With more and more events going mobile-only for ticketing, it’s a fair question to ask if you can use a screenshot of your Ticketmaster ticket. The quick answer is yes, you can use a screenshot of your Ticketmaster ticket for entry into most events. However, there are a few important caveats to keep in mind.
Why would you want to use a screenshot?
There are a few main reasons you may want to rely on a screenshot of your ticket rather than the mobile ticket itself:
- Conserving phone battery – Keeping your screen on and the app open constantly drains your battery. A screenshot saves power.
- Avoiding data usage – If you want to conserve your data usage, a screenshot prevents the app from continually pinging the server.
- Poor mobile signal – For venues or locations with poor cell service, a screenshot guarantees you have the barcode even if you can’t connect.
- Ticket transfers – It’s often easier to transfer a screenshot rather than adding someone to your Ticketmaster account.
The bottom line is that screenshots provide convenience and assurance that you’ll have everything you need to get into the event.
Potential issues with using screenshots
However, there are a few potential downsides to keep in mind with using a Ticketmaster screenshot:
- Screen visibility – If the screenshot is blurry, overexposed, or too small, it may be tough for venue staff to scan it.
- Connection required on entry – Some venues require you to be online and connected to Ticketmaster when your ticket is scanned.
- Updates not reflected – If Ticketmaster pushes an update to your ticket, the screenshot will still show the old QR code.
- One-time use tickets – Some tickets are designated as “one-time use” and won’t scan twice, even if the old QR code is used.
So in most cases, a screenshot should work fine, but it’s not a flawless solution. The venue’s policies and settings in the Ticketmaster system can affect whether a screenshot will successfully grant entry.
Best practices for using Ticketmaster screenshots
If you do plan to use a Ticketmaster screenshot, here are some best practices to ensure it goes smoothly:
- Double check the clarity and zoom – Make sure the QR code is clearly visible and legible when zoomed in.
- Print it as a backup – Consider using the screenshot to print a paper backup copy as well in case your phone dies.
- Save it in multiple places – Store the screenshot somewhere like your cloud storage, email, etc. in addition to your camera roll.
- Check it right before entry – Be sure to open the screenshot and verify everything looks correct before getting in line. This avoids any surprises.
- Have mobile data enabled – If possible, keep mobile data on while entering the event in case the app needs to refresh.
- Bring a charger – In case you need to keep your phone on and connected, bring a portable phone charger.
Following those tips should help make your experience go smoothly when using a Ticketmaster screenshot. But of course, always check the specific event and venue policies too.
Specific events or venues that may not accept screenshots
According to Ticketmaster’s support site, there are some specific situations where a screenshot may not work for entry:
- Venues with built-in Ticketmaster systems – Some venues have Ticketmaster software integrated into their scanner systems. This requires live connectivity.
- Major sporting events or championships – For high-profile events, screenshots are sometimes prohibited.
- Concerts with strict policies – Big concerts often prohibit screenshots to reduce fraud.
- Theaters with ushered seating – For reserved seating, you may need the live ticket to find your exact seat location.
It’s a good idea to check ahead of time with either the venue or Ticketmaster support to see if any restrictions apply to your specific event. Certainly for more laid-back events like minor league sports, screenshots should be perfectly fine.
How screenshots work technically
To understand why screenshots usually work, it helps to know a bit about how mobile ticketing works technically:
- Each ticket has a unique QR code that contains encoded information about that ticket.
- When scanned, the QR code links to Ticketmaster’s servers to retrieve ticket data like the event, section, row, and seat.
- It also verifies whether the ticket is valid and not duplicate or fraudulent.
A screenshot captures the QR code itself, but doesn’t contain any of the live connectivity. Therefore, most venues will scan the QR code from the screenshot and successfully pull up the ticket details from Ticketmaster’s databases.
However, if Ticketmaster’s system requires a reconnect to re-verify the ticket, then the screenshot would fail since it doesn’t have that live connectivity.
Troubleshooting tips
If you do run into trouble using a screenshot for entry, here are some things to try:
- Connect to venue WiFi – Getting online may allow the ticket to refresh and reconnect with Ticketmaster’s servers.
- Use mobile data – Similarly, turning on mobile data could establish the needed connection.
- Open the Ticketmaster app – Providing the latest live ticket often fixes things quickly.
- Check for app updates – An outdated version of the app could cause glitches, so update to the latest release.
- Contact Ticketmaster – Speaking with their customer support may uncover any known glitch or outage.
With any luck, those simple steps should resolve most any error seen at the door when relying on a screenshot. But in some rare cases, providing the latest live ticket through the app may be the only option to successfully enter.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key summary takeaways about using Ticketmaster screenshots:
- Screenshots generally work for entry but don’t provide guaranteed access like the live app.
- Check ahead of time for any venue or event policies that prohibit screenshots.
- Make sure your screenshot is clear, legible, and zoomed in on the QR code.
- Keep mobile data enabled in case the app needs to reconnect live at entry.
- Be prepared to troubleshoot with other options like WiFi, the live app, or Ticketmaster support.
- While convenient, screenshots have risks so the live app is still the most reliable method.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, a Ticketmaster ticket screenshot provides a handy convenience in most cases. But it’s not guaranteed to work perfectly in every situation due to the lack of connectivity. Your best bet is to have the live ticket ready as a backup and be prepared with troubleshooting options if your screenshot fails. With the proper precautions, you can feel confident using a screenshot for simpler events while knowing you have backup options for venues with stricter policies or requirements.
