How to input FiGPiN Codes the Right Way

You finally got the pin in hand, the art looks great, and now comes the part that matters to a lot of collectors - getting it into the app correctly. If you’re figuring out how to scan FiGPiN codes for the first time, the process is pretty simple once you know where to look, but there are a few spots where new collectors get tripped up.

FiGPiN isn’t just about owning the pin. For a lot of us, the app side is part of the fun too. Unlocking, and tracking your collection adds another layer to the hobby, especially if you care about serials, boosts, and where a piece sits in your lineup. That also means doing it right matters, because a missed step can leave you wondering why your pin didn’t register the way you expected.

How to Input FiGPiN codes step by step

The first thing you need is the FiGPiN app installed on your phone and an account set up. If you’re brand new, do that before opening the pin so you’re not holding a pin and trying not to drop the phone.

Once you’re logged in, open the app and look for the unlock option.In the App it is the unlock icon to the left of the Home button. FiGPiN usually uses an alphanumeric code tied to the pin’s identity, these numbers can be found on the back of the pin.

The pin is nowhere on the box yes some older pins have a scannable qr on the box but that has nothing to do with the serial number of the pin.

When you’ve got the code visible, type it in under the unlock icon, you should see unlock a FiGPiN when on the correct page. Sometimes you will get a error it’s often not a bad code - its often one off perhaps you put Z instead of 7 double check its correct.

Once the app recognizes the code, it should prompt you to confirm the pin and add it to your collection. Double-check the character, franchise, or release information before you finalize anything. Most of the time it’s straightforward, but if you collect heavily across similar lines, it’s worth making sure the app matched the right item.

Where the FiGPiN code is usually located

This is where a lot of new collectors lose time. They ask ChatGPT and it says all this about scanning and its a code you type on the back of the pin.

For many FiGPiNs making sure a pin is locked is a good idea, not everyone understands the concept so one thing i learned is if you see a screen shot of the app, is the story store blank? If so that pin is new and well has no story to tell because you need to unlock it to tell that story. The design of placement of the codes makes sense from a collector standpoint because it protects the code from being casually used before the buyer actually opens or claims the item. If you bought your pin secondhand and the original packaging is missing, that can change things. Again ask the seller for a screen shot from the app, smart sellers will not share the code and beware if they do.

In other words, condition matters, but so does completeness. A loose pin without the right packaging may still be a cool display piece, but it may not give you the full app experience if its previously unlocked. That doesn’t make it worthless, just different from a fully intact collector piece.

What happens after you scan

Inputing is only part of the process. After the code is accepted, the app generally opens the pin to see the information of the pin, If you have made a account you can choose to CLAIM/UNLOCK the pin. If the pin was used the app and may not allow boosting depending on its status in the system.

This matters because in the FiGPiN ecosystem, ownership in the app can affect how your collection is organized and how you engage with the pin beyond the display case. Some collectors are all about shelf presence and don’t care much about digital ranking. Others absolutely care about every boost and serial detail. Most people land somewhere in the middle.

If the app gives you an option to unlock or continue setup, follow through right away instead of assuming the scan alone finished everything. A partial registration can make it look like the app read the code without fully attaching the pin to your profile.

Common problems when inputting FiGPiN codes

If you’re trying to learn how to input FiGPiN codes and the app keeps fighting you, it’s usually one of a few familiar issues.

The First Issue usually is you didn't read any of this and are listening to Ai and its having you scan a code that is not for the serial its either 1 for a coupon on FiGPiN these are old and i am unsure if they work or two the barcode for buying the pin, either way its not on the packaging and is not scannable unless you have a more fancy phone but the app does not have that feature.

The second issue is that the code may already be claimed. This is especially relevant with pre-owned pins. If you bought from another collector, a resale shop, or a convention table, there’s always a chance the original owner already claimed/unlocked it. That doesn’t automatically mean something shady happened. A lot of collectors sell pins they’ve already added to their app collections. It just means your result may depend on the pin’s prior history.

The issue now is that you need to message FiGPiN to release that pin,
there is a verification option but it has been down for awhile now.

How to input FiGPiN codes without damaging packaging

Collectors care about condition, so this part matters. If you keep boxes crisp and inserts clean, don’t rush the process.

Open the package carefully and avoid bending any internal card or insert just to expose the code faster. I personally open them all from the bottom its easier, work slowly enough that you’re not creating creases. Keeping the packaging perfect only matters if the pin didnt find its forever home, and at that point ask do i really want to unlock this? It hurts value for many collectors

It also helps to Input the code on a flat surface instead of holding the pin packaging in one hand and the phone in the other like you’re defusing a bomb. Lay the packaging down, steady the code, and read and enter it carefully. You’ll get a better read and reduce the chances of dinging the case.

New collector questions that come up fast

A big one is whether scanning lowers resale value. Usually, that depends on the buyer. Some collectors want an unclaimed pin because they enjoy being the first to unlock it. Others care more about condition, rarity, and whether the piece looks good in display. For highly app-focused buyers, claim status can matter a lot. For character-first collectors, not as much.

Another question is whether every FiGPiN should be scanned immediately. Not always. If you’re planning to gift, trade, or sell a pin, you might hold off. If it’s staying in your personal collection, scanning early makes sense because it gets the item into your profile and lets you manage your collection while the details are fresh, it also gives a better chance for a better launch position (where your pin falls in the place of claimed pins)

A better inputting routine for growing collections

Once you own more than a handful of pins, random opening gets messy. The easiest habit is to open new arrivals as you receive them, confirm they appear correctly in the app, and then write the code on the back with a painters tape (pro tip amazon has white) then display them after or store them. That keeps you from building a stack of unopened or half-processed pickups that all blur together later.

It also helps to keep packaging components together. If you’re the kind of collector who saves inserts, protectors, and boxes, staying organized now will save you a lot of frustration later. Nothing is worse than knowing you have the right packaging somewhere but having to tear through a pile of packaging to find it.

For collectors who are still learning the app side of the hobby, stores like Hatcher’s Collectibles have helped make that learning curve less annoying by treating FiGPiN like the collector ecosystem it actually is, not just another enamel pin on a product page.

Inputting a FiGPiN code should feel like the start of the fun, not the part that slows you down. Take your time, keep the packaging clean, and if the app doesn’t read it on the first try, assume lighting or positioning before assuming the pin is the problem.