Table of contents:
ℹ️ This article covers the new Hub. If you're still on the legacy Hub, see Guidebook PIN Authentication Explained.
What is Guidebook PIN protection?
PIN protection lets you secure a guidebook with a 4-digit PIN. Only guests who have the PIN can open the guidebook, which gives you extra control when your content includes sensitive details such as door codes, alarm codes, internal cleaning instructions or operational notes.
The PIN is set per guidebook, and it protects the whole guidebook rather than individual parts of it.
Why use it?
Only guests with the PIN can open the guidebook.
Keeps internal documents private, such as cleaning guides or owner manuals.
Protects sensitive access information like lock combinations.
A simple 4-digit code is easy to share with guests, with no passwords or accounts to manage.
How it works for your guests
When a guest opens a PIN-protected guidebook, they see a locked screen asking for the 4-digit PIN.
They enter the PIN and click Continue.
✅ If the PIN is correct, the guidebook unlocks straight away.
❌ If the PIN is incorrect, an error message appears and they can try again.
⚠️ Just a heads-up: guests only need to enter the PIN once per device, unless they switch browsers or clear their cookies. They will be asked again when opening the guidebook in a new tab, but not after a page refresh.
How to enable PIN protection
Open Guidebooks from the left sidebar.
Select the guidebook you want to protect, or use the Editing guidebook dropdown to switch to it.
Click the Settings tab.
Scroll to the Guidebook access section and find PIN protection.
Switch the toggle on. The PIN access window opens.
Under Set up your PIN, enter 4 numerals. Click Show if you want to check what you typed.
Click Save.
The status next to PIN protection changes from Disabled to Enabled. From that point, only guests with the correct PIN can open the guidebook.
💡 Tip: tick Show pop-up in preview in the same section, then use Preview at the top of the page to see exactly what the PIN screen looks like to your guests.
Can I protect only one section or topic?
Not at the moment. PIN protection applies to the entire guidebook — there is no way to lock a single category, subcategory or topic while leaving the rest open.
If you need to keep some information behind a PIN and the rest freely available, the usual approach is to split the content across two guidebooks: one open guidebook for general guest information, and a second PIN-protected guidebook for the sensitive content. You can then link to the protected guidebook from the open one and share the PIN only with the people who need it.
💡 Good to know: PIN protection is also set per guidebook only. It isn't available in Guidebook defaults, so it can't be switched on for all guidebooks at once — you'll need to enable it on each guidebook you want to protect.
How to share the PIN with guests
Automatically, using the field code
The PIN protection section shows the field code
{{guidebook_pin}}.You can use this field code anywhere in your guidebook content or in your Message Hub message templates.
The PIN is then filled in automatically in the emails or SMS invitations your guests receive.
Manually
Share the PIN through your own channels — email, SMS, your booking confirmation, or your OTA messaging.
Changing or turning off the PIN
To change the PIN:
Go to Guidebooks → your guidebook → Settings → Guidebook access.
Click Change PIN next to PIN protection.
Enter the new 4-digit PIN and click Save.
To turn PIN protection off:
In the same Guidebook access section, switch the PIN protection toggle off.
The status changes back to Disabled and the guidebook opens without a PIN.
⚠️ Remember: if you change the PIN, guests who were given the old one will need the new PIN the next time they are prompted.
FAQs
Is PIN protection mandatory?
No. It's optional and switched off by default. You can enable or disable it per guidebook at any time.
Can guests choose their own PIN?
No. You set the PIN for the guidebook, and every guest uses the same one.
Will guests have to enter the PIN every time?
No. The PIN is required once per device, unless cookies are cleared or a different browser is used. Guests will be asked again when opening the guidebook in a new tab, but not after refreshing the page.
Can I use a PIN longer than 4 digits, or letters?
No. The PIN must be exactly 4 numerals.
Can I set a different PIN for different guests?
No. There is one PIN per guidebook. If you need different access for different groups, use separate guidebooks with their own PINs.
Does the PIN affect my guidebook link or QR code?
No. Your guidebook URL and QR code stay the same — guests are simply asked for the PIN before the content loads.
🤝 Need help?
Our Fin AI assistant is available 24/7 and typically responds in under 10 seconds. If Fin isn't able to solve your issue, our support team will take ownership of your case from there.
You can also reach out to our team at [email protected], and we'll be happy to help.