Create or Recover Your Account

If you already use Beacon, it is best to perform these steps inside Beacon because your existing private key will be the one backed up. Creating the account on the Beacon website will generate a new private key, which won’t be able to decrypt your server link data in the Servers config editor, as well as any encrypted custom config content.

Step 1: Get Started

From Within Beacon

Use the user button in the top right of Beacon’s window. You will see one of three things:

  1. Enable Cloud & Community which means Beacon is set not to communicate with Beacon’s server at all. Click Enable Cloud & Community to open the login window. Choose Use a Beacon Account to continue.
  2. Sign In means Beacon is set to use its community features anonymously. Click Sign In to open the welcome window. Choose Use a Beacon Account to continue.
  3. A username or email address means the account is already signed in. If you need to change the account, choose Change Account. At the welcome window, click Use a Beacon Account to continue.

From the Website

In the Explore menu, choose Beacon Account to be presented with the login form.

Step 2: Verify Your E-Mail Address

Press Create or Recover Account and enter your email address to be sent a verification code.

Tip

Although it’s rare, sometimes these verification emails get delivered to spam boxes. Be sure to check there if your message is missing.

Follow the instructions in the verification email to continue.

Step 3: Choose a Username and Password

Next you get to choose a username and password. The username is not used to sign in, it is only a display name. Currently, the only place it is displayed is your account control panel, the public project repository, and in the Project Sharing panel. Your username may contain spaces, special characters, and doesn’t even need to be unique. There is even a link to suggest a mildly amusing Ark-themed username.

Passwords must be at least 8 characters long. While there are no other rules, your password will be securely checked against the Have I Been Pwned Pwned Passwords Database. For the security-minded, you can read more about how this service uses k-Anonymity to perform the check without exposing your password here. Should you choose a password that has previously been leaked, you will be warned, but you will not be prevented from using the password anyway. Submit the form again if you really want to use the compromised password.