FAQ & Troubleshooting

Find answers to the most common questions below. Each section links to the full guide if you need more detail.

What counts as a writing day?

Write at least 444 words in a single calendar day (based on your account timezone). The words can be spread across any number of files or sessions. They all add up. Your streak page shows your daily progress.

What happens if I miss a day?

Your current streak resets to zero. Your Total Streak Days (lifetime count) is never lost. You can save recent missed days with Stempos: up to 3 a month from the last 7 days on the Free plan, any day from the past year on a paid plan.

I wrote 444 words but my streak didn't register for that day.

Check your timezone setting in Account → Settings. If your timezone is wrong, your words may have been credited to a different calendar day.

Can I fix a streak I broke last month?

On a paid plan (Member, Pro, or Lifetime) you can save missed days up to a year back. On the Free plan, saves reach back 7 days, up to 3 a month.

How much do Stempos cost to save a missed day?

Past days (saving a miss) cost 2 Stempos per day, and 3 per day for older days, up to a year back, on a paid plan. Today is free on a paid plan and 1 Stempo on the Free plan. Days off ahead (paid plans) cost 1 Stempo per day. See Saving Your Streak for the full guide.

Can I save my streak on the Free plan?

Yes. On the Free plan you can save up to 3 missed days a month from the last 7 days, for 2 Stempos a day. Your saves come back on the 1st of each month. Member, Pro, and Lifetime save any day from the past year and can plan days off ahead. See Plans & Pricing.

It says I need more Stempos.

You don’t have enough Stempos for the days you picked. The Stempo Store opens in the save card on the streak page, where you can buy more with Crystals. You can also earn them through quests, or wait for your monthly Stempos on Pro or Lifetime.

When do I get the rewards for a day I saved?

A saved or planned day pays its streak and day rewards when that day arrives, not when you save it.

My streak broke even though I wrote enough words: the timezone was wrong.

Go to Account → Settings and correct your timezone. Unfortunately, words already credited to the wrong day can’t be moved retroactively. If you have Stempos, you can save the missed day instead.

Do I lose my Wings if my streak breaks?

No. Wings are permanently earned based on your highest streak milestone. Breaking your streak doesn’t remove Wings you’ve already unlocked. See Wings & Rewards.

More questions about streaks? See the full Writing Streaks guide.

Are my words mine?

Always, and all of them. 4thewords takes no ownership of anything you write. You can read more in the Privacy Policy and the AI Policy.

Words aren't being saved in my file.

The editor saves a moment after you stop typing. If you see Couldn’t save your latest changes, check your connection and keep the tab open until the Saved icon comes back. See Saving.

I pasted text but the words didn't count toward my battle or streak.

Click the paste icon in the counter at the top of the editor to see your option. If it’s Never count pasted words, they stay in your file but don’t count. If it’s Ask each time, look for the clipboard button with a dot in the top bar and choose Count all. See Pasted words.

A file is missing from my Files list.

Check whether you accidentally archived it. Open Files → Archive. Archived files aren’t deleted. They’re just hidden from your other lists.

The editor feels laggy or slow to respond.

Very long pages can slow down the editor. Split a long page into several with Ctrl/Cmd + Enter. See Pages. Also check that you don’t have too many browser tabs open.

I expected a version to be saved but don't see it.

Versions save automatically every 30 minutes, but only if the file changed since the last version and has at least 1 word. See File Versions.

Can I restore an older version of my file?

Yes. Open the file, choose Versions from the ⋯ menu, and select the version you want. You can restore it (replace the current content) or pin it (keep it saved permanently). See File Versions.

How do I download or back up all my writing at once?

Go to Files → ⋮ options menu → Download all, and pick Word, Text, Markdown, or HTML. The download starts on its own after a few minutes, so keep your 4thewords tab open. Archived files and any single file over 200,000 words aren’t included. For one file, choose Export from the ⋯ menu on that file’s card instead.

You can't create new files: quota message.

You’ve hit your plan’s file limit. Upgrade your plan for higher limits, or archive files you no longer need. See Plans & Pricing for each plan’s limit.

My project's word goal progress isn't updating.

Make sure you’re writing in files that are actually assigned to that Project. Words written in standalone files (not inside the project) don’t count toward the project’s goal.

Can I write together with a friend?

Yes. Share a file or a whole project with a friend, choose Editor or Viewer, and write together in real time. Your own words still count toward your own battles and streak. See Sharing & Collaboration.

How do I publish my work to get community feedback?

Open any Project → click the ⋯ menu → Publish Settings. Choose who can read it, pick a category, and set what readers can do. See the full Reading & Publishing guide.

More questions about writing? See The Writing Editor, Files, Pages, and Projects.

My payment went through but my plan still shows as Free.

This can happen if there’s a delay between payment processing and plan activation. Wait a few minutes and refresh the page. If it still shows Free after 15 minutes, contact support with your payment confirmation.

I cancelled my plan but I'm still being charged.

Check Account → Subscription to confirm the cancellation went through. If you see a next billing date, the cancellation may not have saved. Try cancelling again and check for a confirmation message. See Plans & Pricing.

My payment failed.

Check that your payment method is current and has sufficient funds. Try updating your card in Account → Subscription. If using PayPal, check that the billing agreement is still active.

I entered a gift code but nothing happened.

Make sure you entered the code in Account → Subscription → Gift Codes (not the account store). Codes are case-sensitive. If the code still doesn’t work, it may have already been redeemed or expired.

What happens when I cancel?

You keep paid features until the end of your current billing period, then drop to Free. Your files and writing are never deleted; you just lose access to paid features like saving any day from the past year and extra battle slots. Streak saves go back to 3 a month, from the last 7 days. See Plans & Pricing.

What happens to my files if I downgrade?

Your files are never deleted. If you have more files than the Free plan allows, the ones at the top of your list stay editable and the rest are locked (you can still read them) until you upgrade or archive enough files to get back under the limit. For projects, you keep them all but can’t create new ones until you’re under the limit. See Plans & Pricing.

Can I switch from monthly to yearly billing?

Yes. Go to Account → Subscription and select the yearly option. The switch takes effect at your next billing cycle.

How do I know if my timezone is correct?

Go to Account → Settings and check the timezone field. This affects when your streak day resets and when daily limits refresh. If you’ve recently traveled, update it manually.

How do I delete my account?

Go to Account → Settings → scroll to the bottom → Delete Account. This is permanent and cannot be undone. All files, progress, and subscription data will be removed.

My account settings aren't saving.

Try refreshing the page and making the change again. If using a mobile browser, switch to desktop mode. If the issue persists with timezone or display name specifically, contact support.

Do I need to provide payment information to use 4thewords?

No. You don’t need a credit card or any payment information to use 4thewords. All you need is a valid email address. No payment information is entered until you choose a paid plan. See Plans & Pricing.

When do I get rewarded for referring a friend?

At two moments. When your friend writes their first 444 words you both unlock an exclusive item. When they subscribe you both receive Crystals, and you move up the Mentor Journey. Signing up alone rewards them, not you. See Referrals.

My friend signed up but forgot my referral link. Can we still connect it?

Yes, within 7 days of their signup and only before they subscribe. They enter your code in Account → Settings under Invited by a friend?. After either limit passes the connection can’t be made. See You Were Referred.

Do I need a paid plan to refer friends?

No. Every Dust Warrior can share a referral link and earn mentor rewards, whatever plan they’re on. See Referrals.

More questions about billing? See Plans & Pricing, Referrals, and Gift Codes & Gifting.

What is 4thewords?

An online writing game. Your words defeat monsters, monsters drop rewards, and you use those rewards to equip your hero, visit markets, craft recipes, complete quests, and advance through a world infected by a mysterious purple dust. Beyond the game, you can organize your writing into projects and publish them for the community to read and comment on.

Do I have to write about the prompts or monsters? Is this a typing speed game?

No. You can write anything: a novel, blog post, homework, journal entry, a particularly long email. Your word count is what matters in battle, not the topic. The goal is to keep your daily writing healthy and meet your writing goals.

How do I unlock new areas?

Progress through the Main Questline. New areas unlock as you complete story milestones and quests. Check Adventure → Universe to see which areas are available.

I feel stuck: the game isn't giving me anything new.

All content in 4thewords (monsters, quests, markets, items) is tied to areas. If nothing new is showing up, you likely need to unlock your next area by completing quests and advancing the Main Storyline. Check your Main Storyline tab to see what’s next.

I can't find a quest that was just available.

Check to make sure you don’t have any Filters or Searches in the Quest tab. Also, Special Event quests are no longer available once the event ends.

I need a specific item for a quest but can't find it.

Hover over the item in your quest requirements to see which monsters drop it and which Markets sell it. You can add the monster to your Battle List directly from the item info window.

What happens to my Tokens when an event ends?

Unspent event Tokens are no longer useful once an event ends. Spend them before the deadline or sell them for Coins.

I can't find the event area on the world map.

Special events often have their own area that only appears during the event period. Check the event announcement in Community → News for the exact location and how to access it.

A market item is grayed out or I can't buy it.

You’re missing a required material or don’t have enough currency. Tap the item to see what’s needed. Some Market items also require completing specific quests first.

I see 'Limit reached' when I try to take a quest.

Your Questbook is full. Each plan tier has a different quest capacity. Complete or abandon an active quest to free up a slot. See Plans & Pricing for tier limits.

More questions about the game? See Adventure World, Quests, and Special Events.

Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Use the search bar at the top to browse the full Help Center, or contact support.

Getting Started

Core Mechanics

Adventure & Exploration

Character & Gear

Documents & Editor

Tools & Integrations

Community

Account & Billing

Additional Resources