Checking in offline

Keep the door moving when the Wi-Fi drops.

Venue Wi-Fi often struggles when a crowd arrives. The check-in desk can keep working without a connection: you save the guest list to the device beforehand, check people in as usual, and the check-ins upload when the connection comes back.

Before the doors openLink to this section

Do this on every phone or tablet you'll use at the door, while you still have a good connection.

  1. Sign in and open the event's Check-in tab, then choose Open check-in.
  2. In the box near the top, choose Make available offline.
  3. Wait for "Offline check-in ready" and the number of attendees saved on this device.
  4. If the browser offers it, choose Install check-in app to add the desk to the device's home screen.
  5. Leave the check-in page open. Don't reload it while you're offline.
The check-in desk showing Offline check-in ready with the number of attendees saved on the device

If people register or are approved after you saved the list, choose Refresh roster while you're online to update it.

Checking in without a connectionLink to this section

When the device loses its connection, the chip at the top of the desk changes from Online to Offline. Carry on as usual:

  • Scan QR and Manual code look the ticket up in the saved list.
  • Search attendees searches the saved list by name, email or team.
  • The Confirm check-in box and Override waitlist work the same way as online.

Each check-in is saved on the device with the time it happened, and the box at the top counts how many are waiting to sync.

A few things wait for a connection:

  • Undo is turned off while offline. Undo mistakes once you're back online.
  • Each device only knows about its own check-ins. If two devices are offline at once, a guest could be checked in on both. When they sync, whichever device syncs first records the check-in, and the other is treated as already checked in.
  • A ticket that isn't in the saved list (for example, someone who registered after you saved it) can't be checked in until you're online.

Syncing when you're back onlineLink to this section

When the connection returns, the device uploads its waiting check-ins by itself. You can also choose Sync (the button shows how many are waiting). Every check-in keeps the time it actually happened, not the time it synced.

If some check-ins can't be accepted, you'll see a message that they "need attention". This happens when, for example, a guest's registration was declined in the meantime, or the check-in was recorded outside the event's window (from 24 hours before the start to one hour after the end). Check those guests on the Guests tab.

Cleaning up afterwardsLink to this section

The saved list holds guests' names, email addresses and ticket links, so don't leave it on a shared device.

  • It expires by itself 24 hours after you saved it.
  • To remove it sooner, choose Remove offline data. Sync first: the button stays unavailable while check-ins are waiting to upload.

Good to knowLink to this section

  • Offline mode covers entry check-in only. Custom check-in lists need a connection.
  • Badges still print offline if you've turned on ID card printing. The QR code on each badge is made on the device. See Printing badges.
  • For everything else about the desk, see The check-in desk.