Frequently Asked Questions
How do the two phases work?
Phase 1 (Letter Phase): read the clues, fill in answers by placing letters from the alphabetized pool. Correct words lock in green. Once you've solved all of them, you move to Phase 2 (Build Phase): drag your solved words onto the empty grid so they form a valid crossword — they must intersect at matching letters, can't form any fake words at crossings, and must all connect into a single group.
How does the hint system work?
You start with 20 hints, and one regenerates every 24 hours. In Phase 1, one hint reveals a word's letters. In Phase 2, hints reveal word orientations — except on Expert, which has no hints at all. Need more? You can buy a pack of 10 Hints in the store.
Why am I capped at 3 puzzles per day?
The daily limit creates a daily rhythm — like Wordle. You get 3 puzzles per rolling 24-hour window, and the oldest completion expires after 24 hours so a new slot frees up. If you want to play without limits, the Unlimited Puzzles one-time purchase removes the cap entirely.
I bought Unlimited Puzzles on another device. How do I restore?
Open the app, go to Settings or the Store screen, and tap "Restore Purchases". Make sure you're signed into the App Store with the same Apple ID you used for the original purchase. Restore works for the non-consumable Unlimited Puzzles purchase; the consumable 10 Hints packs can't be restored — they're one-time-use by design.
How do I select and move a whole word group in Phase 2?
Double-tap or long-press (about 0.75 seconds) any word that's connected to others on the grid. The whole connected group will lift so you can drag it as a unit. The helper text above the grid reminds you of this in-game.
What happens on Hard mode at the 5th-hint cap?
Hard mode gives you one hint per word orientation, capped at 5 hints per puzzle. When you go to use your 5th hint, you'll be offered a choice: spend it on just that one word, or use it as the "intercept" — reveal all remaining word orientations for that one hint. It's a smart trade-off if you're stuck on the layout.
Is my data private?
Yes. CrossWeave doesn't require an account and doesn't collect personal data. Your puzzle history and stats stay on your device. We do send an anonymous heartbeat ping when you play a puzzle (no IP stored, just country code) so we can see aggregate usage. See the Privacy Policy for full details.
Does CrossWeave work on iPad?
Yes! CrossWeave is a universal app that runs on iPhone and iPad. It's mobile-first in design but works great on the bigger iPad canvas too.