Support

Last updated 2026-10-31

Answers to the questions players ask most.

How to play

Each pond has an inkstone, floating leaves and a bowl. Tap a leaf to turn it, then tap the inkstone (or Release) to let the ink flow. The ink follows the leaves, picks up color from the pools it passes, and must reach the bowl with the colors in the order the ribbon at the top shows. Release as often as you like; only turns count.

What is the red seal?

Solve a pond in its fewest possible turns (par) and a red hanko seal is stamped. Solving in more turns still completes the pond. You can replay any pond to earn its seal later.

Where is my progress saved?

On your device, automatically, after every pond. Nothing to sign in to.

Does my progress move to my other devices?

Yes, through iCloud, if you are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account on each device. Progress merges, so the furthest pond, best turns and seals from every device are kept. Changes made on another device while the app is open appear the next time you open it.

I got a new device. How do I get my progress back?

Sign in to iCloud with the same Apple Account and install Inkstream. Your progress arrives through iCloud. Without iCloud, progress lives only on the old device.

How do I start over?

Settings, More, Reset progress. It asks you to confirm. A reset also clears your progress in iCloud, so it cannot come back from another device.

How does the daily pond work?

• A new pond appears every day at midnight, your local time, and it is the same pond for everyone.
• Your first release whose ink reaches the bowl is the attempt that counts, right colors or not. Releases that stop short of the bowl are free looks.
• Par and hints are hidden during the counted attempt. Afterwards you see the best possible turns and, if you matched it, the seal.
• Your streak counts the days you played the daily on the day itself.
• After your attempt, you can replay the pond, or any of the last thirty days from Today, as practice. Practice is never recorded.

What is zen mode?

Zen mode leaves only the pond. Tap the still water glyph next to Settings while playing a journey pond. Solve, watch the stroke linger, and the next pond blooms in its place. To leave, press and hold on still water until the ink circle closes (or press Escape on a keyboard). Zen is not available on the daily pond.

Game Center

Achievements and leaderboards are in Settings, More, Game Center. Sign in to Game Center in your device's settings to use them. Inkstream works fully without it.

Sound

Choose Silence, Ink sounds, Quiet music or Full music in Settings, Sound. The game follows your silent switch, and music from other apps keeps playing.

Accessibility

• Color marks (Settings, Look) give every pigment its own shape.
• Reduce motion (Settings, Look) turns flows and zooms into soft crossfades; System follows your device setting.
• Haptics can be switched off in Settings, Play.
• Every control has a label for VoiceOver, and the pond can be played with a keyboard: arrow keys move, Space turns a leaf, Enter releases.

Does Inkstream need the internet?

No. It plays fully offline. iCloud and Game Center catch up when you are back online.

Privacy

Inkstream collects nothing about you. See the privacy policy.