--- title: "Share one iPhone and keep secret roles private | Splash It" description: "Play Splash It together on one iPhone: agree an order, check roles privately and handle accidentally revealed information fairly." url: https://splashit.impulse-apps.de/en/how-to-play/pass-the-phone/ language: en website: Splash It publisher: Impulse Apps --- # Share one iPhone and keep secret roles private A shared device makes starting simple. Secret roles still need a moment of screen privacy. Impulse Apps editorial team Updated October 7, 2026 ![Splash It: app view for passing the iPhone](https://splashit.impulse-apps.de/img/screens/en/weitergeben.webp) [Back to overview](https://splashit.impulse-apps.de/en/how-to-play/) Only the current player sees their private information. Check that the next view is ready before passing the phone. ## Choose a clear order Agree which direction the iPhone will travel before the first role. Similar names should be easy to tell apart in the game. When adding the group, make sure each active person is represented once. ## Read privately without making it awkward Angle the display away from others and let waiting players look away. Read all the information without accidentally saying it aloud. If something is unclear, ask about the rules without announcing the private role. ## Finish the handover deliberately Follow the current screen’s instructions and check that private information is no longer openly visible before passing it on. Hand the device straight to the next player. Not every game uses hidden roles; open questions can be viewed together. ## Handle an accidental glance fairly If someone sees another role, mention it before play starts. Agree to restart the round if the extra knowledge would create an unfair advantage. Clarify the process rather than arguing over whether the glance was intentional. ## Practise the private moment beforehand Before assigning real roles, use a neutral view to demonstrate holding and passing the device. The next person waits until the previous player finishes. When seated closely, deliberately angle the display away from a neighbour. Someone who finds the text hard to read gets time rather than having secret information read aloud. A general question about the sequence can be answered without naming the role or word. Once everyone understands the physical handover, start with the actual private information and keep that same order. ## Preserve the information state during interruptions If someone leaves their seat during handover, pause briefly. Establish who has already read their view without revealing its contents. Let the current player complete the step before passing again. After a longer interruption, check that everyone remembers the task. A revealed word does not become secret again merely by turning the screen away. Decide openly whether to begin a suitable fresh round. This gives everyone the same starting point instead of asking one player to pretend they never saw information that can influence their choices. ## Distinguish open views from private ones In a conversation game, everyone may see the same question. In a role game, the identical phone position might expose private information. Adapt handover to the current game and screen instead of repeating one gesture mechanically for every title. Before switching, explain what can now be visible together. For a rule or device question, use the relevant guide, while treating it as reading help rather than a second live role view. Knowing who should see a screen is part of the preparation, not merely device etiquette. ## Your quick check - Passing order is clear. - Names are easy to distinguish. - Private information is viewed individually. - Accidental glances are mentioned before starting. ## A shared check “Are you finished with your view, and is the phone ready for the next person?” can help at first. Later, this usually becomes a natural routine. ## Common questions about this topic **Does each player need an account?** No. The group plays on one shared iPhone; nobody else needs to install the app. **Does every game have secret roles?** No. Open questions, knowledge games and challenges have different sequences. Read the selected game’s rules. ## Continue with a related topic. - [Mixed-language groups](https://splashit.impulse-apps.de/en/game-night/mixed-language-groups/) – Play Splash It with different first languages: choose a shared language, clarify open tasks and protect private role information during questions and clues. - [Mafia: night & moderation](https://splashit.impulse-apps.de/en/games/mafia/night-phase-and-moderation/) – Explore Splash It Mafia: private roles, Detective and Doctor, night/day changes and clear moderation without importing unrelated house rules. - [Bluff & investigate](https://splashit.impulse-apps.de/en/game-night/bluff-games/) – Compare Imposter, Spy, Mafia, Werewolf and Detective. Explore private information, specific follow-up questions and fair discussion. - [Large groups](https://splashit.impulse-apps.de/en/game-night/large-groups/) – Advice for large Splash It groups: keep roles private, organise discussion, include eliminated players and choose games within their supported limits. - [Help while playing](https://splashit.impulse-apps.de/en/support/playing/) – Splash It play help: check player limits and rules, record an error message and report a reproducible issue with device details.