How magic-link login works
Instead of a password, Shovel Radar authenticates you via a one-time link sent to your email address. Each time you want to sign in:
Go to shovelradar.com/app/.
Enter your account email (the one you used when subscribing) and click Send magic link.
Check your inbox for an email from noreply@shovelradar.com. It arrives within 1–2 minutes.
Click the link in the email. You're signed in immediately and redirected to your dashboard.
The link is valid for 15 minutes. After clicking it, a session cookie is set that keeps you logged in for 30 days on that browser. You won't need to request another link until the session expires.
Why no password? Passwords get reused, forgotten, and phished. A magic link sent to your email is more secure: only someone with access to your inbox can sign in. It also means nothing to remember or reset.
Email not arriving
If your magic-link email hasn't appeared after 2 minutes, work through this checklist:
- Check spam / junk. Email providers sometimes filter the first magic-link from a new sender. Look for a message from
noreply@shovelradar.comwith the subject line "Your Shovel Radar sign-in link". - Check your Promotions or Updates tabs (Gmail). Magic-link emails can land there even when they don't land in spam.
- Confirm you're using the right email. You must enter the exact email address you used when you subscribed through Stripe. If you have multiple email addresses, try each one.
- Wait 2 more minutes and try again. Email delivery occasionally experiences a brief delay. If still nothing after 5 minutes total, proceed to the next step.
- Request a fresh link. Return to /app/ and submit the form again. Each submission generates a new independent link.
Still nothing after 5+ minutes? Email matthew@shovelradar.com from the address you subscribed with. We can manually issue a session link and confirm which email address your account is registered under. Most cases resolved same business day.
Expired link error
If you click a magic link and see an error page saying the link has expired or is invalid, the link timed out (15-minute window). This happens if you:
- Waited more than 15 minutes before clicking
- Clicked an older link from a previous sign-in attempt
- Opened the link in a different browser than where you requested it (in some configurations)
Fix: go back to /app/ and request a new link. The new link is independent of all previous ones. Click it promptly.
Signing in on a different device
Magic links are device-agnostic: you can request the link on your laptop and open it on your phone, or vice versa. The key is that the link is clicked within 15 minutes of being sent. Session cookies are device-specific, so you'll need a new link for each new browser or device.
Shared or public computers
If you're signing in on a shared computer (e.g. a workplace terminal or public library), use a private/incognito window. This prevents the session cookie from persisting after you close the browser. Sign out explicitly when done by clicking your account icon and selecting "Sign out" in the portal.
Changing your account email
Self-serve email change is not yet available in the portal. To change the email address associated with your account, email matthew@shovelradar.com with your old and new email addresses. We update both your account and your Stripe billing record and send a confirmation magic-link to the new address.
Team member can't sign in
If a team member you added is having trouble signing in, confirm:
- They're using the exact email address you entered in the Team tab when you added them.
- They've received an invitation email from
noreply@shovelradar.comconfirming their seat was added. - Their spam filter isn't swallowing the magic-link email.
If the seat was added correctly and the email still isn't arriving, contact matthew@shovelradar.com with both your account email and your team member's email and we'll sort it.