Searching for the "Wordle link"? Here it is, plain and simple: the official link to play Wordle is nytimes.com/games/wordle, where the daily word puzzle has lived since The New York Times bought it from creator Josh Wardle in January 2022. This guide covers the real link, how to save and share it, and — just as important — how to avoid the fake Wordle apps and scam sites still trying to charge you for a free game.
The Official Wordle Link
The one and only official Wordle link is:
https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle
That is where the genuine daily puzzle lives. It is free to play, runs entirely in your web browser, and needs no download or account — although signing in with a free NYT account lets you sync your stats and streak across devices (commandlinux.com).
A quick history for context: Josh Wardle, a software engineer, built Wordle in late 2021 as a private game for his partner before releasing it publicly that October. It exploded through January 2022, and the Times acquired it at the end of that month, moving it to the NYT Games section where it sits alongside the Crossword, Spelling Bee and Connections.
Why There Is No Official Wordle App
This surprises many searchers: there is no official Wordle mobile app, and there never has been. The real game is browser-only. If you see an app called "Wordle" in an app store, it is not the official game.
That confusion once turned into an outright scam wave. In January 2022, as Wordle mania peaked, copycat developers flooded the App Store with paid clones — the most notorious being "Wordle – The App" by developer Zach Shakked, which copied Wardle's game and charged a $30-per-year "Pro" subscription for unlimited play. After a social-media backlash, Apple confirmed it had removed the blatant clones from the App Store on January 11–12, 2022 (Engadget; Kotaku).
The lesson still applies today: never pay for a Wordle app. The official game is free at the link above. Any app charging you for "Wordle Pro" or "Wordle Unlimited Premium" is trading on the name.
How to Save the Wordle Link
Once you have the real link, make it effortless to reach every day:
- Bookmark it. In Chrome, Safari or Edge, bookmark nytimes.com/games/wordle and put the bookmark on your bookmarks bar for one-click access.
- Add it to your home screen. On iPhone: open the link in Safari, tap Share, then "Add to Home Screen." On Android: open it in Chrome, tap the menu, then "Add to Home screen." You get an app-like icon that opens the real game — no App Store needed.
- Pin the tab. Desktop players can pin the Wordle tab so it is always there when the browser opens.
- Set a daily reminder. The puzzle resets at midnight local time; a phone reminder keeps your streak alive.
Sharing Your Wordle Results
Part of Wordle's magic is the shareable emoji grid. After you finish (or fail) a puzzle, tap the Share button and the game copies a spoiler-free grid of 🟩🟨⬛ squares to your clipboard — no letters revealed, just your path to the answer. Paste it into WhatsApp, X, or your group chat. That little grid became a global ritual in early 2022 and is still going strong.
Custom Wordle Links: Make Your Own Puzzle
Want to challenge a friend with your own word? Custom Wordle makers let you generate a personal Wordle link with any word you choose. One well-known tool is thewordfinder.com/wordlemaker, which encodes your chosen word into a shareable link — community groups have used it for everything from classroom vocabulary games to themed event puzzles (seen in the wild via National Health Ethics Week materials). Send the link, and your friend gets a full Wordle-style game built around your word.
Playing Wordle More Than Once a Day
The official link gives you exactly one puzzle per day — that scarcity is the point. If you finish in two minutes and want more, you have honest options:
- Play in incognito/private mode for an extra attempt at the daily puzzle without disturbing your main streak.
- Try Wordle variants — the spin-off universe (Quordle, Octordle, Heardle and hundreds more) exists precisely because one puzzle a day is never enough. Browse our daily puzzle games roundup for honest options.
- Use archive sites to play through months of past official puzzles.
Common Wordle Link Mistakes to Avoid
- Paying for a "Wordle app". The official game is free and browser-only. Any app charging a subscription for "Wordle Pro" is trading on the name.
- Trusting lookalike URLs. Copycat sites imitate the official page to serve ads or phish. Only nytimes.com/games/wordle is the genuine daily puzzle.
- Never bookmarking it. Searching "wordle link" daily invites typos that land you on clones. Bookmark the real link once and use it every day.
- Confusing archives with the official game. Archive sites are useful for past puzzles, but only the official link carries the current daily puzzle and your streak.
Playing Wordle Across Devices Without Losing Your Streak
Finding the real link is step one; keeping your game intact across phones, tablets and laptops is step two. Here is how:
- Bookmark once, properly. Save nytimes.com/games/wordle as a bookmark or home-screen icon on each device you play on. Typing the URL from memory every day is how players land on copycat sites with extra ads or altered word lists.
- Sign in to sync your streak. The New York Times lets you connect your Wordle stats to a free NYT account, which syncs streaks and statistics across devices. Without an account, your streak lives only in that browser's local storage — clear your cache and it is gone.
- Do not play in private mode. Incognito and private-browsing windows wipe local storage when closed, which silently resets an unsynced streak. Always play in a normal browser window unless you are signed in.
- Avoid the fake apps. There is no official Wordle app from the New York Times — any app-store "Wordle" is a third-party clone. The real game is the browser link; clones may have different answers, aggressive ads, or paywalls.
- One puzzle per day, everywhere. Your daily puzzle is the same on every device, and it resets at midnight in your timezone. If you start on your phone and finish on your laptop, sign in first so the in-progress game carries over.
- Share carefully. The share button copies an emoji grid with no spoilers — but screenshots of your guesses do spoil it. Stick to the official share format when posting scores.
Official Wordle Links at a Glance
| What you need | Official link |
|---|---|
| Play the daily Wordle | nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html |
| Wordle Review and stats | NYT Games section |
| WordleBot analysis | Linked from your result share |
| Mobile play | Same link in your phone browser |
What is the official Wordle link?
The official Wordle link is https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle — the New York Times Games page, free to play in any browser.
Is Wordle free to play?
Yes. The official game is completely free. Never pay for a “Wordle” app or subscription.
Is there an official Wordle app?
No. Wordle has never had an official mobile app. Add the website to your home screen for an app-like experience instead.
Why did Apple remove Wordle apps from the App Store?
In January 2022 Apple removed blatant Wordle clones — including “Wordle – The App,” which charged $30/year — after a public backlash over copycats profiting from Josh Wardle’s free game ([Engadget](https://www.engadget.com); [Kotaku](https://kotaku.com)).
Can I play old Wordle puzzles?
The official link only offers the current daily puzzle, but archive sites let you play through past puzzles, and custom Wordle makers let friends send you their own.
How do I share my Wordle score?
Tap the Share button after finishing; it copies a spoiler-free emoji grid (🟩🟨⬛) to your clipboard for pasting anywhere.
Can I make my own Wordle link for a friend?
Yes — custom Wordle maker tools encode your chosen word into a shareable link, giving your friend a full Wordle-style game around it.
Does Wordle need an account?
No, but a free NYT account syncs your stats and streak across devices. Want more daily word challenges? Play [Plusword](https://plusword.co.uk/what-is-plusword/) and see how it compares in our [Plusword vs Wordle guide](https://plusword.co.uk/plusword-vs-wordle/).
Does the Wordle link work on all devices?
Yes. The official link runs in any modern browser on desktop or mobile, and adding it to your home screen on iPhone or Android gives you an app-like experience without the App Store.
Is there an official Wordle app?
No. The New York Times has never released an official Wordle app — the real game lives only at nytimes.com/games/wordle in your browser. App-store versions are third-party clones.
Why did my Wordle streak disappear?
Streaks are stored in your browser’s local storage unless you are signed in to a free NYT account. Clearing cookies, switching browsers or playing in private mode can all wipe an unsynced streak.
