Technical support
Let’s get the machine moving.
Most problems have a simple cause. Start with the quick answers below, search for a phrase, or send us the details and we’ll take a look.
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First moves
Start here
Three steps are enough to understand the machine. The first ten campaign levels teach the rest as you go.
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Read the board
Find the pawn, the golden goal marker, and the gates between them. Circuit lines hint at which switches belong together.
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Activate a tile
Tap a Mahjong tile to use its switch. Red and Green Dragons open matching gates; Winds change direction and state.
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Move the pawn
Tap any illuminated, reachable floor cell. The pawn finds a safe shortest route through gates that are currently open.
Common questions
How do I play Mahjong Switch?
Tap a Mahjong tile to activate its effect, then tap an illuminated, reachable floor cell to move the pawn. Your aim is to reach the golden goal marker.
Every tile is a switch that changes part of the machine — a gate, a counter, a rotating bridge, or a timer. The challenge is working out which tile to use and in what order.
What do the different Mahjong tiles do?
- Dragons. Red and Green open matching circuits. White clears normal gates.
- Winds. East and South power regions. West resets. North reverses.
- Numbered suits. Numbered tiles add their face value to a counter; number gates require exact values.
- Suit axes. Bamboo rises, Circles rotate, Characters slide.
Later chapters add chain reactions, pressure plates, conveyors, portals, timed circuits, and hidden rules. The in-game MANUAL on the main menu lists each mechanic as it unlocks.
Is there a tutorial?
Yes. Levels 1–10 include contextual guidance that appears as each new idea is introduced. You can replay early levels at any time without erasing progress.
For a reference at any point, open MANUAL from the main menu. Entries unlock as you reach the chapter that introduces them.
Does the game work without an internet connection?
Yes. All levels, saves, achievements, and modes are stored and generated on your device. You can play the entire campaign, Daily, Challenge, and Endless modes offline.
The only online feature is the optional leaderboard. If you finish a level offline, the score is queued and submitted automatically the next time the app launches with a connection, or the next time you complete a level.
What game modes are included?
- Campaign. 200 handcrafted levels across ten chapters, with three stars per level.
- Daily. One generated machine per calendar day, with a consecutive-day streak.
- Challenge. Campaign machines with a modifier such as limited activations, a time limit, no reset, no undo, blind circuits, or reversed switches. Unlocks after 20 campaign boards are solved.
- Endless. A run of generated machines; each completion moves you to the next and raises your current streak. Unlocks after 40 campaign boards are solved.
Choose a mode from MODES on the main menu. RANKINGS opens the leaderboard browser.
Which devices are supported?
Mahjong Switch is designed for iPhone in portrait orientation and requires iOS 15.0 or later. It is an English-language game.
The interface uses large tap targets and a fixed game board rather than system text size. Comfort options are available under Settings.
The rules in practice
Gameplay
How are stars and scores calculated?
Three stars require solving the machine at or below its minimum action count, with no hints used. Each reset counts as two actions.
Two stars are awarded when you solve it at or below the recommended action count. Any other completion earns one star.
Your score is separate from stars. It rewards completion and a clean sequence, then adds a time bonus and subtracts penalties for mistakes, resets, and hints. Replaying a solved level is the easiest way to remove exploratory presses.
Why did a tile do nothing when I tapped it?
A switch can be inactive for several reasons: its dependency has not been satisfied, it has already used all of its charges, it is cooling down, or its effect is conditional on another part of the machine.
Look for illuminated circuit lines and changed gate symbols. If the board is hiding its rules, a progressive hint can reveal the relationship without giving away the full solution.
What is the difference between Undo and Reset?
Undo steps back to the previous state so you can test an idea. The level timer keeps running.
Reset returns the machine and the clock to their starting state. It also counts as a reset against your score and adds two actions to the star calculation. Some Challenge modifiers disable one or both.
How do hints work?
Hints are progressive: each tap reveals a little more, from a nudge toward the right subsystem to a clearer instruction. They never skip the puzzle for you.
Using a hint adds a score penalty and prevents three stars for that attempt. If you prefer a cleaner screen, turn off Hint Reminders in Settings to hide the hint control during play.
What do the Challenge modifiers mean?
- Limited activations. You may use only a set number of switches.
- Timed. The machine must be solved before the clock runs out. Opening the pause menu freezes puzzle timers.
- No reset / No undo. The corresponding control is unavailable for that attempt.
- Blind. Circuit lines and some labels are hidden until a hint reveals them.
- Reverse. Switch behavior is inverted.
Challenge unlocks after 20 campaign boards are solved. Each base level and modifier combination has its own leaderboard.
How does the Daily puzzle work?
The Daily machine is generated from the calendar date on your device, so it stays the same all day and changes the next day. Completing it records the day’s best stars and score.
Completing a Daily on consecutive calendar days builds your Daily streak. Replaying the same day’s puzzle can improve your score but does not count the day twice.
How does Endless mode work?
Endless generates a new machine each time you solve one. Your current streak is the number of generated machines you have completed in that run, and your best streak is kept separately.
Endless unlocks after 40 campaign boards are solved. Every streak has its own leaderboard, so a long run has its own ranking.
Saves and streaks
Progress & saves
Where is my progress stored?
Campaign stars, unlocked levels, achievements, mode streaks, and settings are saved locally on your iPhone. They are not uploaded to a game account and are not stored in iCloud.
Leaderboard scores are the only game data that leaves your device, and only when you use the optional rankings feature.
My progress disappeared. What happened?
Local progress can be erased by deleting the app, using Reset Campaign, or restoring the device without a backup that contains the app’s data. It can also be lost if iOS clears an app’s storage under extreme storage pressure.
There is no cloud save to restore from, so we cannot recover a lost local save. If you did not reset or delete anything, email us with your iPhone model, iOS version, app version, and roughly what was lost; we can help narrow it down.
Does progress sync between devices?
No. There is no game account and no cloud save, so progress belongs to one device. Moving to a new iPhone starts a fresh local save.
Leaderboard scores are the exception: if your anonymous profile is still stored in the device Keychain — for example after a normal restore or reinstall — those scores can remain visible on the leaderboard. That does not restore campaign progress.
How do I reset my campaign?
Open SETTINGS from the main menu, choose RESET CAMPAIGN, and confirm. This removes campaign stars, level records, achievements, and mode streaks.
Your settings preferences are preserved. The reset is immediate and cannot be undone. It does not delete leaderboard scores, which are described below.
Will reinstalling the app delete my progress?
Yes, local campaign progress is removed when the app is deleted. Reinstalling starts the game from a fresh save.
Your anonymous leaderboard identity may survive a reinstall because iOS keeps Keychain items after uninstalling an app, but this is not guaranteed. It does not restore stars, achievements, or streaks.
Rankings, without an account
Leaderboards
Rankings are optional. The game never asks for a name, email address, or password.
Do I need an account to use leaderboards?
No. The first time you open a leaderboard or finish a ranked level, the app creates an anonymous profile and stores its random ID and secret token in your device’s Keychain.
There is no sign-in, no email address, no password, and no way to link the profile to your real identity.
How is my display name chosen?
Names are generated by the leaderboard service in the form Player-XXXX, using part of a random profile ID. They cannot be customized.
Automatic names keep personal information off public leaderboards and prevent impersonation.
Why isn’t my score on the leaderboard?
Check these in order:
- Only your best counts. A lower score will not replace an existing better score on the same board.
- You may have been offline. Offline submissions are queued and retried when the app launches with a connection, or when you next complete a level. Queued entries older than 21 days are discarded.
- The entry may have failed validation. The server rejects scores, action counts, or times that are impossible for the level.
- The leaderboard may show a cached page. Leave the board and open it again to reload the list.
- Your profile may have changed. If the app had to create a new anonymous profile, the new score appears under a new display name while older scores remain under the old one.
If the score still does not appear after a day, email us with the display name shown next to it, the board, and the approximate time.
Do all of my attempts appear?
No. Each profile keeps one row per board: your personal best. A higher score replaces the previous entry; a lower score is discarded. Ties do not overwrite the stored entry.
The leaderboard sorts by score first and uses completion time as the tie-breaker.
Why did I get a new display name?
A new profile is created if the stored token is missing or no longer recognized — for example after erasing the device, moving to a new iPhone, or a server-side reset.
The app recovers automatically by registering again, rather than losing the score. The previous profile and its scores remain on the leaderboard but cannot be merged, transferred, or recovered.
How do I delete my leaderboard data?
Email support@retabuc.cc with the subject Leaderboard deletion request. Include your display name (for example, Player-C7AA), one board where you appear, and the approximate date.
We will delete the anonymous profile and all of its leaderboard entries. Deletion is permanent; the profile cannot be recovered or merged into a new one. There is currently no in-app delete button.
This does not reset progress on your device. Use Reset Campaign for that.
Are scores verified?
Yes. The service compares each submission with bounds derived from the level data: a minimum number of actions, a minimum plausible time, and a theoretical maximum score. Impossible entries are rejected.
There are no rewards, purchases, or prizes tied to rankings, so validation is about keeping boards meaningful rather than policing players.
Why won’t the leaderboard load?
Leaderboards are the only part of the game that needs a network connection. Check that your iPhone has a working connection, then leave the board and open it again.
Gameplay is unaffected while the service is unavailable, and any completed scores are queued for later. If the rankings screen fails on a working connection for more than a short while, email us with the board name and your display name.
Comfort and feedback
Audio, display & accessibility
I can’t hear any sound.
Open SETTINGS from the main menu and confirm that Sound Effects is on. Then check the iPhone volume and the Ring/Silent switch on the side of the device.
If you are using headphones or Bluetooth, confirm the audio route in Control Center. Sound returns when the next screen or switch is used.
How do I turn off haptics?
Open SETTINGS and turn off Haptic Feedback. Haptics also stop when iOS is in Low Power Mode or when system haptics are disabled.
What accessibility options are available?
- Reduced Motion shortens transitions and restrains animated effects.
- High Contrast strengthens outlines and brightens labels.
- Hint Reminders shows or hides the hint control during play.
- Left-Handed HUD moves the primary controls to the left side.
The game does not currently include VoiceOver-specific board narration. If a particular element is difficult to see, email us with a screenshot and your iPhone model — specific reports are the most useful kind.
Can I play one-handed?
Yes. The game is portrait-only, and Left-Handed HUD in Settings moves the primary controls to the left so they sit under your thumb.
All board actions are taps, with no dragging or precise gestures required.
Why did a display change only apply to new screens?
Reduced Motion and High Contrast are applied when a scene is built. A change may therefore take effect when you leave Settings and open the next screen or restart the current level.
Sound and haptic changes apply immediately.
Data and purchases
Privacy & purchases
The full detail lives in the Privacy Policy. These are the short answers.
Does the game have ads or in-app purchases?
No. Mahjong Switch has no advertising, no in-app purchases, no subscriptions, and no paid unlocks. All 200 campaign levels and every mode are included.
What data does Mahjong Switch collect?
Three categories, and only one is personal in any sense:
- On your device: campaign progress, stars, achievements, streaks, and settings. These stay local.
- Leaderboard: an anonymous profile ID, a hashed secret token, a generated display name, and your score entries.
- Product analytics: app events and limited device/app information, collected through AppsFlyer to help us understand progress and improve the game.
We do not collect your name, email address, phone number, contacts, photos, precise location, or advertising identifier for cross-app tracking. The Privacy Policy explains each category, its purpose, and your choices.
Can I turn off analytics?
There is currently no in-app analytics switch. Email support@retabuc.cc with the subject Analytics opt-out and we will honor the request where applicable.
You can also limit tracking at the system level in Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking. Mahjong Switch does not use the advertising identifier (IDFA) for cross-app tracking.
Is the game suitable for children?
Mahjong Switch is a quiet puzzle game with no chat, no user-generated content, no ads, and no purchases. It is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them.
If a child has used the leaderboard and you would like the anonymous profile removed, email us and we will delete it.
Before you write
A five-minute checklist
These steps resolve most reports. They are also the first things we will ask you to try.
- Update iOS and the app. Open the App Store, search for Mahjong Switch, and install any available update.
- Force quit and reopen. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, pause in the app switcher, and swipe Mahjong Switch away. Then open it again.
- Check your connection — only for rankings. Gameplay and saves are local. If rankings fail, try Wi-Fi, then mobile data.
- Revisit the relevant setting. Sound, haptics, reduced motion, contrast, hint visibility, and left-handed controls all live under SETTINGS.
- Confirm you have free storage. iOS needs room to write save data. Check Settings → General → iPhone Storage.
- Reinstall only as a last resort. Deleting the app erases local campaign progress, stars, achievements, and streaks. There is no cloud save to restore.
- Still broken? Write to us. Include your iPhone model, iOS version, app version (1.0), what you expected, and what happened. A screenshot helps.
Contact support
We read every message.
Send us the details below and we’ll get back to you by email. For a leaderboard issue, include the display name shown beside your score. For a privacy request, put “Privacy request” in the subject.
- Support is provided by email, in English.
- We aim to reply within a few business days.
- Never send passwords or payment details. There are no purchases to discuss.
- Privacy requests and leaderboard deletions are handled by the same address.