Seeing this message while activating a tag is nothing to worry about — it just means the code has already been claimed. Here's how to sort it out.
What you'll see
| When it appears | The message |
|---|---|
| While scanning | QR Tag already in use — "This QR tag is already linked to a pet. Please try another tag." |
| After choosing a pet | "This QR tag is already linked to another pet." |
Why this happens
Each QR tag can be linked to one pet at a time. Once a tag has been activated it stays claimed until it's released, so nobody else can attach it to their pet — including by accident.
Fix 1: the tag is on one of your own pets
If you activated the tag before and now want it on a different pet:
- Go to Settings → Manage QR tags.
- Find the tag — match the ID: {code} shown in the list to the code on the physical tag.
- Tap the … menu and choose Delete QR tag, then Confirm.
- Start activation again and scan the same tag. It's now free to link to any of your pets.
Deleting only releases the code — the physical tag keeps working once you activate it again.
Please note: Only the pet's owner can delete a tag. If you're a family member on a shared pet, ask the owner to release it.
Fix 2: the tag isn't in your list
If you can't find the tag under Manage QR tags, it's claimed on a different account. This can happen with a second-hand or gifted tag, or if you activated it on an older account of your own.
Contact us with the tag's code (the characters printed under or next to the QR code) and we can release it so you can claim it. [CONFIRM: support contact channel and hours for QR tag issues]
"QR Tag belongs to another account"
This is a related message: "This printable tag was issued to a different account. Sign in to that account to activate it."
Some tags are issued to one specific Ask A Vet account and can only be activated from it. Sign in with the account the tag was issued to, or contact us if you're not sure which account that is.
Tip: Every activation attempt is recorded, so when you contact us we can see exactly which code you tried and why it was refused. Including the code in your message speeds things up a lot.
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