Wait, what the hell is 'Wordle' hard mode?

Yes, we've technically been playing on easy mode this whole time 😬
By Rachel Thompson  on 
A woman plays Wordle on its official website on her iPhone
Wait, there's a HARD mode? Credit: Shutterstock / Tada Images

Can't get enough of Wordle?
Try Mashable's free version now

Are you a Wordle fanatic? Do bears do their ablutions in woodland areas? Why, yes!

Well, you've come to the right place.

If you eat, sleep, breathe all things Wordle related, then you might be interested to learn about something called "hard mode."

Hard mode is not just what everyone thought Wordle became after the New York Times bought it, but is really a setting you can activate to alter your game experience.

So, have we been playing Wordle on easy mode this entire time? Technically yes, but hard mode might actually make the game easier for you to play in the long run.

Mashable Top Stories
Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news.
Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!

How to get 'hard mode'?

It's pretty straightforward, tbh. Next time you're about to play Wordle, tap the settings icon in the top right corner of the page. Simply toggle hard mode and you're off and away.

Wordle game screen obscured by pop-up messages which read "guess must contain T"
Credit: Screenshot: Wordle / New York Times

What does 'hard mode' do?

Good question. So, hard mode — in my opinion, at least — doesn't make Wordle harder. It just prevents you from making silly mistakes.

In short: it makes sure any revealed hints are used in subsequent guesses. If you enter a word that doesn't contain the hints you've gathered, you'll get a little pop up to inform you of the errors of your ways. And crucially, it prevents you from submitting that incorrect word. So, basically it means you don't waste a try guessing a word that doesn't contain a green or yellow letter.

Handy!

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

Topics Wordle

An image of journalist and author Rachel Thompson on a pink backdrop. She has long brown hair and is wearing a light pink dress.
Rachel Thompson
Features Editor

Rachel Thompson is the Features Editor at Mashable. Based in the UK, Rachel writes about sex, relationships, and online culture. She has been a sex and dating writer for a decade and she is the author of Rough (Penguin Random House, 2021). She is currently working on her second non-fiction book.


Recommended For You
Get a 1TB portable hard drive and 1TB cloud storage for under $100
Complete 1TBCloud


'The Order' review: Jude Law goes freak mode while chasing neo-Nazis
Jude Law in "The Order."


'Hell Hole' review: Body horror at its absolute silliest
A man covered in slime bursts out of the ground.

More in Entertainment
New to streaming, ranked (Oct. 31, 2024)
Stills from films and TV shows releasing on streaming this week.

How to watch Al Ittihad vs. Al Ahli online for free
Karim Benzema of Al Ittihad celebrates after scoring


Catch the next two months of live sports for a steal with 32% off YouTube TV
person holding remote up to tv

How to watch 2024 MotoGP live streams online for free in the U.S.
Pedro Acosta of Spain leads Maverick Vinales

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 31
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 31
a phone displaying Wordle

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 31
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 30
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!