Your class code and join link are how students who sign up themselves get into your class. When one doesn't work, the message the student sees points straight at the cause. This article lists every message a student can get while joining, where it appears, and how to fix it, plus a few typing habits that prevent most problems.
Good to know: a class code is eight letters and numbers with a hyphen in the middle, like ABCD-1234. To see yours, open the class from Classrooms and click Share Class Code in the class header. The full walkthrough is in Inviting students with your class code or join link.
First, where is the student joining?
There are three places a student can use your code, and each shows its own messages:
The sign-up form at app.intertwinedfinance.com/register, for students creating a new account. The code goes in the Class Code box.
Join a class on the student dashboard, for students who already have an account.
Your join link, which is app.intertwinedfinance.com/join/ followed by your code.
On the sign-up form: "Class token ABCD-1234 is not valid."
The student finished the form and clicked Join class, but the code they typed (it appears in the message) doesn't match any class. Their account was not created, so they can fix the code and submit again.
Compare the code in the message with the one in your Share Class Code window, character by character.
Check the hyphen. The code is ABCD-1234, not ABCD1234 or ABCD 1234.
Watch for look-alikes: the letter O and the number 0, the letter I and the number 1, the letter S and the number 5.
Make sure there's no space before or after the code.
Have the student fix the Class Code box and click Join class again. The rest of the form is still filled in.
If the code is right and still fails, it may belong to a different class of yours. Open the class the student should be in and copy the code from there.
On the sign-up form: "Class token must be 8 characters"
This appears under the Class Code box when the student has typed fewer than 8 characters. Part of the code is missing. Have them type the whole code, including the hyphen.
On the sign-up form: other messages
A few sign-up messages aren't about the code, but students meet them at the same moment:
"Email '...' is already taken." The student already has an Intertwined account with that email, perhaps from another class or last year. They shouldn't make a new one. They log in (using Forgot password? if needed) and join your class with Join a class on their dashboard.
"Username '...' is already taken." Someone else has that username. Any small change works, such as adding a number.
A message saying the username "is invalid": usernames can use letters, numbers, and the characters - . _ @ + but no spaces.
"Passwords do not match" or a message about uppercase, lowercase, number, or special character: the password needs at least 8 characters with an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, a number, and a symbol, typed the same way in both boxes.
Also check that the student ticked the box agreeing to the Terms and Privacy Policy. Until they do, the Join class button stays gray and nothing happens.
In Join a class: "Class code must follow the format XXXX-XXXX"
The Join a class window checks the shape of the code before sending it. This message (or "Class code must be at least 4 characters", "Class code is too long", or "Class code can only contain letters, numbers, and hyphens") means the code is mistyped. Lowercase letters are fine here. Have the student retype it as four characters, a hyphen, and four characters.
"The class code you are using does not exist or is expired. Please contact your teacher for a new code"
Students see this in Join a class or on the join link page after clicking Join class. Despite the wording, codes don't expire. It shows up in two situations:
The code doesn't match a class. Check it with the steps above.
The student is already in that class. A student can't join the same class twice, and this is the message they get if they try.
Open your class and check the Students tab. If the student is already listed, they're in; there's nothing more to do.
If they're not listed, compare the code letter by letter and have them try again.
If they still can't join, click New code in your Share Class Code window and give them that one.
On the join link: "That link doesn't look right"
The page adds "Class codes look like ABCD-1234. Ask your teacher to send the link again." The code at the end of the link was cut off or changed, which happens when a link wraps across two lines in an email or gets edited by accident. Send the link again, or give the student the code to type in Join a class or on the sign-up form.
On the join link: "This link is for students"
Whoever opened the link is signed in as a teacher, so Intertwined doesn't add them to the class. If that's you testing your link, it's working. To see what a student sees, open the link in a private or incognito window instead.
The join link opened the sign-up form, but the student already has an account
When a student who isn't signed in opens your join link, Intertwined assumes they're new and opens the sign-up form with your code filled in. A student who already has an account should click Log in at the top of the page instead, then either open your link again or use Join a class on their dashboard with your code.
On your side: "Sharing is not supported in your browser."
Share link opens your device's share menu, and some browsers, especially on desktop computers, don't have one. Click Copy code instead, then paste the code onto the end of app.intertwinedfinance.com/join/ to build the link yourself, or share the code and the sign-up address.
On your side: "No code available"
The class doesn't have a code yet. Click New code in the same window and one appears.
Making a new code
New code adds a fresh code for the same class and shows it in the window from then on. Students who use it land in the same class, and nothing about your roster or students' work changes.
Important: a new code doesn't switch off the old ones, and codes don't expire. Anyone with an earlier code or link can still join. If someone joins who shouldn't be in your class, remove them from the roster; see Removing students and students in more than one class.
Tips for a smooth first day
Project the code in large type and leave it up for the whole period. Students who hit a snag need to see it again.
Read the code out loud with the look-alike characters called out ("that's a zero, not the letter O").
Post the join link in your learning management system, and include the code in the same post in case the link breaks.
Try your own link in a private window before class.
Students without an email address can't sign up with a code. Create accounts for them instead: Creating student accounts for your class.
Students in two of your classes need each class's code. Joining one doesn't add them to the other.
Still stuck?
Message us from the chat bubble in the corner of any Teacher Portal page. Include your class name, the code you're sharing, where the student is joining (sign-up form, Join a class, or link), and the exact message they see. A screenshot of the student's screen is the fastest way for us to help. See Getting help: chat, bug reports, and feature requests.