# Sign-up and invitations

> How people create a Sequential account and join your organisation. Invitations work in every sign-up mode, so they are the reliable way to add a colleague.

> **In short**
>
> - Sequential runs sign-up in one of three modes: open, waitlist or invite. Your organisation has no setting for it.
> - An invitation that has not expired or been cancelled works in every mode.
> - Each invitation goes to one email address and expires after 48 hours.
> - A Google sign-in asks for a two-factor code when two-factor authentication is on, the same as a password sign-in.
> - If you delete an organisation, Sequential deletes each project's data as for a project delete. The recordings become unreadable at once, and the storage deletes their files later.

## Sign-up modes

The sign-up mode applies to the whole service.

| Mode | Who can create an account |
|---|---|
| Open | Anyone |
| Waitlist | People the Sequential team approved from the waitlist, and anyone with a pending invitation |
| Invite | Only people with a pending invitation |

### What each mode shows

On **Create an account**, a person sees:

| Mode | What a person sees on **Create an account** |
|---|---|
| Open | The sign-up form, with "You will set up your organisation next." |
| Waitlist | The title **Join the waitlist**, with "Sequential is in preview. We're letting teams in a few at a time." Then **Work email**, **Name** and a **Join the waitlist** button. The account form is under **Already let in? Create your account** |
| Invite | The sign-up form. A person without an invitation gets "Sign-up is by invitation only." |

- In waitlist mode, a link with your address opens the account form at once: the approval email's link and an invitation link.
- In waitlist mode, the link at the bottom of the **Sign in** page reads **Join the waitlist**, not **Create an account**. It opens the same page. After a failed sign-in, the page also shows "No account yet? Join the waitlist".
- In waitlist mode, if you create an account with an address the Sequential team has not approved, Sequential puts you on the waitlist instead, with your name and email. It never keeps the password. The page says "You haven't been let in yet, so we've added you to the waitlist. We'll email {your address} when you're in."
- If Sequential cannot add you, the page says "You haven't been let in yet, and we couldn't add you to the waitlist just now. Try again in a moment.", with a **Join the waitlist** link. After too many tries from one network, it says "You haven't been let in yet. Too many waitlist attempts from here: wait a few minutes and try again."
- In invite mode, the waitlist page shows only "Sign-up is by invitation only."
- In open mode, the waitlist page opens **Create an account** instead. If the link had your address in it, the form keeps it.
- From 15 October 2026, if Sequential cannot check the sign-up mode, the page has the title **Sign up**, the line "We can't check whether sign-up is open right now." and **Retry**, and no form. If **Retry** also gets no answer, it adds "Still no answer. Sequential may be down. Wait a few minutes."
- In every mode, Sequential limits how many accounts are created each day: per network address, per email domain and in total. An invited address skips the first two. See [Limits](/docs/limits).
- Over a limit, the page says which one: "Too many accounts were created from this network today. Try again tomorrow.", "Too many accounts were created for this email domain today. Try again tomorrow, or ask a teammate to invite you." or "Sign-up is busy right now. Try again later." If Sequential cannot check the limits: "Sign-up is temporarily unavailable. Try again in a minute." A refused **Continue with Google** shows the same message on the **Sign in** page.

## Join the waitlist

This is only for a Sequential server that runs in waitlist mode. Sequential's hosted service has open sign-up: use **Create an account**.

1. On the Sequential website, select **Join the waitlist**. In waitlist mode, **Create an account** also starts with the waitlist form.
2. Enter your **Work email**. The other fields are optional. **Create an account** asks only for your **Name**; the waitlist page also asks the questions under **Waitlist details**.
3. Select **Join the waitlist**. You see **You're on the list**.

Under the form, the page says "Already joined? You don't need to join again. We'll email you when you're let in."

The Sequential team approves waitlist entries by hand. The approval email has a **Create your account** button. It opens the sign-up page with your address filled in.

### Waitlist details

- After you join, a confirmation email, "You're on the Sequential waitlist", follows.
- When the team approves you, you get the email "You're in: create your Sequential account". From 11 October 2026, an account that you create from its link, with that address, needs no verify email. The link proves the address for 7 days.
- The optional fields are **Name**, **Company**, **Role**, **What do you use today?** and **Anything we should know?**.
- If you join again with the same address, you keep your place. Sequential fills in only the details you left blank. It sends no second email.
- After a join, this browser remembers it, in its local storage (`sq-waitlist-joined`). It keeps only the first character of the address, the domain and the day, for example `a…@example.com`. It never keeps the full address. This also occurs when Sequential puts you on the waitlist after you try to create an account.
- When you come back in the same browser, the form shows **You're on the list** and "You joined as a…@example.com on 9 Oct 2026. We'll email you when you're let in." On the sign-up page, **Already let in? Create your account** stays below it.
- To join with a different address, select **Use another email**. The browser forgets the join and shows the form. A link with an address in it, such as the approval email's link, always shows the form.
- The form gives the same answer for every address. So it never shows whether an address is already on the list or already has an account.
- After approval, the sign-up page shows the subtitle "You're in. Create your account."
- Approval is not an invitation to someone else's organisation. After you create your account, you set up your own.
- The **Create your account** link in the approval email carries no secret. Sequential lets you in because your address is approved.
- If you lose the email, go to the sign-up page. Open **Already let in? Create your account** and fill in the form with the same address.
- Approval has no time limit.
- Sequential sends no email if the team declines a request.

## Create your account

1. On **Create an account**, enter your **Name** and **Work email**.
2. Enter a password of at least 10 characters.
3. Select **Create account**. Sequential sends "Verify your email for Sequential".
4. Open the **Verify email** link within 24 hours. The link verifies your address and signs you in.

You cannot sign in with your password until you verify your address.

There are exceptions. From 11 October 2026, the link in three emails also proves your address: the claim link in an agent trial's email, **Accept invitation** in an invitation, and the link in the waitlist email "You're in: create your Sequential account". Create your account from that link, in the same browser tab, with the address that the email went to. Sequential then creates the account already verified and sends no verify email. You go straight on: to the claim, to the invitation, or to set up your organisation.

- The proof works once. It works only while the trial is not claimed or expired, while the invitation is pending, or while the waitlist approval is not used.
- A trial proof lasts 24 hours after the email. An invitation proof lasts until the invitation expires. A waitlist proof lasts 7 days.
- A reload, a new tab, a forwarded link without its `#m=` part, or another address gets the usual verify email.
- The proof is the `#m=` part at the end of the link. Your browser does not send it to any server, and the page removes it from the address bar at once. Sequential stores only a hash of it. Sequential's own website does not record a page that has it.

See [Agent trial](/docs/agent-trial).

### Verification link behaviour

- After you verify, you set up your organisation. If you came from an invitation, you go back to the invitation.
- If you try to sign in with your password before you verify your address, Sequential opens the **Verify your email** page.
- The **Check your inbox** page has **Resend the link** and **Use a different email**.
- After each send, wait 30 seconds before you send the link again.
- The **Verify your email** page has the same **Resend the link** button.
- If the link expired, or you copied only part of it, the page explains what went wrong. It lets you send a new link.
- After you verify your address, the link does not sign you in again. Sign in with your password.
- From 11 October 2026, a completed password reset also verifies your address. If you cannot find the verify email, click **Forgot password?** on the sign-in page and reset your password. See [Two-factor authentication and account security](/docs/two-factor-and-security).

### What our own pages record

From 15 October 2026, the sign-up, sign-in, waitlist and invitation pages on www.usesequential.com, and the two-factor setup, send Sequential's own product events to Sequential's own project:

- `signup_viewed`: where you came from, the sign-up mode, and whether the page showed the form, the waitlist, or that it could not check whether sign-up is open
- `signup_field_started`: the name of a field, such as `email`, once per field. Never what you type
- `signup_submitted`: that the form was sent, with a password
- `signup_refused`: the error code of a refused sign-up only. A server error sends nothing
- `account_created`: how the account was made
- `waitlist_joined`: where you came from only. It comes from the waitlist form, and from a sign-up that Sequential puts on the waitlist
- `signed_in`: that you signed in with a password, and whether Sequential asked for a two-factor code
- `sign_in_refused`: the error code of a refused sign-in only. A server error sends nothing
- `two_factor_enabled`: that your first two-factor code was confirmed
- `invite_accepted`: the role of an accepted invitation only. Never the organisation, the person who invited you, or your email
- `feedback_sent`: from 16 October 2026, the number of a feedback item after Sequential accepted it, from any page of the app. Never its text. See [Send feedback to the Sequential team](/docs/send-feedback)

The events hold no name, no email and no typed text. A page on the way to a claim link, a reset link, an OAuth page or a staff page sends nothing, and neither does a page opened with an email's proof link (`#m=`). Nothing is sent while Sequential staff view the app as a customer. A Google sign-in, an email verification and a password reset send no event from these pages.

## Sign in with Google

When Google sign-in is available, the **Sign in** page shows **Continue with Google**. Your first Google sign-in creates your account, so the sign-up mode applies. If Sequential refuses a Google sign-in, you return to the **Sign in** page, which says why. An address that has not been let in yet gets "This email hasn't been let in yet. Join the waitlist and we'll email you." with a **Join the waitlist** link. Under invite-only sign-up it says "Sign-up is by invitation only." Any other refusal says "Sign-in did not complete. Please try again."

### Google sign-in details

- **Continue with Google** sits above the email form.
- The sign-up page has no Google button.

> **Google sign-in and two-factor authentication**
>
> When you have turned on two-factor authentication, a Google sign-in asks for your code on the same page as a password sign-in. A trusted device skips it.
>
> An account created with Google has no password. Until you set one with **Forgot password?** on the sign-in page, you cannot set up two-factor authentication or use **Update password**. If your organisation requires two-factor authentication, set the password first. See [Two-factor authentication and account security](/docs/two-factor-and-security).

## Invite teammates

Owners and Admins can invite people.

1. Go to **Settings → Organisation**.
2. In the **Members** card, enter the person's **Email**.
3. Choose a **Role**: **Owner**, **Admin**, **Member** or **Viewer**.
4. Select **Send invitation**. The invitee gets an email with an **Accept invitation** button.

The invitation expires after 48 hours. It also stops working if the sender leaves or is removed from the organisation. Then send a new invitation to the same address. **Resend** does not help, because it keeps the original sender.

### Invitation details

- The default **Role** is **Member**.
- You can also open **Settings → Organisation** from **Organisation** in the account menu.
- An example of the invitation email: "Ana invited you to join Acme on Sequential". The email says in one line what Sequential is. It ends with why you got it: "You got this mail because Ana entered this address. If you did not expect it, ignore it."
- From 13 October 2026, every email from the hosted Sequential ends with "Sequential · Help: support@usesequential.com". On a self-hosted server, the help address is `MAIL_REPLY_TO`. Without it, the email ends with "Sequential" only.
- In the invitation, Sequential removes links, email addresses, web addresses and IP addresses from the inviter's name and the organisation name. It cuts a name that is longer than 60 characters and ends it with "…". If nothing is left, the email says "A teammate" or "an organisation". The waitlist emails do the same with your name. They start with "Hi" and your name, or with "Hi there," if nothing is left. The verification and password reset emails start with "Hi," and contain no name.
- [Roles and permissions](/docs/roles-and-permissions) shows what each role can do.
- The [Audit log](/docs/audit-log) records invitations, joins and cancellations.
- Under the form, Sequential shows the description of the chosen role.
- Only an Owner can invite another Owner. Admins see the **Owner** option, but they cannot select it.
- An expired invitation shows an **Expired** badge.
- If an invitation has not expired, **Resend** keeps the same link and gives it a new 48 hours.
- If an invitation shows **Expired**, **Resend** sends a new invitation with a new link. The expired row stays in the list until you **Revoke** it.
- If you invite an address that already has a pending invitation, the new invitation replaces it. The earlier link stops working.

### Pending invitations

**Pending invitations** lists the open invitations. Each row shows the email, the role and when the invitation expires, for example "in 22 hours" or "in 2 days". Hover over it to see the exact time.

- Owners and admins also see **Invited by**. If that person left the organisation, it says "Removed member".
- To send the email again, select **Resend**.
- To withdraw an invitation, select **Revoke**. Then, at "Revoke this invitation?", select **Confirm**. Its link stops working, and "Invitation revoked" confirms it. Before 13 October 2026, the button was **Cancel**.
- Members and viewers see the list without **Invited by** and without buttons. They see the card only when there are open invitations.

## Accept an invitation

Select **Accept invitation** in the email. Then:

| You are | Do this |
|---|---|
| Signed out | Select **Sign in** or **Create account**. |
| Signed in as the invited address | Select **Accept** or **Decline**. |
| Signed in as someone else | Select **Sign out**. Sign in with the invited address. |
| Signed in but not yet verified | Verify your email, then come back. |
| Signed in, with a link that is no longer valid | Ask for a new invitation. |

If the organisation requires two-factor authentication, you cannot use its projects until you set it up.

### What each invitation page shows

| You are | You see | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Signed out | **You have been invited** | Select **Sign in**. Or select **Create account** to sign up with the invited address, which is already filled in. The page says "You'll join the organisation that invited you." From the email link, the new account is verified at once and you come back to the invitation. Otherwise, you come back after you verify your email. |
| Signed in as the invited address | **Join** and the organisation's name, with who invited you and the role | Select **Accept** to join and go to the dashboard. Or select **Decline**. |
| Signed in as someone else | **This invitation is for someone else** | Select **Sign out**. Then sign in with the address the invitation was sent to. |
| Signed in but not yet verified | **Verify your email first** | Open your verification link, or select **Resend the verification link**. Then come back. |
| Signed in, with a link that is no longer valid | **This invitation is no longer valid** | Ask the person who invited you, or another Owner or Admin, to send a new one. |

A link is no longer valid if it expired, was cancelled or was already used. It is also no longer valid if the sender has left the organisation.

### When the page checks the link

The page checks the link only after you sign in. If you are signed out, you see **You have been invited**, even for a link that is no longer valid.

If sign-up is not open, Sequential refuses **Create account** from a link that is no longer valid.

## Manage organisations

You can belong to several organisations, with one role in each.

If you leave, you lose access to all the organisation's projects until an Owner or Admin invites you back. The only Owner cannot leave. Make someone else an Owner first.
- Members and Viewers do not see **Organisation** in the menus. To leave, go to `/settings/organization`.

> **Before you delete an organisation**
>
> Deleting an organisation deletes each of its projects' data, as a project delete does. The recordings become unreadable at once, because Sequential deletes their encryption keys. The storage deletes the recording files later. See [Retention and deletion](/docs/retention-and-deletion).
>
> You do not need to delete the projects first. See **Switching and Settings → Organisation** below.

### Who can create, switch, rename, leave or delete

| Action | Who can do it | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Create | You, if you belong to no organisation, or if you are a Member or Viewer in every organisation | **Set up your organisation**. Sequential opens it after your first sign-in. Otherwise go to `/onboarding`. |
| Switch | Everyone | The project switcher at the top of the navigation rail |
| Rename | Owners and Admins | **Settings → Organisation**: change **Name**, then select **Save**. If you leave the page first, a bar asks "You have unsaved changes in Organisation. Leave without saving?" |
| Leave | Everyone except the only Owner | **Settings → Organisation → Danger zone → Leave organisation** |
| Delete | Owners only | **Settings → Organisation → Danger zone**: type the slug, then select **Delete organisation** |

### Create an organisation

- After your first sign-in, if you belong to no organisation, Sequential opens setup.
- **Set up your organisation** asks for an **Organisation name** and a **Slug**. The slug is a short handle made from the name.
- A slug uses lowercase letters, digits and single dashes, up to 60 characters.
- The slug must not belong to another organisation. If it does, you see "That slug is already taken. Try another one."
- You cannot change the slug later.
- You become the organisation's Owner.
- Setup then moves on to your first project, the install step and the agent step. The agent step is optional. [Your first hour](/docs/quickstart) walks through them.
- You can set up another organisation only if you are a Member or Viewer in every organisation you belong to. To do it, go to `/onboarding`.
- If you are an Owner or Admin anywhere, the dashboard gives you no way to create a second organisation.

### Switching and Settings → Organisation

- To switch to another organisation, select one of its projects in the switcher.
- An organisation with no projects, or only archived ones, shows **No projects yet**. You cannot switch into it.
- The switcher lists every organisation you belong to, your role in each, and its projects.
- When you belong to more than one organisation, the switcher shows the current organisation's initials beside the project name.
- **Settings → Organisation** always shows the organisation of the selected project.
- An organisation with no unarchived projects has no project to select. If you have an unarchived project in another organisation, you cannot open the empty one in **Settings → Organisation**.
- So you cannot rename that organisation, invite people to it, leave it or delete it.

### Leave and delete

- To leave, select **Leave organisation**. Then select **Leave [organisation name]**, or select **Stay**.
- If you are a Member or Viewer, neither the settings tabs nor the account menu show **Organisation**. To find **Leave organisation**, go to `/settings/organization`.
- Deleting an organisation removes the organisation, its members, invitations, projects and ingest keys, and its audit log.

## What it needs

- An inbox at the address you sign up or are invited with. Verification, waitlist approval and invitations arrive by email, each tied to that exact address.
- Nothing in your app. Access does not depend on how you instrument your product.

## Limits

- Each invitation goes to one email address. There is no bulk invite, no shareable invite link, and no joining by email domain, SSO or SCIM.
- You cannot change the 48-hour invitation expiry.
- An organisation can have up to 100 pending invitations and up to 100 members.
- You cannot change the email address on an account.
- There is no ownership-transfer step. You cannot change your own role.
- If the sign-up page cannot check the sign-up mode, it says "We can't check whether sign-up is open right now." with **Retry**, and shows no form. It never shows the waitlist version by guess.
- If one network sends too many waitlist submissions in a short time, it gets "Too many attempts. Wait a few minutes and try again."
- The audit log does not record account creation or a declined invitation.
- You cannot change an organisation's slug after you create the organisation.
- If you are an Owner or Admin in any organisation, you cannot create another organisation.
- Deleting an organisation also deletes its audit log, members, invitations, projects and ingest keys.
- If you invite an address again, the new invitation replaces the pending one. The earlier link stops working.

## Related

- [Organisations, projects and keys](/docs/organisations-and-projects)
- [Roles and permissions](/docs/roles-and-permissions)
- [Two-factor authentication and account security](/docs/two-factor-and-security)
- [Audit log](/docs/audit-log)
- [Your first hour](/docs/quickstart)
- [Retention and deletion](/docs/retention-and-deletion)
- [Troubleshooting](/docs/troubleshooting)