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Troubleshooting

Sign-In and Account Issues​

I don't see a sign-in screen anywhere​

Big Bad Words uses anonymous-first authentication — there is no login screen on first launch. An anonymous session is created silently and all local game data is tied to it. To sign in (needed for Plus features like online multiplayer), go to Settings and tap "Sign In." You can sign in with Google or a magic link. Your existing game data transfers to the real account after sign-in.

I signed in but my game history is gone​

This usually means you're signed in with a different account than the one associated with your original game data. Check the email shown in Settings to confirm you're signed in with the correct account. If you were on a free anonymous session with no account linked, your game history is stored locally — it does not transfer automatically across accounts. Going forward, linking an account before you need it preserves your data.

Account linking failed during the Plus upgrade flow​

If the sign-in window closes before completing (network drop or cancellation), the app shows an error and you remain on the Free tier. No charge occurred and no partial state was created. Your game history is untouched. Tap "Try Again" when you have a stable connection.

Gameplay Issues​

My word was rejected but it seems like a valid word​

The game validates words against the word list selected for that game. If you're playing with "Clean" or a grade-level list, some words in Standard English won't be accepted — only words in the selected list validate. Check the game's word list setting on the game setup screen. If you're playing with Standard English and the word is being rejected, verify spelling. The engine never rejects valid words in the active dictionary.

I placed tiles but tapping "Play" does nothing​

Words must connect to existing tiles on the board (unless "Disconnected Words" is enabled in game settings). Tiles placed but not forming a connected word will be rejected — the Play button either shows an error indicator or doesn't score. Ensure all placed tiles form a word that shares at least one tile with existing board words, or runs through the center star on the first move.

I accidentally passed my turn​

Passing a turn cannot be undone. The game resumes from the next player's (or AI's) turn. If both players pass consecutively, the game ends — this is by design to prevent stalemates.

A blank tile I placed is showing the wrong letter​

Once you assign a letter to a blank tile and confirm placement with "Play," the assignment is permanent for that game. Blank tiles display their assigned letter with a distinct border (dashed or colored) to distinguish them from regular tiles. If you want a different letter, you would need to retract the word before tapping "Play" — tile retraction is possible before submission by tapping the placed tile on the board to remove it back to your hand.

The AI seems to be taking too long or thinking forever​

The AI has a configurable think-time limit in game settings (default 5 seconds). If AI turns feel too slow, go to game configuration and reduce the "AI think-time limit" slider. The AI plays the best word it found within the time budget when the limit is reached. If the AI appears stuck (spinning indefinitely beyond 30 seconds), close and resume the game from the Play tab — the auto-save will preserve the board state.

Word Lists​

I imported a word list but some words are missing​

The import parser expects one word per line in plain text format. Words containing special characters, punctuation, or numbers may be filtered out. Check the import preview screen which shows the total parsed word count — if it's lower than expected, review your source file for formatting issues. Lines with spaces (multi-word phrases) may also be skipped depending on the parser's word validation rules.

I selected a word list but the game says it's empty​

If a custom word list has no words, the app will warn you and prevent the game from starting. Tap "Add Words Now" to go directly to the list editor, add words, then return to game setup and start the game.

I deleted a built-in word list by accident​

Built-in word lists (Standard English, Clean, Grade 6–8, Grade 9–12, Biology Terms, Math & Geometry) are read-only and cannot be deleted. Only custom lists you created can be deleted. If a custom list is missing after reinstalling, custom lists are stored locally — they are not backed up unless you are on Plus with cloud sync.

Online Multiplayer (Plus)​

Online multiplayer requires both players to have an internet connection. Confirm your friend tapped the full invite link — it should open the app directly to the game lobby. If they don't have the app installed, they'll be directed to the Play Store first. After installing, they can tap the link again to join. The invite link expires after the game starts or after a reasonable idle period.

The game disconnected mid-play​

If your connection drops during an online game, the board shows a disconnection indicator. The game state is preserved on the server. When connectivity returns, the game resumes from where it left off. If the other player's connection also drops, the game will be available to resume from the Play tab for both players.

Online games aren't appearing in my Plus account on a new device​

After signing in on a new device, your online game history syncs from the server. If games aren't showing, pull down to refresh on the History tab. If you just subscribed, allow a few seconds for the initial sync to complete.

Subscription and Billing​

I subscribed to Plus but I still see ads​

After subscribing, the app needs to verify your subscription status. Pull down to refresh or sign out from Settings and sign back in. If you subscribed on Android through Google Play and ads persist after re-signing, tap "Restore Purchases" in Settings. Ensure you're signed in with the same Google account used for the subscription.

How do I restore my Plus or Pro subscription after reinstalling?​

Go to Settings and tap Restore Purchases. The app checks your Google Play account for active subscriptions and restores the correct tier. Make sure you're signed in with the same account that has the active subscription.

How do I cancel my Plus or Pro subscription?​

Subscriptions are managed by Google Play. Go to Google Play → Subscriptions → Big Bad Words and cancel. Your Plus or Pro access continues until the end of the current billing period.

Offline Play​

The game says "Offline" but I have a network connection​

The "Offline" indicator appears when the app cannot reach the server — which can happen with slow or unreliable connections even when your device shows signal. Local solo and pass-and-play games work fully without any network. If you need online play to work, check your connection quality and retry.

Contacting Support​

Go to Settings and tap Report a Bug. Include your device model (e.g., Samsung Galaxy S24), Android version, and the steps that led to the issue. For subscription billing issues, contact Google Play Support directly — Edgeless Media does not process those payments.

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