Signpost

Help

How to create your account, sign in, use Signpost, and set up your phone.

Getting started

1. Account Creation

Your Signpost account is created the first time you join an event — after that you can sign back in on any device.

Joining an event

  1. Open the event's sign-up link, or scan its sign-up QR code with your phone's camera.
  2. Enter your name, email address, and date of birth. Phone number is optional (used for SMS sign-in codes where enabled).
  3. Some events require you to be at the sign-up location to register — your phone will check your location when you submit. See Location & GPS if that fails.
  4. Tap Sign up. You're in, and you can start scanning destinations right away.

If you joined from a destination QR code, you'll be taken straight back to finish that check-in.

Already a member

If you've joined an event before, don't fill in the sign-up form again — that creates a duplicate account under a slightly different email. Instead, tap Sign in on the join page (or go to the sign-in page), get your code, and then confirm the new event with one tap.

2. Signing in

Email or phone code

Signpost uses one-time codes instead of passwords. Here's how it works:

  1. On the sign-in page, enter your email address or phone number.
  2. We send a 6-digit code by email or SMS.
  3. Enter the code on the next screen. That's it — you're signed in.

Codes expire after 10 minutes. If you don't see the email, check your spam folder.

Staying signed in

Once you're signed in, your session lasts for several weeks unless you sign out explicitly. You can scan as many destinations as you like in that window without being asked for another code.

Important: always start scans from inside Signpost (Scan in the menu, or Start Scanner on the home screen). Scanning a Signpost QR with the iPhone Camera app or a third-party QR reader opens a fresh browser session that doesn't know who you are, and you'll be asked to sign in for every code.

To sign out, open Settings and tap Sign out.

3. The pages

Once you're signed in, you'll see three links at the top of every page.

Scan

Opens the in-app QR scanner. Tap Start Scanner, allow camera access if asked, and point your camera at a Signpost QR code. The page detects the code automatically and continues to the check-in.

Use this instead of the iPhone Camera app — it keeps you signed in.

How visits are checked

Each event uses one of three modes, chosen by the organiser:

  • QR + Location — scan the QR code and be inside its geo-fence. Both required; the most common.
  • QR only — just scan the QR code. Works indoors or where GPS is unreliable.
  • Location only — no QR code. Open the event from My Events, tap a destination, and confirm with location. These also appear at the bottom of this Scan page.

My Events

Lists every event you've joined. Tap an event to see:

  • The destinations you've already visited, and the ones still to find.
  • Your visits and any quiz results.
  • The leaderboard (if the event has one).

Settings

Edit your profile and contact info, plus a few other things:

  • Profile — your name, date of birth, and ZIP code.
  • Contact — the email or phone we send sign-in codes to. Changes take effect immediately.
  • Test location & camera — verify your phone is ready to scan, with device-specific help if something is blocked.
  • Account — sign out.

Device settings

4. Location & GPS

Signpost uses your phone's location to confirm you're physically at a destination when you scan its QR code. Your location is checked once per scan and is not tracked in the background.

Quick test: Sign in and open Settings → Test location & camera. If "Run test" returns coordinates, your phone is set up correctly.

iPhone / iPad

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Privacy & Security → Location Services. Make sure the master toggle is On.
  3. Scroll down and tap Safari Websites. Set it to While Using the App.
  4. Go back to Settings, scroll to Safari → Location. Choose Ask or Allow.
  5. Reload the Signpost page in Safari and try again.

Android

  1. Swipe down from the top of the screen and make sure Location is on.
  2. Open Signpost in Chrome.
  3. Tap the padlock (or info icon) next to the address bar.
  4. Tap Permissions → Location → Allow.
  5. Reload the page and try again.

Troubleshooting

  • "Location is blocked for this site." Your browser remembers a previous "Don't Allow." Follow the steps above for your phone to reset that, then reload.
  • Accuracy is poor (the ± number stays high). Step outside or move away from tall buildings — GPS needs a clear view of the sky. Wi-Fi being on also helps the phone get a faster fix.
  • Nothing happens for several seconds. A cold GPS startup can take 3–10 seconds, especially indoors. The accuracy figure will appear as soon as the first reading arrives.

5. Camera

To scan a QR code from inside Signpost (which is the way to keep yourself signed in), your browser needs permission to use the camera. You'll be asked the first time you tap Start Scanner.

Quick test: On Settings → Test location & camera, tap Run test next to Camera. A small live preview should appear.

iPhone / iPad

  1. Open Settings → Safari → Camera.
  2. Set it to Ask or Allow.
  3. Reload the Signpost page and tap Start Scanner — Safari will prompt for camera access.
  4. Choose Allow on the prompt.

Android

  1. Open Signpost in Chrome and tap Start Scanner.
  2. If no prompt appears, tap the padlock next to the address bar → Permissions.
  3. Set Camera to Allow.
  4. Reload the page and try again.

Troubleshooting

  • "Camera is blocked for this site." Your browser remembers a previous denial. Follow the steps above for your phone to reset it, then reload.
  • The preview is black, or won't start. Another app is holding the camera. Close anything that might be using it (FaceTime, Zoom, the Camera app) and reload the page.
  • The preview freezes after a few seconds. Switching away from the browser and back can suspend the camera. Reload the page and keep Signpost in the foreground while scanning.