# Fix a shared list, password or missing-gift problem

Start with the original list link and the exact message you see. A GiftList account is not normally required to open a shared list or mark a gift purchased. Password access, unavailable lists and closed gifting have different fixes.

## The list will not open

1. Ask the owner to copy a fresh link from **Share**. Open the full link, not a cropped screenshot or an incomplete pasted URL.
2. Try opening it in your device's normal browser if a messaging app's browser or an old GiftList app gets stuck.
3. If the page asks for a list password, obtain it from the owner. Your account password is different. Signing up is not a substitute.
4. If the list was deleted or the link is no longer recognized, ask the owner for the current list. Do not assume it can be restored by registering again.

If a QR code opens the wrong destination, ask for a new code generated from the intended list; a profile or individual gift code can point somewhere else.

## I can open the list but cannot buy or mark a gift

Check whether it is already fully claimed or whether quantity remains. A gift without a retailer link may be an offline idea; read its instructions or ask the owner.

The owner may have turned off **People can reserve items**, or the **Stop accepting gifts on** deadline may have passed. Ask the owner rather than trying to bypass that setting. A visible list is not necessarily accepting new claims.

If you own the list, your owner view deliberately hides other people's purchase status until reveal. Use your own management controls rather than expecting the shopper's exact controls.

## A gift disappeared or a claim looks wrong

Clear any gift search/filter and check you opened the correct list. The owner may have edited or removed an item while you were shopping. If an item is no longer listed, check with the owner before buying a substitute.

After a dropped connection, refresh the list and check for a confirmation email before submitting another claim. If you need to remove your own recorded purchase, follow [undo a reservation](https://staging.giftlist.com/help/undo-a-reservation). A mark can exist even when you did not receive its confirmation screen.

## Get help with useful details

[Contact support](https://staging.giftlist.com/contact-us) with the list link, gift name, exact error, approximate time, device/browser or app version, and whether you were signed in. A screenshot can help; cover shipping addresses and personal recovery links before sharing it. Do not include account passwords or payment details.

Related: [Buying from a shared list](https://staging.giftlist.com/help/buy-from-a-shared-list), [privacy and passwords](https://staging.giftlist.com/help/list-privacy-and-passwords), [finding your own lists](https://staging.giftlist.com/help/sign-in-and-find-your-lists).