Joining with an invite

How to join a community with an invite, and how to invite someone else.

You need an invite

You join a BeanPool community when a member invites you. An invite is a link, a QR code or a code. A code looks like INV- followed by letters, or a long code that starts with BP-.

An invite works once.
An invite lasts 30 days. After that, ask for a new one.

Joining

Install BeanPool and open it. If you tap an invite link first, the app picks up the invite by itself, even straight after installing it from Google Play.
On the first screen, tap I'm New Here. If the invite is on your clipboard, you can tap Paste instead.
Paste the invite link or code. If you only have a code, also type the community's name or address. The person who invited you can tell you.
Choose the name people will see. It needs at least 2 letters. Keep it short: when you join, names longer than 20 characters are cut short.
Tap Next. The app checks the invite and the name. If someone already has that name, it suggests others.

The four steps

The bar at the top shows Your Name, Your Photo, Safety Backup and How it Works.

Your Photo: choose a photo or one of the ready-made pictures. You must pick one before Next works. People trade more easily with a face or a picture they recognise.
Safety Backup: the app shows your 12 words. Write them down on paper and keep them safe. The tickbox I've saved these words is there to remind you. Nothing stops you if you skip it, but read "Your 12 words" soon.
How it Works: a short tour. Tap Let's Begin! to start.

If you close the app halfway, it carries on from the same step next time.

If the invite does not work

Already used: each invite works exactly once. Ask for a new one. If it was yours and you are already a member, use Recover an existing account instead.
Expired: invites last 30 days. Ask for a new one.
Not recognised: check you copied all of it, and that the community name or address is right.

Inviting someone

Any member can invite people. Your trust badge does not matter.

Tap the invite icon (a person with a plus) at the top right of the screen. This opens Invites.
If you like, write who the invite is for, just for your own records.
Tap Generate Ticket. Without a connection, the button says Generate Offline Ticket, and that works too.
Show them the QR code, or tap Share Invite to send the link and the code.
Invites nobody has used yet are listed under Pending, each with Share to send it again.

A community's admins can turn invites off for the whole community.