We know it is incredibly frustrating when you are ready to play a few hands and the technology decides to say "no." Take a deep breath! Connection hiccups happen to the best of us. Let us kick those digital gremlins out of your system and get you back to the tables.

If you cannot connect to the Hardwood Games online servers for Spades, Euchre, Hearts, or Backgammon, it usually comes down to a few common culprits. Try these troubleshooting steps to get back into the game.

1. The "Ol' Reliable" (Restart Your Device)

It is a cliché because it works. Before digging into complex settings, fully restart your phone, tablet, or computer. This clears out temporary memory glitches and forces your device to start fresh.

2. Is the Wi-Fi actually Wi-Fi-ing?

Sometimes your device says it is connected to the internet, but no data is actually moving.

• Toggle your connection: Try switching from Wi-Fi to your Cellular Data, or vice versa. If the game connects on one but not the other, the issue is likely isolated to that specific network.

• The Microwave Effect: Believe it or not, someone heating up leftovers can knock you offline! Microwaves operate on the exact same frequency as 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks. If your connection drops every time someone makes popcorn, try moving closer to your router or switching your device to a 5 GHz Wi-Fi band if available.

• Server Downtime: Very rarely, our servers might be taking a quick nap for maintenance. If you cannot connect at all, grab a beverage and try again in about ten minutes.

3. Sneaky Security Apps and VPNs

Modern security is great, but it can sometimes be a little too overprotective.

• VPNs and Ad-Blockers: These apps are notorious for silently blocking game traffic. Try pausing your VPN or ad-blocker temporarily to see if your connection suddenly springs back to life.

• Mobile Permissions (iOS & Android): If you are on an iPhone or iPad, check Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network and make sure the toggle for your Hardwood game is switched to the ON position.

4. The Infamous Firewall Block

Yes, firewalls are absolutely still a thing! A firewall is essentially a traffic cop for your internet. Sometimes, routers, corporate networks, or public Wi-Fi hotspots (like at hotels or coffee shops) are set up to block gaming traffic.  When its a firewall, it won't be intermentent, it will just flat out not work while going thorugh that connection.

If you suspect a firewall is the culprit, you or your network administrator will need to ensure the following specific addresses and "ports" are open and allowed to pass through:

• Hardwood Spades: spades.silvercrk.com (Port 4000)

• Hardwood Euchre: euchre.silvercrk.com (Port 4001)

• Hardwood Hearts: hearts.silvercrk.com (Port 4002)

• Hardwood Backgammon: backgammon.silvercrk.com (Port 4004)

• Video Poker Duel & Solitaire: Standard secure ports (HTTPS port 443 and HTTP port 80)

5. Check Your Account Status

If your account was banned for a rules violation, you know it, as you'll see a specific pop-up message telling you so when you attempt to log in. If you do not see a ban message, you can rest easy knowing the issue is almost certainly just a network issue.

Still Stuck on the Sidelines?

If you have tried all the steps above and still cannot connect, do not panic. Send a ticket to our support team and we will help you figure it out.

To help us solve the mystery faster, please tell us:

1. What device you are playing on (for example, an iPad Air or a Pixel 8 Pro).

2. The game you are trying to play and your current version number (found at the bottom of the game's settings menu).

3. Whether you are using a VPN, playing from work, or using a public Wi-Fi network.