Wordle on the iPhone: How to play, install, and win

People are going crazy over Wordle, the simple word game created by Josh Wardle. But you won’t find it in the App Store—Wordle is easily accessible on the web, but the Wordle copycats that came out on the App Store and were eventually taken down by Apple show that people want to install it on their phones.

The New York Times bought Wordle from Josh Wardle, who was paid “in the low seven figures” to bring Wordle into The Times’ catalog of games including Spelling Bee and The New York Times Crossword app. The Times operates a separate subscription app for its games but has thus far kept Wordle as a free web app.

It’s unclear how long it will stay web-based and free, but until the NYT changes it, there is a way to get the Wordle app for free on your home screen—it involves using a feature that’s long been in iOS, save a web page to your home screen. It’s really easy to make, and once you do, the Wordle icon will appear on your home screen and in your App Library and function just like an app.

One caveat about creating the Wordle web app: if you’ve already been playing via Safari, your current streak won’t carry over to the web app, just as if you started playing on a new device. So you’ll have to start a new one.

Updated 5/9/22.

Wordle: What’s different with the New York Times’ version

For the most part, the NYT has kept Wordle the same. You still only play once a day and the rules are the same, but some “obscene… incentive or offensive” words have been removed from the dictionary, including SLAVE, WENCH, and the British spelling of FIBRE. Also, on May 8, the New York Times changed the original Wordle word of the day (FETUS) as it was “closely connected to a major recent news event.”

Wordle: How to save the web game as an app

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open Safari and go to https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html (previously https://www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/).
2. Tap the Share button, which is the rectangle with the arrow pointing upward.
3. On the Share screen, look for Add to Home Screen and tap it.
4. On the next screen, you can rename Wordle if you want. You can also look at the URL to make sure it’s correct (https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html).
5. Tap Add and the Wordle icon will appear on your Home Screen.

IDG

When you’re ready to play (or when you can, since there’s only one Wordle game per day), you can just tap the “T” icon on your Home Screen and the game will launch. Good luck!

Wordle: How to load a new game

If you launch the Wordle web app on a new day and a new game didn’t load, the NYT version of the game has a reload button in the upper right corner. It’s the counter-clockwise circle arrow. Tap it to reload the game. If that doesn’t work, try relaunching the app. Don’t worry about your streak—it will be maintained.

Wordle: How to improve your scores with WordleBot

If you’ve been playing Wordle without cheating (good for you!) but you feel like you need feedback on how your results compare to others playing game (besides a cursory inventory of posted scores on your Twitter feed), The New York Times now has WordleBot, a bot that can analyze your daily Wordle.

To use the WordleBot, play Wordle, and then visit https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/upshot/wordle-bot.html in the same browser and device you played in. Or you can take a screenshot of your game, visit that same link, and then upload the image to the site.

Foundry

WordleBot then takes your results and lets you know how you did against the average of scores the NYTs has collected. You can use the results to help guide your Wordle strategy, such as how you pick starting words. Or, in a competitive set of gamers, you can use WordleBot scores to differentiate each other’s results. Or you can simply use the results to pat yourself on the back or make yourself feel dumb—that’s the beauty of statistics, it’s all in the interpretation.

Wordle: Tips on winning every day

The Wordle game is extremely easy to play but difficult to master. You’re given six chances to guess a five-letter word, with each correct guess getting you closer. Letters turn yellow when they’re in the word but the wrong spot and green when they’re in the correct spot. Here are some tips:

1. Pick a word with common but non-duplicating letters to start, like STRAP, CRANE, or STARE.
2. Pay attention to where letters fall and try not to waste guesses with letters that are obviously wrong.
3. Letters can be used twice—like Game 251’s answer, VIVID. So don’t discount a letter just because it’s in the right spot.
4. If you are at your fifth guess and are stuck, try making a word with as many of the unused letters as you can. The guess will obviously be wrong, but it will help you either eliminate letters or find one of the ones you’re missing.

Wordle: How to cheat

No, we’re not advocates for cheating in a game that we enjoy, but maybe you just need a little help. Or maybe you’re tired of seeing Wordle scores on social media and you want to post a few “high” scores of your own to get back at them. Whatever your reason, we’re not here to judge, we’re just here to direct you to an article and video by our sister publication, PCWorld, on how to cheat at Wordle.

Google’s tribute to Wordle

This Google Easter egg will make you smile. All you need to do is type “Wordle” into the Google search field (or the address field on your iPhone or Mac if you have Google set as your search engine) and press Return. The Google logo at the top will turn into a mini Wordle in tribute to the game. It’s cute, so check it out!