Sign in with an email link

How the email sign-in link works, why it asks you to press a button, and how long it lasts.

Updated November 2, 2026 · 2 min read

TaleTykes has no passwords. To sign in, you ask for a link, we email it, and you press a button on the page it opens. The link works once and expires after 5 minutes.

Steps

Go to the sign-in page and type your email address.
Press "Email me a sign-in link".
Open the email with the subject "Your TaleTykes sign-in link". It comes from hello@mail.taletykes.com.
Open the link in your browser.
On the page "Finish signing in?", check that it says "You're signing in as" and your address.
Press "Yes, sign me in".

You are now signed in.

Why there is a button

Some email security programs open every link in a message to check it. If the link signed you in on its own, that check would use it up or let the scanner in. So we ask you to press a button. The page says: "Didn't ask for this? Close this page. Nobody can sign in without pressing the button."

Limits

What	Limit
Link lifetime	5 minutes
Uses per link	Once
Links you can ask for	3 per 5 minutes

If you ask for too many, you will see: "Too many links asked for. Wait a few minutes and try again."

Email me a code instead. It is an 8-digit code you type.
A passkey, if you have added one.
An authenticator-app code as a second step. It is required for teacher accounts and optional for parents.

If it doesn't work

You see	What to do
"This link has expired or was already used. Ask for a new one."	Ask for a new link. See Link expired or already used.
"This link is incomplete"	Your mail app cut the link. Copy the whole link into your browser, or use a code.
No email	See Sign-in email didn't arrive.

Common questions

Can I use the link on a different device? Open the link on the device you want to sign in on.

How long do I stay signed in? See Why was I signed out?.

Still stuck? Write to support@taletykes.com.

Sign in with an 8-digit codeHow to get an 8-digit sign-in code by email when the link is hard to open, and what its limits are.The sign-in email didn't arriveWhere to look when the sign-in link or code email is missing, and how to ask again without hitting the limit.The link expired or was already usedWhy a sign-in link says it expired or was already used, and how to get a working one.Backup codesWhat backup codes are, how to use one at the two-step check, and what to do if you lost yours.

Still stuck?

Write to us with what you were trying to do and what you saw on screen.