> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://participanthelp.dscout.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://participanthelp.dscout.com/diary-studies/diary-troubleshooting/magic-link-issues-in-desktop-diary-activities.md). # Magic link issues in desktop Diary activities When you’re ready to start a desktop activity in a Diary mission, you’ll click **Get Started** on that activity in the Dscout mobile app, and then follow the prompt to email yourself a magic link. Magic links are how we help you make the transition from the Dscout mobile app to your desktop or laptop. When opened in a Chrome or Edge browser on your computer, the magic link will authenticate you (so you don’t have to login again on desktop) and bring you into an onboarding flow for the specific activity you’re working on. If you’ve emailed yourself a magic link but are having trouble accessing your mission, try some of the troubleshooting steps below. ## My magic link is expired For security purposes, magic links expire in 24 hours and each link can only be used once. If it’s been more than 24 hours since you sent yourself the link, or you’re trying to re-use a link, you’ll hit an expiration page. Try sending yourself a new magic link by clicking **Get Started** or **New Entry** on the relevant desktop activity in the Dscout mobile app, then following the prompt to send yourself a new magic link. If your magic link is showing as expired on first click, within minutes of sending it to yourself, it’s possible that your email client (e.g. Gmail, Outlook) is consuming the link before you click it. We recommend you follow the steps below to [access your mission without using a magic link](#how-can-i-access-my-mission-without-using-a-magic-link). ## I didn’t receive my magic link email We send the magic link to the email address associated with your Dscout account. You’ll receive this email from with **Your magic link for Activity ‘...’ of the ‘...’ Diary mission** in the subject. If you’re not receiving the magic link email, please double check the email address in your Dscout profile on the mobile app for any typos or spelling errors. If you want to change the address your magic link is sent to, you can update the email address in your scout profile on the mobile app, then resend the magic link. If you’ve double checked your email address and are still having issues, it’s possible that all emails from [participate@dscout.com](mailto:participates@dscout.com) -- for magic links, but also notifications for Dscout messages, comments, mission invites, etc. -- are being marked as spam or junk. Check the spam/junk folder in your email client, or try adding to your contacts or safe sender list, then resending the magic link. If you’ve tried all the above and still aren’t receiving magic link emails, we recommend you follow the steps below to [access your mission without using a magic link](#how-can-i-access-my-mission-without-using-a-magic-link). ## How can I access my mission without using a magic link? In addition to using the magic link, you can also access Diary missions with desktop activities from scout web homepage on your computer: 1. Make sure you’ve accepted your invite to the mission either from the Dscout mobile app on your phone or from the Dscout browser extension. 2. Using a Chrome or Edge browser on your desktop or laptop computer, navigate to . 3. Sign in to the scout web homepage using the same email address and password you use to access the Dscout mobile app on your phone. 4. Click on the relevant mission to get started. (Note: Only Diary missions with one or more desktop activities will display on the scout web homepage -- missions with all mobile activities will not display here.) 5. You’ll be guided through installing the Dscout browser Extension, if you don’t already have it, and a hardware check. After the hardware check, you’ll land on the mission details page, where you can click **Get Started or New Entry** to begin a new entry for a desktop activity. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. 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