How to monitor Attendee access

As an event organizer, it’s essential to monitor whether attendees have successfully enabled their accounts and logged into the platform. In Studio, you can track login activity and ensure attendees have access:

  • Go to Settings & Members: Here, you’ll find a list of all registered members.

  • Check the status of two-factor authentication (2FA) and other security measures.

If attendees are experiencing ongoing access issues, escalate them to your event's support team.


Managing attendee access through magic links ensures a smooth, secure login experience for all participants. As an event organizer, your role is to monitor access, assist with common login issues, and ensure the platform is functioning as expected. By addressing potential access challenges, you can create a seamless event experience for all attendees.

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