Support

Something not working, or an idea? Write to hello@onevalidword.com. It helps to say which iPhone or iPad you use and which version of iOS.

Widgets

How do I add a widget?

Touch and hold an empty part of your Home Screen, tap Edit, then Add Widget. Search for One Valid Word and pick a widget and a size.

Which widget should I choose?

• Up Next covers the whole day: today’s Daily, then the Mini, then Free Play. A daily you solve on it stays on show until you tap Next. The small size skips the Daily, as six letters are too small to tap there, and plays four-letter words.
• Daily (medium) and Daily Mini (small or medium) play just that day’s puzzle.
• Free Play deals one word after another: four letters on the small size, and the length you choose on the medium. Touch and hold it and tap Edit Widget to change the length.

Can I use hints on the widget?

Hints stay in the app. A puzzle you start on the widget is waiting in the app, on the same board, so open it there whenever you want a hint. Hints you earn by solving on the widget are kept until you next open that puzzle in the app.

The Free Play widget asks me to open the app

The widget plays words the app sets aside for it. Open the app once and it deals the widget a fresh batch.

The widget asks me to update the app

Each version of the game carries the coming months of daily puzzles. Update from the App Store to get the next ones.

How do I pin a letter on the widget?

Widgets can’t tell a double tap, so pinning happens in the app. Tapping a pinned letter on the widget frees it.

Streaks

I missed a day. Is my streak gone?

Not necessarily. Each streak has rest days that cover missed days on their own: you start with one, earn another at every 7-day milestone, and hold two at most. A rest day keeps the streak going but doesn’t add to the count.

With Plus, you can also go back to the archive and solve a missed day within a week. It then counts towards your streak, can join two runs back together, and gives back a rest day spent on it.

Why are there two streaks?

The Daily and the Daily Mini keep a streak each, so a busy day spent on the Mini alone still keeps one going.

Your devices

Does my progress sync between iPhone and iPad?

Yes, through iCloud, between every device signed in to the same Apple Account: streaks, results, hints, Free Play and your word collection. It also comes back if you delete and reinstall the game. A puzzle you’re part-way through, the widget’s Free Play words and reminder settings stay on each device. Settings (the gear on the home screen) says whether your progress is syncing.

My progress isn’t showing on my other device

Check that both devices are signed in to the same Apple Account with iCloud turned on, then open the game on each. iCloud can take a little while to pass changes along.

Reminders

How do I turn reminders on or off?

Tap the gear on the home screen. There are two: a daily reminder at a time you choose, and an evening one only while a streak still needs the day’s puzzle. Both are off until you turn them on.

Reminders are on, but nothing arrives

Notifications may be turned off for the game in iOS. Open the iOS Settings app, tap Notifications, then One Valid Word, and turn on Allow Notifications. Reminders also skip a day once you’ve solved either of its puzzles, and ease off if you take a break.

One Valid Word Plus

What does Plus add?

The archive of every past Daily and Mini, streak mending, eight-letter Free Play, two hint picks for each daily you solve instead of one, three of each hint as a welcome gift, full par stats, a calendar of your days with every word you’ve solved, and two more app icons. It’s a single purchase, with no subscription.

I bought Plus, but it isn’t unlocked

Open the Plus sheet (the Plus button on the home screen, or any locked feature) and tap Restore Purchase. Make sure you’re signed in with the Apple Account you bought it with. Plus works with Family Sharing, too.

How do I ask for a refund?

Apple handles purchases and refunds. Go to reportaproblem.apple.com and choose the purchase.