Facial recognition lets attendees check in and print their badge at the kiosk by looking at the camera, with no QR code or search. The kiosk matches the attendee's face against their profile photo, rejects photos held up to the camera, and then follows the same check-in and badge printing flow as a QR scan. This article covers the admin panel settings, the kiosk app settings, what attendees need to do, and what happens at the kiosk.
Face Recognition is in Beta and works in the Eventify mobile app's Kiosk Mode on Android and iOS. It isn't available in the desktop kiosk.
Before you start
- Update the kiosk app. Facial recognition needs Eventify app version 3.1.49 or later. If you use a white-label app, make sure you have the latest build.
- Attendees need a profile photo that shows their face. The kiosk recognises attendees from their profile photo, so ask attendees to upload a clear, front-facing photo before the event. Attendees without a usable photo can still check in with their QR code or by search.
- Decide on a fallback. Keep QR Scan or Search turned on alongside Facial Recognition unless you want a face-only kiosk. See "Face-only kiosks" below.
Step 1: Turn on the Face Recognition feature
- In the admin panel, go to Setup and click Features.
- Under Modules, find Face Recognition ("Identify attendees by face for check-in and badge printing"). It carries a Beta label: "This feature is in Beta and only available in Eventify App."
- Turn the toggle on and click Save.
#image# Admin panel Setup > Features with the Face Recognition module and its Beta label
If Face Recognition isn't in the list, your app build doesn't support it yet. Update the app, or contact Eventify support.
Step 2: Add Facial Recognition as a kiosk check-in method
- Go to Registration and click Badge Printing.
- Click Kiosk Setup.
- Under Check-In Methods ("Choose how attendees can check in at the kiosk. Select at least one method."), tick Facial Recognition. Keep Search and QR Scan ticked if you want them as alternatives.
- Click Update.
#image# Kiosk Setup with the Check-In Methods section showing Facial Recognition, Search and QR Scan
Facial Recognition only appears here after you turn the feature on in Step 1. You must keep at least one method ticked, or you see "Please select at least one check-in method."
Step 3: Turn it on in the kiosk app
Each kiosk device has its own switch, so you can run a face kiosk at the main entrance and a QR-only kiosk at a side door.
- Open the Eventify app on the kiosk device, log in as an admin and open Kiosk Mode.
- Sync the attendee data so the kiosk has the latest profiles. Use Full Sync ("Refresh attendees, kiosk settings, and badge templates.") after you change settings in the admin panel.
- Tap Settings (the gear).
- Turn on Enable Face Recognition.
#image# Kiosk Mode Settings screen with Enable Face Recognition, Camera FPS and Recognition Mode
The switch only appears when the feature is on, Facial Recognition is an allowed check-in method, and Disable Scan is off in Kiosk Setup.
Face recognition settings in the kiosk app
- Enable Face Recognition: Turns face check-in on or off for this device.
- Recognition Mode: Local: The kiosk matches faces on the device using the attendee data it downloaded during sync. If a face isn't found locally, it checks the server. Works without internet for synced attendees.
- Recognition Mode: Server: "Match on the server. An internet connection is required." Use this on devices that struggle to match locally, or for very large attendee lists.
- Camera FPS: How many camera frames a second the kiosk analyses: 5, 10, 15 or 20. "Higher FPS makes face guidance more responsive but uses more device resources." 10 suits most tablets.
- Face Recognition Preview: "Shows the face image used for recognition." Turn it on only while testing, because it slows the kiosk down.
Changes save straight away.
What attendees see at the kiosk
With face check-in on, the kiosk shows FACE CHECK-IN with "Center your face in the frame" and "Look directly at the screen". If QR scanning is also on, the heading is FACE / QR CHECK-IN with "Center your face or scan your QR".
#image# Kiosk screen in Face / QR check-in mode with the face guide square
- The attendee stands in front of the camera. The kiosk draws a square around their face and shows guidance such as "Align your face in the square", "Move closer to the camera" or "Hold still".
- When the face is matched, the kiosk shows VERIFYING and "Checking you in…", then BADGE PREPARATION and "Preparing your badge…".
- The badge prints and the attendee is checked in, exactly as after a QR scan. Auto Print, Auto Check-in and Allow Check-in Only work the same way.
If the attendee has already been processed, the kiosk shows "You have already checked in." or "Already processed. Please step away and allow the next attendee to proceed."
When a face isn't recognised
The kiosk shows FACE NOT RECOGNISED with "Use your QR code to check in" (or "Use your QR code to print your badge"). The attendee can scan their QR code or search for their name if those methods are on.
A photo or a phone screen held up to the camera fails the liveness check and shows "Face verification failed". Only a real face in front of the camera can check in.
Face-only kiosks
If Facial Recognition is the only check-in method, attendees who can't be recognised have no other way in. For this case, set a kiosk passcode in Kiosk Setup. When recognition keeps failing, the kiosk shows Report an issue. A staff member taps it and enters the passcode ("Please enter passcode to check in manually."). The kiosk shows "Manual check-in enabled" and brings back QR scanning and search for 60 seconds, or until the attendee checks in. It then returns to face-only mode on its own.
Help attendees prepare
- Ask attendees to add a clear profile photo before the event: face the camera, good light, no sunglasses. Attendees can change their photo in the app or portal. See How Attendees Can Complete and Edit Their Event Profile.
- In People > Manage Attendees, an attendee whose photo can't be used shows an information icon on their picture with "Not eligible for Face Recognition". Ask them to update their photo.
- Attendees control this themselves too. In the mobile app, SETTINGS has an Allow facial recognition switch ("Let us use facial recognition to personalize your experience."). If their profile photo has no clear face, the app shows "Unable to enable facial recognition" and asks them to update their picture. Attendees who turn it off check in with their QR code instead. See How Attendees Can Manage Push Notifications and App Permissions in the Mobile App.
#image# Manage Attendees list with the Not eligible for Face Recognition icon on an attendee's photo
Tips for a good setup
- Lighting. Put the kiosk where faces are lit from the front. Strong backlight, such as a window behind the attendee, causes "FACE NOT RECOGNISED".
- Camera height. Mount the tablet so the camera is near face height. Attendees who look down at the screen from above are harder to match.
- One person at a time. The kiosk works on the largest face in view. Mark a spot on the floor so the next attendee waits behind.
- Sync before doors open. The kiosk recognises only attendees it has downloaded. If you see FACE CHECK-IN UNAVAILABLE with "Ask staff to sync attendee data", run Full Sync.
- Test with staff first. Add staff profile photos, turn on Face Recognition Preview, and try a few check-ins. Turn the preview off before the event.
Common questions
Does facial recognition work offline?
In Local mode the kiosk matches faces on the device using the attendee data from the last sync, so it works without internet for those attendees. Check-ins are queued and sent when the connection returns, as with QR scans. Server mode needs internet.
Can an attendee check in with someone else's photo?
No. The kiosk checks that it's looking at a live person, and a photo or screen shows "Face verification failed".
Why can't I see Facial Recognition under Check-In Methods?
Turn on Face Recognition under Setup > Features first. If it isn't listed there either, your app build needs an update.
Does it work on the desktop kiosk?
No. Facial recognition runs in the Eventify mobile app's Kiosk Mode on Android and iOS tablets and phones. The desktop kiosk uses QR scanning and search. See Eventify Kiosk for Desktop: Getting Started.
Can I use it with QR scanning at the same time?
Yes. Tick both Facial Recognition and QR Scan in Kiosk Setup. The kiosk shows FACE / QR CHECK-IN and accepts whichever the attendee uses first.
Related articles
Need more help? Contact Eventify support from the admin panel.
