Troubleshooting and error messages

Quick fixes for the errors and hiccups you might run into. Still stuck after trying these? Reach us from the Help page.

OTP and sign-in

I'm not getting the OTP. Check WhatsApp and your email inbox (including spam). Confirm the number/email is the one on your account, wait a minute, then request a new code. More on this in OTP problems.

"Invalid OTP". Enter the latest code exactly as received — expired or already-used codes won't verify. If unsure, request a fresh one.

My OTP expired. Request a new one and use the most recent code within its validity window (codes are short-lived).

"Too many OTP requests". You've hit the request limit. Wait for the cooldown to finish before asking for another code.

I can't log in. Use the right door for your account: guests sign in with their WhatsApp number + OTP (no password); hosts sign in with Google. There's no email/password login, so an "invalid credentials" message usually means the wrong method or the wrong account.

I can't log in with my phone. Use the exact number registered to your account — that number is your guest identity.

I can't log in with Google. Use the same Google account you signed up with. A different Google account creates/looks for a different profile.

Login keeps failing. Check your connection and that you're using the correct method above. If it persists, contact Support.

Account and username

"Username already exists". Someone else has that name — pick another. It must be unique, 3–30 characters, lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only.

I can't save my username. Make sure it meets those rules and isn't reserved or already taken.

"Email/phone already registered". That contact is already linked to an account. Sign in to that account instead of creating a new one — or contact Support if you think it's a mistake.

Payments, bookings, and slots

My payment failed. Nothing was charged for a failed attempt — just try again. See Refunds and failed payments.

My payment is still pending. Verification can take a minute — wait for the status to update rather than paying again.

Payment succeeded but my booking isn't confirmed. Give verification a short while to catch up. If the booking still doesn't appear, contact Support with the amount and date — don't rebook.

My booking isn't in My Bookings. Refresh, and confirm the booking actually completed. Check the My Bookings list for its status.

No available slots / all slots booked. The host has no open times for that date — try another date. Slots reflect the host's working hours minus what's booked and blocked.

Calendar and services (hosts)

Google Calendar isn't syncing / busy times aren't blocked. Reconnect Google Calendar from your dashboard and make sure the calendar permission is granted — authorization can expire. See Availability and Google Calendar.

My service isn't visible / customers can't find it. Check the service is active and published, and that your profile is public.

Uploads and downloads

I can't upload a file / upload keeps failing. Check the file meets the format and size limits, and your connection is stable, then retry. Don't refresh mid-upload.

My download link expired. Secure product download links expire and have a download limit. For a fresh link, contact the host or Support. See Buying digital products.

Subscriptions and payouts (hosts)

My plan/subscription isn't active after paying. Activation can lag payment slightly — wait for the status to update. If it stays inactive, contact Support.

My payout is delayed / not received. Payouts are reviewed and approved before processing, and require approved KYC. Check the request status on your dashboard. See Getting paid and KYC and identity verification.

Notifications

I didn't get a notification / confirmation / reminder. Check spam, confirm your email and phone are correct, and note that reminders depend on your plan. You can also check the notification bell in your dashboard (hosts) or navbar (guests) — it shows recent alerts even if an email or WhatsApp message was missed. See Reminders, notifications, and badges.

Site and page errors

"Internal Server Error" / "Something went wrong" / unexpected error. A temporary hiccup — refresh and retry after a moment. If it keeps happening, contact Support.

"Session expired" / logged out suddenly. Inactive sessions expire for security — just sign in again.

"Access denied" / "Permission denied". Your account doesn't have access to that page or action (some features are plan- or role-gated).

"Page not found (404)". The URL may be wrong, or the page moved or was removed — check the address or navigate from the menu.

Blank page after login / slow or not loading. Check your connection and refresh; if a page is blank, sign out and back in. If a feature won't respond, refresh and retry.

Still stuck?

Contact Book A Sloth Support with what you were doing, the exact error text, and a screenshot if you have one — it helps us fix it faster.