Playing CRIBoard on Two Devices
The short version:
- Put an iPhone or iPad with CRIBoard at each end of the table.
- Start a FaceTime call between them, then tap Play on Two Devices in Settings.
- Both devices show the same game. Anyone can score on either one.
- Only the device that starts sharing needs the paid version. The others join free.
What you need
- Two iPhones or iPads, each with CRIBoard installed.
- iOS or iPadOS 17 or later on each one.
- The devices need to be able to communicate via FaceTime, so they will need to be signed in to different Apple IDs
- SharePlay turned on. It's in the Settings app, under General, AirDrop & SharePlay.
- The paid version of CRIBoard on the device that starts sharing.
Start sharing
- OPTIONAL: Start a FaceTime call between the two devices. You can mute it.
- ALTERNATE: If not in a call, you can send an iMessage invite from the next step. The recipient can accept it on their device, and the facetime connection will start.
- On the primary device, open Settings with the gear on the board.
- In the Two Devices card, tap Play on Two Devices.
- On the other device, accept the SharePlay invite. CRIBoard opens and shows the game.
Not in a call? Tapping Play on Two Devices opens Apple's invite sheet instead.
From there you can invite someone nearby, or with Messages or FaceTime.
While a game is shared, the gear on the board wears a small green SharePlay mark.
Primary and secondary devices
The device that starts sharing is the primary device. It keeps the game.
Devices that join are secondary devices. They play the game kept on the primary device.
The Two Devices card in Settings says which one you're holding.
On either device
- Slide your dot to add points, or pull it back to take a point back.
- Use Undo and Redo.
- Pass the crib to the next dealer.
On the primary device only
- Start a new game, or a rematch.
- Change players, names, colors, and the number of players.
- Stop sharing for everyone.
Stop sharing
On the primary device, tap Stop Sharing for Everyone in the Two Devices card.
On a secondary device, tap Leave Shared Game. The others keep sharing.
Either way, every device keeps the game as it stood, so you can carry on alone.
Questions
Does the other person need to pay?
No. Only the device that starts sharing needs the paid version.
Devices that join play free, for as long as they're in the shared game.
Why is the board upside down on the other device?
On purpose. A secondary device shows the board from its own end of the table, so it reads the right way up for the person sitting there.
To change it, turn Turn Board Around on or off in the Two Devices card.
What if two people score at the same moment?
Both scores count. Each device shows its own move right away, and the primary device puts them in order.
Can I start a new game from the secondary device?
No. The primary device keeps the game, so new games start there.
The new game shows up on every device right away.
Where do finished games get saved?
On every device. Each one puts finished games on its own score card, with everyone's scores and any skunk.
What happens if the primary device leaves or loses its connection?
Sharing ends on the other devices. Each one keeps the game as it stood, so nobody loses their place.
To share again, start sharing from the primary device.
Do I have to stay on the FaceTime call?
Yes. Sharing that started in a call ends when the call ends.
You can mute the call and turn off the camera while you play.
Can more than two devices join?
Yes. Everyone on the FaceTime call can join, and all of them see the same game.
The Two Devices card on the primary device shows how many others are sharing.
It says "SharePlay Isn't Available". What do I do?
Check that SharePlay is turned on, in the Settings app under General, AirDrop & SharePlay.
Then try again from a FaceTime call.
Does the website version share too?
No. Playing on two devices is only in the CRIBoard app for iPhone and iPad.
Contact
Still stuck? Write to us at info@criboard.com.