Signpost

Help

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

1. 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.

2. 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.

If another app is using the camera (e.g., FaceTime), close it first.

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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

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).

How destinations are checked in

Events use one of three modes. The event organiser picks this when they set up the event.

  • QR + Location — the most common. Scan the destination's QR code and be inside its geo-fence. Both are required.
  • QR only — scan the destination's QR code. No location check, so you can use these indoors or anywhere GPS is unreliable.
  • Location only — no QR codes. Open the event from My Events, tap a destination, and confirm with location. These also appear in a list at the bottom of the Scan page so you can find them quickly.

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.