> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.smile.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Link discount codes to customer accounts

> Learn how to link discount codes to individual customer accounts.

You can link a discount code to the customer who redeems it to ensure each reward can only be used by the customer who redeemed it. This helps prevent code sharing and keeps reward redemptions accurate.

<Check>
  **Feature availability**: Linking discount codes to customer accounts is available on **Shopify only.**
</Check>

## How linked discount codes work

By default, discount codes aren't linked to a specific customer account. You can enable **Customer eligibility** for eligible rewards to associate each generated discount code with the customer who redeems it.

When a linked discount code is generated, Smile associates it with the customer's Shopify account. At checkout, Shopify ensures only that customer can use the discount code. Customers must be logged in to the linked account to use the discount code.

For **Referral friend** rewards, the discount code is linked when the referred friend claims their reward. After they enter their email address, Shopify creates a customer account using that email address, and the discount code is linked to that account.

## Which discount codes can be linked

Customer eligibility is available for the following reward types:

* **Points Program** rewards
* **VIP entry** rewards
* **Referral friend** rewards

Customer eligibility isn't supported for the **referring customer** reward in a referral program. Only the **referral friend reward** can be linked to a customer account.

## How to link discount codes

Use **Customer eligibility** settings to limit an eligible reward's discount code so it can only be used on the account of the customer who redeems that reward. You must enable this setting separately for each eligible reward.

To update customer eligibility:

1. In Smile Admin, open the reward you want to update:
   * **Points reward:** Go to **Program > Points > Ways to redeem**, then select the reward.
   * **VIP entry reward:** Go to **Program > VIP**, select the tier, then select the reward.
   * **Referral friend reward:** Go to **Program > Referrals**, then click **Edit** on the **Referred friend** reward.
2. In the **Customer eligibility** card, select **Discount can only be used on recipient's account.**
3. Click **Save**.

## Customer messaging

Customers will see information about linked discount codes in the **reward conditions** when redeeming an eligible reward, and in the **email** they receive with their discount code.

For **Referral friend** rewards, referred friends also see a notice before claiming their reward explaining a Shopify customer account will be created using their email address.