By Off The Clock · Published · Updated

It still opens the browser game. There is no separate app-store download. Before you add the icon, it's worth saving a backup of any Flat or Cube progress you want to keep; some phones give the home-screen version its own storage.

Before you start

  1. Open Off The Clock.
  2. Use a normal mobile Safari or Chrome session — not an in-app browser inside another social app if you can help it. In-app browsers often hide the install menu.
  3. Try a level before adding the shortcut. Flat is a straightforward place to start.
  4. To keep your Flat or Cube progress, open Levels → Export progress and save the JSON backup before adding the icon.

iPhone / iPad (Safari)

  1. Open the game in Safari.
  2. Tap the Share button.
  3. Choose Add to Home Screen.
  4. If shown, keep Open as Web App on. Keep the name short (Off The Clock is fine), then tap Add.

With Open as Web App enabled, you’ll get an icon that opens the puzzle in its own window. It still lives on the web; it just feels less like “where did I leave that tab.” If Add to Home Screen is missing from the share sheet, check Edit Actions. See Apple’s current iPhone steps.

Android (Chrome)

  1. Open the game in Chrome.
  2. Tap the ⋮ menu.
  3. Choose Add to home screen. Depending on your Chrome version and the site options, you may see Install app or Create shortcut.
  4. Follow the prompt and confirm. A shortcut may open in Chrome rather than a separate app window.

If the option is missing, make sure you’re in full Chrome, then check Google’s current Android shortcut steps. Menu wording and availability vary by device and browser version.

What about progress?

If the new icon opens the game at the beginning, your old save may still be in the browser you used before. On iPhone, the Home Screen app may use its own storage. For Flat and Cube, go back to the original browser, use Levels → Export progress, then open the new icon and choose Levels → Import progress to load that file.

Shift keeps a separate local save. The Flat/Cube export does not transfer Shift progress, so keep using your original browser for that campaign if you want to continue the same save.

There’s no automatic cloud sync. Progress lives in that browser or app; clearing its site data can remove the local save. Keep the exported file if you want a backup. For a clock-out puzzle, local progress on the phone you actually use is usually enough.

Will it work without a connection?

Use an internet connection to open the site and load puzzles. Adding the icon doesn't guarantee offline play, so don't count on it for a train journey with no signal.

Why bother?

Because the whole point of Off The Clock is short sessions. The fewer taps between “I have three minutes” and “arrow cleared,” the more often you’ll actually play instead of opening something louder.

Once the icon is there, open it, clear a board, close it. If you’re brand new to the rule, keep how Flat works handy — then get back to playing.

Open the game →