Support & FAQ

Real answers to the questions people actually run into. If yours isn't here, just email support@twophoneparty.com and we'll help directly.

Getting connected on the same Wi-Fi

My phones can't find each other. What's wrong?

Almost always, it's one of these three things:

• Different networks. Both phones need to be on the exact same Wi-Fi network — not one on Wi-Fi and one on mobile data, and not two networks with similar names (like a router's 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands showing as separate networks). Check the Wi-Fi name in each phone's settings.
• AP or client isolation. A lot of public, office, and even some home mesh Wi-Fi networks enable "AP isolation" or "client isolation," which deliberately stops devices on the same network from seeing each other — usually for security on shared networks. It also stops phones from finding each other for a local game. If you're on a coffee shop, hotel, or office network, this is the most common cause. A home network you control usually has this off by default, but it's worth checking your router's settings if discovery isn't working there either.
• A firewall or router blocking local discovery broadcasts. Rare, but some routers or security software filter it out.

Is there a way around it if discovery just won't work?

Yes. When one phone starts hosting a local game, it shows its IP address right on screen. On the other phone, choose to join by address and type that IP in by hand. This connects the two phones directly, the same way automatic discovery would, and sidesteps whatever is blocking the broadcast.

Can we play on a plane, or somewhere with no internet at all?

Yes — this is exactly what local play was built for. The app needs a shared Wi-Fi network, not the internet. On a plane, join the same in-flight Wi-Fi (no need to pay for an internet package), or have one phone share a hotspot and connect the other to it. The same trick works on road trips, camping, the subway — anywhere without a signal. If automatic discovery is blocked, the host's IP shown on screen and manual join always work.

The iOS "Local Network" permission

Why does the app ask to access my local network?

That prompt is what lets your phone and your friend's phone find each other for a same-Wi-Fi match. It's iOS's standard permission for any app that needs to discover and connect to other devices on your network — the same kind of prompt you'd see from an app that talks to a smart TV or a printer. Two Phone Party only uses it to connect you to your opponent's phone; it doesn't scan your network for anything else.

What happens if I say no?

Automatic discovery won't work, but you can still connect using the manual IP address method above — the host's screen shows the address to type in on the other phone.

Playing online

How does online play work if we're not on the same Wi-Fi?

One player taps "Play online" to create a room and gets a short room code. The other player enters that code to join. Once you're both in, your gameplay is relayed between your two phones for the length of that match — no accounts needed on either side.

How long does a room code last?

A room code is good for 120 seconds. If it isn't used in that time, it expires and you'll need a fresh one. Each code can only be used once — after your opponent joins, that code is done.

Do I need an account to play online?

No. There are no accounts anywhere in Two Phone Party, online or off. Create a room, share the code, play.

During a match

What happens when I hit pause?

Pause freezes the match on both phones at once — not just yours. Whoever taps the pause button, the game stops for both players until someone resumes it. This keeps a match fair; nobody can pause on their own screen and keep playing.

What's the score tally at the top for?

Two Phone Party keeps a running tally of who's won more rounds in your current session, so a quick rematch keeps score across games instead of resetting every time. It only lives on your two phones for that session — it isn't saved anywhere or tied to an account.

Can we play again right away?

Yes — after a match ends, both players get the option to rematch straight into a new round without going back through setup.

Still stuck?

Email support@twophoneparty.com and tell us what you were trying to do, what happened instead, and what phones you're both using. That's usually enough for us to figure it out.