How to Control When People Can Sign Up

There's more than one way to control sign up timing, and they solve slightly different problems. You can automatically open and close an entire sign up on a schedule, set timing for one specific slot, lock changes as an event gets close, or manually restrict access if you're not on a paid plan yet. Here's how each one works.

Sign Up-Level Start and Stop Dates

Available on Gold, Platinum, and Enterprise plans, this controls when your entire sign up opens and closes. Before the start date, participants can see the sign up but can't register yet.

After the stop date, the sign up closes automatically and no more changes can be made. Times run on a 24-hour clock, so a 5:00 PM stop time closes registration at exactly 5:00 PM, not at midnight.

Log in and click the Created tab.
Click the ellipsis icon (•••) next to the sign up and select Edit.
On the Settings tab, scroll to Preferences and click the Restrictions tab.
Click the + symbol next to Sign Up Start/Stop Dates.
Set your start and stop dates and times.

While you're there, you can also:

Hide sign up dates, times, and slots before the sign up opens or after it closes.
Display a custom message before the sign up opens or after it closes.
Lock the sign up automatically so participants can't make changes once it's closed.

Per-Slot Start and Stop Dates

Also available starting at Gold, this works the same idea but applies to one specific slot instead of the whole sign up, useful when different slots on the same sign up need different registration windows.

Log in and click the Created tab.
Click the ellipsis icon (•••) next to the sign up and select Edit.
Go to the Slots tab.
Click the pencil icon next to an existing slot, or select Add Slots to create a new one.
Scroll to the Start/Stop Dates & Times section and set your dates.
Click Save, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save again to finalize.

Sign Up Locking

Available on all paid plans, not just Gold and above, Sign Up Locking is a lighter-weight option than full start/stop dates. Instead of scheduling exact open and close times, you set a window of time before the event when sign ups automatically lock.

Log in and go to your Created sign ups.
Click the ellipsis icon (•••) next to the sign up and select Edit.
On the Settings tab, scroll to Preferences and click the Restrictions tab.
Click the + symbol next to Sign Up Locking.

You can use either or both of these options:

Prevent new sign ups a set amount of time before the event. The minimum is 24 hours, so an event at 3:00 PM locks at 3:00 PM the day before.
Prevent editing or deleting existing sign ups a set number of days before the date they signed up for, also with a 24-hour minimum.

Genius Tip

Locking is a good fit for finalizing headcounts, like meal counts or volunteer shifts, without committing to a full scheduled open and close window.

Free Plan Option: Access Code

Not ready for a paid plan yet? You can manually restrict access to a sign up at any time using an access code, available on every plan.

From the Created tab, click the ellipsis icon (•••) next to the sign up and select Edit.
Go to the Settings tab, then Preferences, then Restrictions.
Click the + symbol next to Enhanced Security.
Check the box to require an access code to view the sign up.
Enter your access code and click Update.
Only people with the code can access the sign up. This won't open or close automatically like the paid options above, but it gives you manual control over who can get in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Sign Up Locking and Start/Stop Dates?
Locking sets a window of time before the event when sign ups automatically close, without needing exact dates. Start/Stop Dates let you schedule precise open and close dates and times for the whole sign up or a specific slot.

Can I use more than one of these at the same time?
Yes. For example, you can set Start/Stop Dates for your overall sign up and still use Locking to prevent last-minute edits within a set window before the event.

What plan do I need for each feature?
Sign Up Locking is included on all paid plans. Start/Stop Dates, both sign up-level and per-slot, require Gold, Platinum, or Enterprise. Access Code is available on every plan, including Free.

Can participants see the sign up before it opens or after it closes?
That depends on your settings. You can choose to hide dates, times, and slots before the sign up opens or after it closes, or display a custom message during that window instead.

How to Set Security Settings on a Sign Up

Choose how open or restricted your sign up should be, from the default to full enhanced security.

How to Limit Sign Up Quantity Per Person

Set a cap on how many slots or items a single participant can claim.