Support

Most connection problems come down to one of the fixes below. If you're still stuck, email support@gofichat.com and tell us which phones you're using.

My friend can't find my room

• Make sure Bluetooth is on for both phones. In airplane mode, turn Bluetooth back on after enabling it.
• On Android 11 and older, the phone that's joining needs Location switched on in quick settings, or Bluetooth finds no rooms.
• If the room is on an iPhone, keep GoFiChat open on it while people join or come back. Android phones can't find a room on an iPhone that's in the background, and other iPhones find it less easily.
• Stand closer. Walls, crowds and pockets shorten Bluetooth range.
• Scan the QR code or type the 6-digit code from the room's invite screen. A room only shows under Nearby on other people's home screens after an adult in it turns on Show on Nearby, then for 10 minutes at a time, and only on phones whose age check says adult.

It says Bluetooth permission is needed

On iPhone, open Settings → GoFiChat and turn on Bluetooth and Local Network. On Android 12 and later, open Settings → Apps → GoFiChat → Permissions and allow Nearby devices. On Android 11 and older, allow Location there instead: Bluetooth needs it to find nearby phones, and GoFiChat doesn't use your location.

Faster connections with Wi-Fi

If everyone is on the same Wi-Fi network or one phone's hotspot, GoFiChat also connects over Wi-Fi. That's quicker for live games like air hockey. It works even if the network has no internet.

Someone dropped out

GoFiChat brings people back in when they come back into range, and keeps their seat for three minutes so the room doesn't fill up without them. Messages they type while they're out of range wait, and go once they're back. If the person who started the room leaves, another phone takes over and the room carries on. Next time you're together, open the room from Your rooms on the home screen, and everyone else's phone sees it nearby.

Someone is bothering me

Tap their name in the room's people list, or press and hold one of their messages, then choose Block. You won't see anything they send after that. If the room runs through your phone, they're also removed from it, and the room's keys, QR code and link change, so copies they have stop letting them in. Choose Report, pick what's wrong and tap Send. Your phone sends the report to us with their recent messages, or once it has internet, and Block tells us too. We read every report within 24 hours, and remove people who break the rules from GoFiChat. Report and Block work in a saved room's chat too, with the room closed. You'll find the people you've blocked in Settings, where you can unblock them. If you or someone else is in danger, call your local emergency number first. Our safety page has more, including help for parents.

My friend doesn't have GoFiChat yet

They can scan your room's QR code with their phone's camera. That opens a page that shows how to get the app. Installing needs internet, so do it before you lose signal. On Android, if they install it from Google Play through that page, the app asks to join your room by itself, and you tap Let in. On iPhone, they can go back to the page and tap Open in GoFiChat, or scan your code from inside the app.

Someone wants to join

When someone taps your room on Nearby or types its code, their name shows in the room with six pictures, and the phone that's joining shows its own six. Let them in only if the pictures match. If they don't, another phone is passing messages between you, so tap Not now.

Checking it's really them

Tap the room's name at the top of the chat, then tap a person. If your phones are linked, their sheet shows eight pictures: the phone the room runs through is linked with everyone, and everyone else with that phone. Ask them to tap your name. If their phone shows the same pictures, nobody is listening in between you. Scanning the QR code checks this for you.