--- title: "Unlock hidden tickets with an access code | Ticket Fairy Guides" description: "Keep your event page public with the ticket types hidden, and let buyers see them by entering an access code that carries no discount." canonical: "https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/unlock-hidden-tickets-with-an-access-code" --- 1. [Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/) 2. [Guides](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides) 3. Unlock hidden tickets with an access code Setting up an event # Unlock hidden tickets with an access code An access code leaves the event page public and keeps the tickets out of sight until the right people enter it. A promoter running a presale for a fan club, a partner or a guest list shares one reusable code, and the hidden ticket types open to those people at full price. Keep your event page public with the ticket types hidden, and let buyers see them by entering an access code that carries no discount. For: Sharing a private ticket sale through one reusable access code Takes: 12 minutes [Watch the video: Unlock hidden tickets with an access code](https://d3lcdr963b5ubl.cloudfront.net/uploads/guides/video/unlock-hidden-tickets-with-an-access-code/2d26e8aed84ab10a37df0b4d60ae164ac6959e12e3aa0dfecc96ae332b3a3ede/38942572656d9238/guide.mp4) · [English](https://www.ticketfairy.com/resources/captions/guides/guide-unlock-hidden-tickets-with-an-access-code-38942572656d.vtt) **Watch how it's done** 3 min 25 s, with captions. - [Hide the ticket type](#step-1) - [Repeat for every private ticket type](#step-2) - [Create a promotion](#step-3) - [Attach every hidden ticket with No Discount](#step-4) - [Leave auto-apply empty](#step-5) - [Set the code's dates and limits](#step-6) - [Save the promotion and share the code](#step-7) - [Test without the code, then with it](#step-8) ## Before you start - You can edit every ticket type and manage **Promotions** for the event. - You have chosen the code people will enter and the tickets it should reveal. 1. ## Hide the ticket type [Play from here](#guide-video) Open the ticket type, turn on **Hidden**, choose **Always hidden**, and save the ticket. **Always hidden** keeps scheduled releases and sold-out rules from exposing it before the code is used. **Note:** Keep the ticket active and on sale when you want the code to reveal it now. Hidden controls visibility; active and sale dates still control whether the revealed ticket can be bought. ![Ticket Fairy ticket options with Hidden enabled and Always hidden selected](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-tickets--hidden-until-access-code.png) Tickets, Edit Ticket Type, Options. 2. ## Repeat for every private ticket type [Play from here](#guide-video) Open each ticket type that should be private and give it the same **Hidden** and **Always hidden** settings. **Note:** A ticket you leave visible remains available without the code, and a ticket you hide but do not attach to the promotion remains hidden after the code. Leave no public ticket visible when the code is meant to unlock the whole sale. 3. ## Create a promotion [Play from here](#guide-video) Open **Marketing**, select **Promotions**, and create a promotion with a name that explains the audience, such as Guest list access, and the code you plan to share. **Note:** The promotion name is for your team. The promo code is the value a buyer enters, so keep it short enough to type from a message. 4. ## Attach every hidden ticket with No Discount [Play from here](#guide-video) Select **Add tickets**, choose every hidden ticket type the code should reveal, and choose **No Discount** for each one, leaving the discount value empty. **Note:** A no-discount code preserves the ticket's normal price, fees, allocation and sale dates and only reveals the attached hidden ticket types. Ticket types that need the same per-code cap can be added together; add them separately when they need different caps. ![Ticket Fairy promotion editor with code GUESTLIST, No Discount, two hidden ticket types and a shared limit of 25](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-promotions--hidden-ticket-access-code.png) Marketing, Promotions, Edit Promotion. 5. ## Leave auto-apply empty [Play from here](#guide-video) Leave **Auto-apply when cart reaches this many tickets (optional)** empty. An automatic promotion needs no code, so it would reveal these tickets during an ordinary visit. 6. ## Set the code's dates and limits [Play from here](#guide-video) Optional: Set the promotion start and end when the code should work during a private on-sale window. **Note:** A **Quantity limit per code per ticket type (optional)** entered while you add tickets applies separately to each attached ticket type; for one shared total, turn on **Promo codes have a set number of uses across all ticket types**, then enter **Quantity limit per code across all ticket types**, which replaces the separate limit on each ticket type. Promotion limits do not add stock: the ticket allocation remains the final limit, even when a code limit is higher. 7. ## Save the promotion and share the code [Play from here](#guide-video) Save the promotion, then send the normal event link and the access code to the intended group, telling them to enter the code on the event page before choosing tickets. **Note:** Anyone with the code can use the remaining allocation while the promotion is enabled and within its date and quantity limits. 8. ## Test without the code, then with it [Play from here](#guide-video) Open the event in a private browser window. No private ticket should appear before you enter the code, and every attached ticket, price and purchase limit should appear after it. **Note:** Add one revealed ticket to the basket. A ticket that appears but cannot be added is usually outside its sale dates, inactive or out of allocation. ## Try these steps on your own event Create a free account, build your event and follow the steps above in your own dashboard. It takes a few minutes and you do not need to book a sales call. Your email address [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required. ## Or have it done for you Fai, the assistant inside your dashboard, can hide the tickets, create a no-discount access code and close the promotion later. She shows you each change and asks you to approve it before she makes it. You can also complete the whole workflow in the dashboard. ### In your dashboard, with Fai Find my event by name. Keep \ active, hide them from the public with Always hidden, then create a promotion called \ with access code \, No Discount, no automatic application, and only those tickets attached. Use \ and \. Show me the exact tickets, normal prices, schedule and limit, then ask me to approve the ticket changes and promotion separately ## Let Fai do it for you Fai works inside your Ticket Fairy dashboard. Create your account, open Fai and paste the prompt above. [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required. ## Replace an access code [Play from here](#guide-video) Open the promotion, add the replacement under **Promo codes**, then save. Once the new code works in a private browser window, remove the old code and save again. **Note:** Keep the old code until the replacement reveals every intended ticket. The promotion needs at least one code. Fai can add the replacement code and remove the old one after you confirm the new code works. MCP and the CLI do not manage the hidden-ticket access-code workflow. ### In your dashboard, with Fai For the access-code promotion \ on \, add \. Keep \ active until I confirm the replacement works, then ask before removing the old code ## Close every access code on the promotion [Play from here](#guide-video) Return to **Promotions**, select the promotion's trash button, check the promotion named in the confirmation, then select **Delete**. **Note:** Open the event in a new private browser window and confirm that none of the deleted promotion's codes reveal the hidden tickets. ![Ticket Fairy Delete promotion confirmation for an access-code promotion](https://www.ticketfairy.com/embeds/posters/marketing-promotions--delete-promotion.png) Marketing, Promotions, Delete promotion. Fai can delete the promotion after showing you its codes and hidden tickets. MCP and the CLI do not close this access-code workflow. ### In your dashboard, with Fai Show me the access-code promotion \ on \, including its codes and hidden tickets, then ask before deleting the promotion ## Questions you might have Does an access code have to give a discount?: No. Choose **No Discount**. The code can reveal hidden tickets at their normal price without reducing what you charge. Can people see the event before they have the code?: Yes. This method keeps the event page visible and hides the attached ticket types. Use an event password when the page itself must stay private. Can one code unlock several hidden ticket types?: Yes. Attach every ticket it should reveal to the same promotion and choose **No Discount** for each one. Can I create different access codes for different groups?: Yes. Add several codes to one promotion when they should reveal the same tickets and follow the same limits, or create separate promotions when each group needs different tickets, dates or quantities. What happens if someone forwards the code?: The recipient can use it while the promotion is active, within its dates and with uses remaining. Replace or remove the code and save the promotion when shared access reaches the wrong group. Why did my hidden ticket not appear after I entered the code?: Check that the ticket is attached to the promotion, the promotion is enabled and inside its dates, and the ticket is active, on sale and still has allocation. **Always hidden** is correct; the code is what overrides it. ## Still have a question? Book a demo and we will answer it on a call, on your kind of event. Or create your account and see it for yourself. [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required. ## Related guides - [More ways to use Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/private-sales-and-presales) - [Make your event invitation-only](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/make-an-event-invitation-only) - [Password-protect your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/password-protect-your-event) - [Sell tickets by personal invitation](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-tickets-by-personal-invitation) - [Run ticketing for a university or campus event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/run-a-university-or-campus-event) - [Use Freefund to reduce no-shows at free and RSVP events](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/reduce-no-shows-at-free-rsvp-events) - [Run an A/B test for your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/run-an-ab-test-for-your-event) - [Approve orders before buyers receive tickets](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/approve-orders-before-buyers-receive-tickets) - [Schedule when your event goes live](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/schedule-when-your-event-goes-live) - [Postpone or reschedule an event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/postpone-or-reschedule-an-event) - [Cancel an event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/cancel-an-event) - [Take pre-registrations before your ticket on-sale](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/take-pre-registrations-before-your-on-sale) - [Create a reusable event template](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/create-a-reusable-event-template) - [Set up ticketing for a multi-day festival](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-a-multi-day-festival) - [Sell parking, camping and merchandise with your tickets](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-add-ons-with-your-tickets) - [Group your tickets into categories](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/group-your-tickets-into-categories) - [Issue reusable event passes to crew and artists](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/issue-entry-passes-to-your-crew) - [Create an event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/create-an-event) - [Set up ticket types](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/set-up-ticket-types) - [Limit who can buy a ticket type](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/limit-who-can-buy-tickets) - [Sell tickets only to your NFT holders](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-tickets-only-to-your-nft-holders) - [Add your flyer and description to your event page](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/design-your-event-page) - [Answer your buyers' questions on the event page](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/add-faqs-to-your-event-page) - [Choose who Ticket Fairy support contacts about your event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/choose-who-ticket-fairy-support-contacts-about-your-event) - [Sell timed-entry tickets for an attraction, exhibition or food event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-timed-entry-tickets) - [Duplicate an event](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/duplicate-an-event) - [Run a recurring event series](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/run-a-recurring-event-series) - [Sell VIP tables and bottle service through your promoters](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/sell-vip-tables-and-bottle-service) - [Hold back tickets for later](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/hold-back-ticket-stock) - [Schedule ticket releases](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/schedule-ticket-sale-windows-and-release-tiers) - [Every Ticket Fairy guide](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides) ## Do this on your own event Create your account, build your event and follow the steps in your own dashboard. You do not need to book a sales call. [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) ## Sell tickets with Ticket Fairy Everything in these guides is in your dashboard from the day you sign up. - Set up your event in minutes - Free events are free - Fai, your co-pilot, is built in [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome) No setup fees. No required monthly ticketing fee. No credit card required. ## See it on a call Book a demo and we will show you how Ticket Fairy handles your kind of event. [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) [More ways to use Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/private-sales-and-presales) ### Tips for selling more tickets Practical advice from working organizers, and every new guide as it is published. We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime. --- This page is on Ticket Fairy, a ticketing, marketing and operations platform for live events and the venues that host them: festivals, club nights, concerts, conferences and tours, and night clubs, beach clubs and concert venues. It grows revenue with fan rewards that turn an audience into a sales channel, and runs the money side with payments and payouts, Vault business banking, and working capital advanced against ticket sales. [How Ticket Fairy ticketing works](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing) · [Ticket Fairy for AI assistants](https://www.ticketfairy.com/llms.txt)