Why sign up?

Guest access is tied to a single browser on a single device. Creating a free account removes that limit and unlocks a few extras.

Guest (no account)

Join events via a link
Vote and mark availability
Suggest games
Tied to one browser/device
No event history
Cannot host events

Registered account (free)

Everything guests can do
Sign in from any device
Host and manage events
Sync your BGG collection
Track play history & crew
Receive event invitations
Your votes travel with you
Web push notifications for event activity
Share your collection as a public link
Upload rulebook PDFs and get AI cheat sheets for your games

Ways to sign in

You can sign in with an email address and password, with a passkey (Face ID, Touch ID, a fingerprint, or your device PIN), or with Google or Apple. The sign-in card shows whichever of these are available, and you can use a different one next time — they all reach the same account as long as they share an email address.

In the app, sign-in finishes with a button. Choosing Google or Apple opens a browser window. When it is done, that window says "You're signed in" and shows a Return to Deshelved button — tap it and the app opens, already signed in. The extra tap is deliberate: browsers no longer let a website open an app on its own, so the tap is what allows it. If you close the browser without tapping, nothing is lost — just start sign-in again.

Sign in with Apple offers to hide your email address. If you choose that, Apple gives us a relay address ending @privaterelay.appleid.com and quietly forwards our mail to your real inbox. It behaves like any other address. Apple also only shares your name the first time you approve deshelved, so if your account shows your email address where your name should be, you can set it in Settings.

Before Google or Apple sign-in can be attached to an account, we need to have confirmed its email address — that stops anyone signing up on an address they don't own and quietly capturing your social sign-in. So if you registered with a password and never clicked the confirmation email, social sign-in will ask you to use your password instead. Sign in with your password, then use Resend verification in Settings and click the link. If you've forgotten the password, resetting it confirms your address too, since opening the reset link proves the inbox is yours.

Notifications

Once signed in, you can enable browser push notifications from the bell icon in the header. You'll get notified when a host invites you to an event, when a support reply arrives, and other key activity — no email required.

Sharing your collection

Your collection page has a Share link that generates a public URL anyone can open — useful when a friend wants to browse what you own before an event. Crew members' names in your play history are also clickable links to their own collection pages.

Upgrading from a guest session

After joining an event as a guest, a banner appears at the bottom of the page: Want to join future events from any device? Create a free account. Your existing votes, slot, and any shared game sessions carry over automatically.

Other help articles: Hosting an event · Joining as a guest · Voting & results · Availability & dates · BoardGameGeek sync · Your collection · Play log · Passwords & security · FAQ · Sharing a shelf · Households · Mobile apps