Glimpse

Glimpse — Support

Last updated: 2026-11-02

Glimpse is a family photo party game: one phone hosts, everyone else plays from their phone’s browser on the same Wi-Fi. This page is the place to ask questions or report problems.

Get in touch

📧 Email: ghefetz@gmail.com

Please include:

The host device model and its os version.
The app version (shown on the store listing, or Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Glimpse).
What the players’ phones were (for example, “two iPhones in Safari, one Android in Chrome”).
Steps to reproduce the problem, and a screenshot if it’s visual.

Because the app does not transmit any data, there are no server-side logs we can look up: your message is the only signal we have.

Frequently asked

How do I play?

On the host phone, add photos with + (25 or more is best), then tap Start game.
Mirror the host phone to the TV.
Everyone scans the QR code on the TV and picks a nickname.
Once 3 players have joined, the host picks the first storyteller (or turns on the automatic storyteller and taps Start game).
The storyteller looks at 25 photos on their phone, chooses one in their head, says one word about it out loud, and only then taps it. The others vote for it among 6 photos. (Why the word first: with the other 5 in view, finding a word that fits only yours is too easy.)
The storyteller shows the votes and reveals the answer from their phone, then starts the next round.

How does scoring work?

Some players find the photo: the storyteller and each player who found it get 3 points.
Everyone finds it: the word was too easy; each player who found it gets 2 points and the storyteller gets none.
Nobody finds it: nobody scores.

A round needs at least 3 people (the storyteller and 2 voters) to count.

Do the other players need to install anything?

No. Any phone with a web browser works: Safari, Chrome, Samsung Internet, and so on. They scan the QR code on the TV, or type the address shown under it.

A player can’t open the game page

Make sure their phone is on the same Wi-Fi as the host (or on the host phone’s Personal Hotspot), not on mobile data or a guest network.
Guest networks and some public or office networks block devices from talking to each other (“client isolation” or “AP isolation”). Use your main home network, or turn that setting off in your router.
On the host iPhone or iPad, check Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network → Glimpse is on.
Make sure the Glimpse app is open on the host phone, not in the background.

Can we play without Wi-Fi?

Yes. On the host iPhone, turn on Settings → Personal Hotspot → Allow Others to Join, and have the other players join that hotspot in their Wi-Fi settings. Keep the Personal Hotspot screen open on the host phone while they join, then open Glimpse: the QR code works as usual.

Some iPhones allow only about 5 devices on a hotspot.
The game itself uses no mobile data: the phones talk only to the host phone. (Players’ phones may still use the hotspot’s internet for other things, which does use the host’s data plan.)
To show the game on a TV, the TV (or Apple TV) usually has to join the hotspot too, for screen mirroring or for the TV address.

How do I show the game on the TV?

iPhone or iPad: Control Center → Screen Mirroring, then pick your Apple TV or AirPlay TV.
No casting? Under the QR code, the Join panel shows a TV address ending in /tv. Open it in the TV’s web browser (or on a laptop connected to the TV) for a full-screen copy of the game.
If the TV’s browser says the address is unreachable while other devices can open it, the router may be keeping wired and wireless devices apart. Check that the TV is on the same network, not a guest network.

Can the host play too?

Yes. On the host phone, tap Play: the phone becomes a player’s phone, and Host brings the host screen back. While you play, show the game on the TV through its /tv address (in the TV’s browser) rather than by mirroring, otherwise everyone sees your pictures and votes.

Is there a guide in the app?

Yes. Tap ? on the host phone for how to host and play. Players tap ? (or How to play on the join screen) on their phone for the rules and scoring.

Does the app have to stay open?

Yes. The host phone runs the game, so keep Glimpse open and in front while you play. The screen stays on by itself. If the app is closed by accident, open it again: the game carries on where it was (within 3 hours).

Skip round (on the host and on the storyteller’s phone) ends the current round without scoring and moves on.
If the storyteller doesn’t reveal the answer, the photos are revealed automatically a few seconds after the votes are shown, the right one last.
The ☰ menu on the host has Photos (add or remove photos mid-game), the automatic storyteller, and Reset scores.

How many photos do I need?

At least 6 to start, but 25 or more is best: the storyteller chooses among 25 each round, and a larger collection means fewer repeats. Photos from many different events and years make the best game.

Does removing a photo delete it from my library?

No. ✕ and Clear all remove the photo from the game only. Glimpse never changes your photo library.

Which devices does the app run on?

The host app is available for iPhone and iPad on the App Store. Players can use any phone, tablet, or computer with a web browser.

Privacy

The full privacy policy is here: Privacy Policy

Short version: the app does not collect, transmit, store, or share any data. The game runs only on your Wi-Fi; the app’s only connection to the internet is a check for app updates.

Reporting a bug

If something doesn’t work, email with:

What you tried (e.g., “Started a game with 4 players, the storyteller picked a photo”).
What happened (e.g., “The TV stayed on the slideshow”).
What you expected (e.g., “The 6 photos to appear”).

If the app actually crashed (closed back to the home screen), a crash log helps: on the host iPhone or iPad, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Analytics Data, find an entry starting with Glimpse, and attach its .ips file to the email.