If guests aren’t able to reply because their email address isn’t recognized, it means your registration Setup Access is setup to only allow Attendees to be on your Attendee List and must enter an email address (that is on your attendee list) in order to register or RSVP.
Check If RSVP Registration Requires an Attendee List
Under Registration, click on the Setup tab and scroll down to Registration access Control & Privacy. Your event may be configured so that only guests on your Attendee List can register or RSVP. In this setup, guests must enter an email address that already exists on your attendee list in order to respond:
How RSVP Registration Access Control Works
When RSVP Registration is enabled with restricted access:
You must upload or manually add an attendee list before sending invitations
Each attendee must include an email address
Only email addresses on that list can register or RSVP
Guests using a different email address will be blocked
This is designed for private or invite-only events, but it often causes issues if guests haven’t been added yet.
How to Fix RSVP Email Not Recognized Issues
Option 1: Add Guests to the Attendee List (Keep RSVP Registration)
Use this option if you want to keep registration restricted.
Go to your Event Dashboard
Navigate to Attendees
Add or upload the guest’s email address
Ask the guest to try registering again
Option 2: Switch to Simple Registration (Allow Anyone to Register)
Use this option if you want open registration.
Go to your Event Dashboard
Navigate to Setup > Registration
Select Simple Registration
Set Registration Access Control to Anyone can Register
Save your changes
This removes the email restriction and allows guests to register or RSVP without being pre-added.
RSVP Registration vs Simple Registration: What’s the Difference?
RSVP Registration
Invite-only
Requires an attendee list
Email must already exist in the Attendee LIst
Simple Registration
Open registration
No attendee list required
Anyone can register using any email
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS:
1. On your Event Dashboard, go to Registration. Then, under the Setup tab, you can select the registration type.
To allow anyone to register, select Simple Registration.
Please note: if you are using Ticketed or Multi-Event registration, double-check your Registration Access Control & Privacy settings to ensure that "Anyone can register."
