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

# Presentation won't start or participants can't join

> Fix a presentation that won't start or participants who can't join — check private mode, Present mode, a restricted network, the join link, and audience verification.

If you press **Present** and nothing happens for your audience, or people say they can't join with the access code or QR code, it's almost always one of a handful of causes. Work through the checks below in order — each one takes a few seconds and fixes the most common reasons a session won't start.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The presentation is in private mode">
    Participants can only join and interact when a presentation is in **public** mode. If it's still in **private** mode — the setting you use while editing — the join link won't open for anyone.

    Click the **Share** icon in the top-right corner of the editor, open **Visibility**, and choose **Public**. Private mode is available on every plan, so this is never a plan restriction. See [Turning on private mode for your presentation](/presenting/turning-on-private-mode-for-your-presentation).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="You're not in Present mode yet (or, for a quiz, not on a quiz slide)">
    In the default **host-led** setup, participants can only join while you are actually presenting. If you're still on the edit screen, or you've shared the link before pressing **Present**, the session isn't open yet.

    Press **Present** first, then share the link or QR code. For a **quiz**, participants also need you to be on a quiz slide — a host-led quiz isn't "open" before you press **Present** or while a non-quiz slide is on screen. See [How to Make and Run a Quiz](/using-slide-types/how-to-make-and-run-a-quiz) and [Quiz troubleshooting and FAQs](/using-slide-types/quiz-troubleshooting-and-faqs).

    If you'd rather let people join and answer at any time without a host, switch to self-paced mode — open the **Settings** tab, click **Who takes the lead**, and choose **Audience (self-paced)**. See [Setting up a self-paced presentation on AhaSlides](/presenting/setting-up-a-self-paced-presentation-on-ahaslides).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A restricted network is blocking AhaSlides">
    If AhaSlides won't load at all — for you or for your participants — the block is usually coming from a company, organisation or school network, or from an internet service provider.

    Ask whoever manages the network to whitelist AhaSlides, and check the participants' own connection is stable. The full list of ports and domains to allow is in [Using AhaSlides on a restricted network](/getting-started/using-ahaslides-on-a-restricted-network).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Participants are using the wrong or an old join link">
    Each presentation has its own unique access code and QR code. If someone is using a link or code from a different presentation — or a screenshot from an earlier session — they won't get in.

    Share the current link or QR code straight from the **Share** menu of the presentation you're running, and ask participants to enter the code exactly as shown. See [Sharing your presentation for participants to join](/presenting/sharing-your-presentation-for-participants-to-join).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Audience verification is switched on">
    If you've deliberately turned on audience verification or authentication — for example, to restrict a presentation to specific people — participants are asked to verify before they can join. Anyone who isn't allowed, or hasn't completed the step, won't get in.

    Check whether you meant to have this on, and confirm the right people are on the list. See [Participant verification](/features-and-functions/participant-verification) and [Using audience authentication](/presenting/using-audience-authentication).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Where to Go Next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Sharing your presentation for participants to join" icon="share-nodes" href="/presenting/sharing-your-presentation-for-participants-to-join">
    How to share the access link and QR code, and whether participants need an account.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Using AhaSlides on a restricted network" icon="wifi" href="/getting-started/using-ahaslides-on-a-restricted-network">
    The ports and domains to whitelist when a company, school or ISP network is blocking AhaSlides.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Have a question?

Contact our support team — if you're logged in, use the chat bubble in the bottom-right of your dashboard; otherwise [contact us here](https://ahaslides.com/contact-us/) or email [hi@ahaslides.com](mailto:hi@ahaslides.com).


## Related topics

- [Adding and Deleting a Leaderboard on your Quiz](/features-and-functions/adding-and-deleting-a-leaderboard-on-your-quiz.md)
- [Sharing Your Presentation for Participants to Join](/presenting/sharing-your-presentation-for-participants-to-join.md)
- [Using AhaSlides on a restricted network](/getting-started/using-ahaslides-on-a-restricted-network.md)
- [Using the AhaSlides Spinner Wheel to Pick Entries at Random](/using-slide-types/using-the-spinner-wheel.md)
- [Using PowerPoint's AhaSlides Add-in](/integrations/using-powerpoint-s-ahaslides-add-in.md)