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Apple Games

How to play with friends in the Apple Games app on iPad

by Chris Smith

With the Apple Games app, you can send friend requests, compete on leaderboards, and play with friends during a FaceTime call.

Supported games with Game Center leaderboards let you challenge friends for a high score or a specific goal, and you choose the number of tries and how long it lasts. You can also use AirDrop to invite friends.

Here’s how to play with friends in the Apple Games app on iPad.

Challenge friends

Supported games with Game Center leaderboards let you create a challenge and compete with friends for a high score or specific goal. A challenge turns single-player games into friendly showdowns, with a shared competition within your group. You pick the game and the friends you’d like to invite. Everyone’s results are yours to track as they complete the challenge.

  1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Friends, then tap Challenge Your Friends.
  3. Select a game and then choose any of the following options:
    • Number of tries: Tap 1 Try, 3 Tries, or Unlimited.
    • Challenge duration: Tap 1 Day, 3 Days, or 1 Week.
    • Add Players: Tap Players, search for a contact or a friend’s Game Center nickname and select the player. Then tap Continue.
  4. Tap Start.

To leave a challenge, select the game, tap the More button, tap Leave Challenge, then tap Leave Challenge again.

Play games with friends during FaceTime calls

You can find and download games in the App Store that support multiplayer gaming with Game Center during a FaceTime call using SharePlay. During the call, open a supported multiplayer game, tap Start SharePlay, then follow the onscreen instructions. See Use SharePlay to watch, listen, and play together in FaceTime.

FaceTime’s screen sharing feature also lets you play any game while on a call. Read our guide, Share your screen in a FaceTime call.

Use AirDrop to invite people to a multiplayer game

To invite nearby friends to multiplayer games that support Game Center, use AirDrop.

  1. Open the game you want to play on your iPad.
  2. Go to the screen where you invite friends.
  3. Hold the display of your iPad a few centimeters from the top of the other person’s iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch.

    A glow emerges from both devices to indicate a connection is being made.

  4. Continue holding your devices near each other until the game appears on the other person’s screen.

See also

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How to set up your Game Center profile in the Apple Games app on iPad

by Emily Long

Game Center is Apple’s social gaming service that lets you connect with friends, track and compare scores and achievements, compete with other players in challenges, and invite friends to multiplayer games.

In the Apple Games app, you can personalize your Game Center profile with an avatar and a nickname your friends will see, and choose who can see your game activity. You can edit your profile later, too, and manage who can connect with you.

Note: You can’t use the Apple Games app unless you’re signed in to your Apple Account.

Set up your Game Center profile

  1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Continue and tap Continue again.
  3. Do the following to customize your player profile:
    • Choose your avatar: Tap the Edit button and select an avatar.
    • Create a nickname: To choose a nickname that your friends will see when you play games together, tap Nickname. Then enter a name or choose one of the suggestions.
    • Choose who can see your game activity: Tap an option.
  4. Tap Continue.

You can also set up your Game Center profile by going to the Settings app, then tapping Game Center. Turn on Game Center, then customize your player profile.

Edit your Game Center profile

  1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPad.
  2. Tap your avatar in the top-right corner. Then tap Edit Profile.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Edit your avatar: Tap the Edit button and select an avatar. Then tap the Done button.
    • Edit your nickname: Tap your current nickname, enter a name or choose one of the suggestions, and then tap the Done button.
  4. When you’re finished, tap the Done button.

You can also edit your Game Center profile by going to the Settings app, tapping Game Center, then tapping Customize Profile.

See also

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How to change game-related settings on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

You can customize your gaming experience on iPhone by changing settings for the Apple Games app and Game Center. These settings let you control notifications, friend requests, multiplayer gaming, and content restrictions.

In Game Center, you can choose who sees your profile, achievement progress, and recently played games: Everyone, Friends Only, or Only You. You can also let nearby players in the same game invite you to a multiplayer game over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth®.

Change Apple Games app settings

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps and tap Games. Then do any of the following:
    • Show or hide relevant content by combining your gaming activity: Turn on Combine Gaming Activity.
    • Reset the identifier used to report Games usage statistics to Apple: Tap Reset Identifier.

Change Game Center settings

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Game Center, then do any of the following:
    • View friends: Tap All Friends.
    • Accept or decline friend requests: Tap Friend Requests.
    • Allow or disallow apps to access your list of Game Center friends: Tap Share Friends List, then turn Share Friends List on or off.
    • Allow Game Center friends to find you with the email and phone number associated with your Apple Account: Turn on Help Friends Find You.
    • Manage activity sharing: Choose Everyone, Friends Only, or Only You to specify who can see your profile, achievement progress, leaderboard updates, and recently played games.
    • Allow invitations from nearby players: Turn on Nearby Players to allow nearby Game Center players in the same game to invite you to a multiplayer game over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth®.
    • Sign out of Game Center: Tap Sign Out.

Change Game Center restrictions

Game Center restrictions can limit features like in-app purchases, multiplayer games, and friend requests, for a safer, more controlled gaming experience.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Screen Time, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, and turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  3. Tap App Store, Media, Web & Games, scroll down to Game Center, and then set any of the following restrictions:
    • Multiplayer Games
    • Adding Friends
    • Connect with Friends
    • Screen Recording
    • Nearby Multiplayer
    • Private Messaging
    • Profile Privacy Changes
    • Avatar & Nickname Changes
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How to find and download games in the Apple Games app on iPhone

by Tyler Stephen

In the Apple Games app, you can find your next game across dozens of categories including action, adventure, racing, puzzles, and more.

You can explore new releases, see top charts, or get personalized suggestions, and browse the curated collection of games from Apple Arcade, which requires a subscription but comes without ads or in-app purchases. You can also search for a specific game.

Here’s how to find and download games in the Apple Games app on iPhone.

Note: Game Center, Apple Arcade, and Apple One aren’t available in all countries or regions. The availability of Apple Arcade games across devices varies based on hardware and software compatibility. Some content may not be available in all areas.

Browse or search for games

  1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • Explore new releases, see top charts, or get personalized suggestions: Tap Home.
    • View the curated collection of games from Apple Arcade (subscription required) without ads or in-app purchases: Tap Arcade.
    • Search or browse: Tap the Search button, browse by category or enter what you’re looking for. Then tap the Search button on the onscreen keyboard.
  3. Select a game to see information such as ratings, game controller support, leaderboards, achievements, and more.

To see additional information like reviews and privacy information, tap View in App Store.

Download or buy a game

  1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Go to the game you want and tap the price. If the game is free, tap Get.

    If you see the Redownload button instead of the price or Get, you purchased this game before. Tap the Redownload button to download it again for free.

  3. If required, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to complete your purchase.

Purchases are charged to the payment method associated with your Apple Account.

In a Family Sharing group, a child may need to ask permission before buying or downloading games.

Play a game

  1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • Play a downloaded game: Tap Library and then tap Play next to the game you want to play.
    • Continue a game: Tap Home, then tap the game in the Continue Playing section.

Quit a game

To quit a game, open the App Switcher, swipe right to find the game, then swipe up on the game.

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How to view and manage your game library in the Apple Games app on iPhone

by Tyler Stephen

In the Apple Games app, you can browse Apple Arcade titles, view your downloaded games, check in-game events, and track your achievements in your library. You can also sort and filter your games to quickly find what you’re looking for.

You can see recent updates for a game, and delete a game you no longer play.

Here’s how to view and manage your game library in the Apple Games app on iPhone.

Note: Apple Arcade and Apple One aren’t available in all countries or regions.

View and organize your games

  1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Library, then do any of the following:
    • Browse your games: Scroll through the list of games under Your Games.
    • Sort your games: Tap the Filter button. Choose a sort option (Recent Games, Name, or Size).
    • Filter your games: Tap the Filter button and then choose a filter option to show specific games (On This iPhone, Apple Arcade, Friends Playing, Controller Support, Support Challenge, or Categories). To clear a filter, tap the Filter button and then tap Clear Filter.

Quick tip: Select the On This iPhone filter, and you’ll see only the games currently installed on your iPhone.

See in-game events or recent updates

  1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Library and then tap Events.
  3. Select the game you want to see in-game events or updates for.

Events and updates also appear when you search for a game, or on its game page in the Home or Search tab.

Check your achievements for a game

For supported games, you can track your Game Center achievements, check your progress, and see which goals you’ve completed.

  1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Library, then tap Achievements.
  3. To organize your achievements, tap the Filter button. Choose an option.
  4. Select the game you want to check achievements for.

Browse Apple Arcade games

You can also browse Apple Arcade games in your Library if you subscribe to Apple Arcade or to Apple One.

  1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Library, then tap Apple Arcade.
  3. Tap the Filter button, then do any of the following:
    • Turn Show Previews on or off.
    • Sort games by Release Date, Last Updated, Name, or Category.
    • Filter games by Controller Support, Multiplayer, or Age Ratings.

Delete a game

To free up space on your iPhone, delete games directly in the Apple Games app.

  1. Open the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Library.
  3. Touch and hold the game you want to delete. Tap Delete Game.
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How to subscribe to Apple Arcade in the Apple Games app on iPhone

by Abigail Shilets

In the Apple Games app, you can subscribe to Apple Arcade to enjoy unlimited access to a curated collection of games on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV 4K.

You can subscribe to Apple Arcade or to Apple One, which includes Apple Arcade and other services. You can also share Apple Arcade with family members, and change or cancel your Apple Arcade subscription. And you can play Apple Arcade games on your other Apple devices.

Note: Apple Arcade and Apple One aren’t available in all countries or regions. The availability of Apple Arcade games across devices varies based on hardware and software compatibility. Not all Apple Arcade games are available on Mac and Apple TV 4K. Some content may not be available in all areas.

Subscribe to Apple Arcade

  1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Arcade and tap the subscription button.
  3. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Share Apple Arcade with family members

When you subscribe to Apple Arcade or Apple One, you can share Apple Arcade with up to five other family members through Family Sharing.

Members of your family group don’t have to do anything. Once your subscription begins, Apple Arcade shows up for them the first time they open the Apple Games app.

Already subscribed and joining a family group that subscribes to Apple Arcade or Apple One? Your subscription isn’t renewed on your next billing date, and you use the group’s subscription instead. If the family group you join doesn’t subscribe, it uses your subscription.

Note: To stop sharing Apple Arcade with a family group, you have three options. You can cancel the subscription or leave the family group, and if you’re the family group organizer, you can stop using Family Sharing.

Play Apple Arcade games on your Apple devices

If you subscribe to Apple Arcade, you can access your game progress and play on every compatible device that’s signed in to the same Apple Account.

Change or cancel your Apple Arcade subscription

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap your name and then tap Subscriptions.
  3. Tap Apple Arcade or Apple One and then follow the onscreen instructions.

Cancel your subscription, and you can’t play any Apple Arcade games, even ones you downloaded to your device.

If you want to play Apple Arcade games again and get your gameplay data back, you can resubscribe. Wait too long, though, and some gameplay data may not be supported once you resubscribe.

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How to connect with friends in the Apple Games app on iPhone

by Emily Long

It’s more fun to play games with friends. In the Apple Games app, you can invite friends, see friend requests, and more.

You can also add a friend from their contact card in the Contacts app, see your friends’ recent activity, and report a user or remove a friend. When you get a friend request, there are several ways to respond.

Here’s how to connect with friends in the Apple Games app on iPhone.

Add friends

  1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Friends, then tap the Invite Icons button.
  3. Find a contact by entering their name and tap Invite.
  4. Tap the Send button to send the invitation using the Messages app.

You can also add a friend in the Contacts app. Open their contact card, then tap Add Friend on Game Center.

Respond to friend requests

When a contact sends you a friend request in the Apple Games app, you can respond from a few different places:

  • In the Apple Games app: Tap your avatar, then tap Friend Requests.
  • In the Messages app: Tap the friend request link.
  • In the Settings app: Tap Game Center, then tap Friend Requests.

See your friends’ recent activity

Besides sending friends invite links and party codes, you can see their shared gaming history and compare achievements.

  1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Friends.
  3. In Friends & Groups, scroll down to see your friends’ recent activity.

You can also see your friends’ profiles and recent activity by going to the Settings app, tapping Game Center, then tapping All Friends.

Report a user or remove a friend

If a user is cheating or has an inappropriate picture or nickname, or there’s another problem, you can report them. And you can remove someone from your Friends list.

  1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap your avatar and then tap All Friends.
  3. Tap the friend you want to report or remove and tap the More button. Choose Report Friend or Remove Friend.
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How to report a problem with a game in the Apple Games app on iPhone

by Dave Johnson

You can report a problem with a game that you downloaded from the Apple Games app on your iPhone. You can also request a refund. Both start on the Report a Problem website, where you’ll use your Apple Account and follow the onscreen instructions.

  1. On your iPhone, go to the Report a Problem website. Sign in to your Apple Account.
  2. Tap I’d like to and then choose an option from the pop-up menu.
  3. Follow the onscreen instructions.
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