Photo-Me Code Not Working: Options and Alternatives
Trying to upload your passport photo using a digital code from a Photo-Me booth, but it just won’t work? This problem is not uncommon.
Read on to see a list of quick solutions—or learn how to get a new 100% working code right now.
Contents
Photo-Me Code Doesn’t Work: 4 Possible Reasons
1. Check That You’ve Purchased the Right Product
Besides UK passport photos, there are other services available in photo booths. For example, you might’ve accidentally purchased a generic ID photo (which may be different rules-wise) or taken an image from the “For Fun” category.
Please note: if an accidental purchase is indeed the case, you won’t be able to get a refund and will have to pay for a new code.
To make sure you’ve used the right service, check your print against the example below. If it doesn’t look like the one on the left, you may have accidentally purchased the wrong product.
2. Check That Your Code Hasn’t Expired
If you received your image over 30 days ago, your code has expired and you can no longer use it.
According to GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), companies can store personal data only for a certain time. For digital passport photos, the storage period is 30 days—once it’s over, your image will be deleted and you won’t be able to retrieve it.
3. Double-Check Case and Spelling
All digital passport photo codes include three parts, each in a separate box. When entering your code, make sure you get all three boxes right:
- First Box: Can only contain the word idpass in lowercase
- Second Box: Can only contain the word uk in lowercase
- Third Box: Contains a code including 8 symbols (letters and digits), both in upper and lower case (make sure not to confuse the letter ‘O’ with zero and so on)
4. Wait and Try Again
In peak periods (late spring and summer), photo machines experience heavy load—even a suburban Morrisons photo booth can have hundreds of users in just one day!
Because of this increased ID photo demand, the load on the servers increases, leading to an upload queue. And sometimes, the booth itself might get a connection fault.
This means your image may not become available via its photo code instantly. In fact, it can take up to 72 hours for it to be uploaded on the servers.
Try entering your code intermittently within these 72 hours—if it still doesn’t work when the time frame has elapsed, contact Photo-Me support.
If you’ve tried all the above and it didn’t help, it might be time to consider other digital photo code options.
A Reliable Alternative to Photo-Me Codes
You can get valid passport photos with a code on our website. In contrast to in-store photo booths, you can do this entirely online without ever leaving your home, and it only takes a few simple steps:
1. Take an Ordinary Picture
Grab your phone and take a regular selfie. It can have any size and background—we’ll crop the picture to the correct size and remove the backdrop anyway.
2. Upload Your Photo Here
To add your snapshot, use the button at the bottom of the screen (or upload it here). In an instant, we’ll convert your image into a compliant passport picture—you’ll be able to preview it right away.
3. Enjoy Your New Passport Photo
Once you’re happy with your new photo, we’ll double-check against all rules—and then you’ll get a single digital image, a print-ready template and, most importantly, a new and 100% working digital photo code. As an option, you can also order 8 prints with free home delivery.
We give a photo guarantee: each image we make is verified and uploaded to our servers instantly. With a code from us, you won’t have any trouble completing your online passport application at gov.uk.
To see how it works first-hand, hit the button below and get a free preview of your perfect passport photo!