Support & FAQ

Last updated: 2 September 2026

Frequently asked questions

How do I play online with a friend?

Open Play online. Your room code is at the top — share it and your friend can invite you — or scroll to Friends, enter your friend's code and tap Invite. They get a prompt with a 30-second countdown, and the game starts as soon as they tap Play. They need the app open to receive it.

What does a room code look like?

A short word, a dash and four digits, like NANG-3184 or MIA-4827. Yours stays the same from game to game and is shown at the top of the Play online screen; a tap copies it. Input is forgiving: lowercase, a missing dash or stray spaces all still work.

Why did my game count as a loss when I disconnected?

When your connection drops, the server keeps the match running and the app reconnects on its own. Get back in before the game ends and you continue where you left off. If the connection is not restored in time, the game is recorded as a loss — the same as running out the clock — so nobody can dodge a lost position by pulling the plug.

How do I change the theme or the language?

Settings → Theme offers Neon Ink, Paper & Ink and Retro Arcade; all three are free and the change is instant. Language is under Settings → Language: English, Vietnamese or your device's language. Everything is translated, not just the menus.

Which rules does the game use? Why didn't my six in a row win?

By default the game plays Vietnamese caro rules: exactly five wins, six or more does not, and a five blocked at both ends does not count either. For freestyle, open Settings → Rules, turn on "Six or more wins" and turn off "Blocked at both ends does not win". Board size, win length and the turn timer live there too. Rule changes apply to new games.

How do I link my Google or Apple account, and why?

Go to Settings → Account and tap Link Google or Link Apple. You play anonymously by default, so without a link your player code and Elo rating live only on this phone. Linking ties them to your Google or Apple identity so they survive a new phone or a reinstall. Nothing else changes.

How do I delete my data?

Everything on your device — match history, replays, puzzle progress, settings — goes when you uninstall the app. Your code, rating and match results on the game server are deleted on request: email contact@gomoku.com from the address you linked, or include your nickname and roughly when you last played. Requests are handled within 30 days.

How do I contact support?

Email contact@gomoku.com with your nickname, your phone model and OS version, and what you were doing when the problem happened; a screenshot helps. It is a one-person project, so a reply can take a day or two.