You've typed your 6-digit code and the app won't accept it. Don't worry — this is usually easy to fix, and in most cases a fresh invitation sorts it out in under a minute.
Quick checks first
- The code is exactly 6 digits, numbers only. The Join button only becomes active at six.
- Re-read it from the invitation email or the push notification ("Your invitation code is {code}.") rather than from memory.
- Make sure you're signed in to the Ask A Vet account the invitation was sent to.
Work through the causes
1. You're signed in on the wrong account
This is the most common one. The code is tied to the exact email address the owner invited. Typed on any other account it simply won't match. Sign out, sign back in with the invited address, and try again.
2. The invitation expired
Invitations don't last forever. Ask the family owner to send a new one — they can do this from My family using Re-send invitation, which is quicker than starting over. [CONFIRM: how long a family invitation code stays valid before it expires]
3. The code has already been used
Codes work once. If you already joined, you'll see "You're already part of this family." — check your Joined families tab and you should find it there.
4. The owner cancelled it, or the family is gone
If the owner cancelled the invitation, or closed their Ask A Vet account, the code stops working. On the pop-up prompt you'll see "This invitation is no longer available." instead. Ask them to invite you again.
5. It's a typo
Numbers like 1 and 7 or 0 and 8 are easy to misread on a phone screen. Clear the field and re-enter carefully.
Tip: If the owner resent your invitation, the code stays the same — so an older email with that code is still the right one. You don't need to look for the newest message.
Please note: You don't have to find the code at all if the app offers you the Join {name}'s family prompt. Tapping Join family there does the same thing.
Still not working?
Ask the family owner to cancel the pending invitation and send a brand-new one to the address you're signed in with. If that still fails, get in touch with us. [CONFIRM: support contact channel for Family Sharing issues]
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