> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mesolab.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Access approval

> Why a new account cannot plan yet, and how a signup code clears it.

Creating an account and being able to use MESO are two separate things. A new
account starts without product access and stays that way until a signup code is
redeemed.

## The three states

| State | What it means |
| - | - |
| **Awaiting a code** | The account exists but cannot plan yet |
| **Activated** | The account is in a school's cohort and can use MESO |
| **Revoked** | Access has been withdrawn |

## Redeeming a code is the only way through

A teacher enters the signup code issued to their school. If the code is
recognised, active and unexpired, the account activates immediately and joins
that school's cohort.

There is no approval queue, no waiting on a decision from MESO, and no button an
administrator presses to let someone in. **Issuing the code is the approval.**
That is why generating and sharing codes is the first thing to sort out in a
rollout — see [Inviting members](https://docs.mesolab.ai/schools/inviting-members.md).

## When a code is refused

A teacher will see one of three messages, and each has a different fix:

> [accordion] That code was not recognised
>
> The code does not exist. Almost always a typo, or an old code from a
> different school. Check the exact string and reissue if needed.

> [accordion] That code has been deactivated
>
> The code exists but has been switched off in **Settings → Workspace →
> Members**. Reactivate it there, or issue a new one.

> [accordion] That code has expired
>
> The code is past its expiry date. Expiry is per code, so generate a fresh
> one — teachers who already redeemed the old code are unaffected.

> [!TIP]
>
> If a teacher is stuck at "Awaiting a code" and the code looks correct, check in
> **Members** that it is still marked active and has not expired. Those two are
> the cause far more often than anything on the teacher's side.

## Revoked access

A revoked account keeps its data but cannot sign in and work. Revocation is
handled by MESO rather than from the Members tab; write to
[contact@mesolab.ai](mailto:contact@mesolab.ai) if you need an account
withdrawn — for example when a teacher leaves the school.


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