Saving number puzzle progress with iCloud
Number puzzle progress with iCloud: how sync works across iPhone, iPad and Mac, and what a solver should check first.
During a lunch break, a solver opens a Classic 6x6 level on an iPhone, enters a few numbers in the columns, and stops when the break is over. Half the board is filled, the clock has been running, and the level is set to a three-star target. Later that evening, the same solver picks up an iPad and expects the same board to be waiting.
With a timed level, this matters more than it would with an untimed grid. The clock and the star count belong to the board, and three stars come from finishing fast with no mistakes. Someone who loses them has lost more than a few numbers.
It runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS or iPadOS 17 or later, and on a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 14 or later.
Where a solver's progress is kept on each device
Players in this puzzle have several things to track at the same time. Each set has a name and holds ten levels, and each board size has its own run: 30 on the Quick 4x4 board, and 100 each on the Classic 6x6 and Master 9x9 boards. Partway through a set, a solver has a place in that set, and each level's star count is shown within it.
A level finished slowly or with mistakes earns fewer stars than one finished quickly with none, since stars come from fast, clean finishes. Sparks are counted separately from stars. Players earn Sparks by playing, then spend them on hints, undos, an extra heart or a skip. Another number to watch is the Daily Drop streak, the count of days in a row a solver has played that day's puzzle.
Game Center leaderboards and achievements appear in the app's feature list next to iCloud sync. The app lists these as separate features, so a solver has no reason to treat them as one thing.
A solver should not expect every detail to sync across devices in the same way. The stars on a level, the Sparks total and the Daily Drop streak are different kinds of record. To check, open the same level on two devices and compare what each one shows.
Switching between an iPhone and an iPad
On an iPhone, a solver plays a Master 9x9 level, placing one number at a time and checking each row, column and box before the next drop. The solver stops partway through the level while the clock is still counting toward a three-star finish. The same solver later opens the app on an iPad signed in to the same Apple account.
NumFall on the App Store lists iCloud sync among its features on iPhone and iPad, and that listing is what a solver can rely on here.
On the iPad, the first thing a solver usually sees is the name of the level set, since each Master set has ten levels and its own name. After that comes the star count already earned on the levels in the set. If a solver remembers the set name and the stars from the iPhone, they can compare both with the iPad screen in a few seconds.
The solver can look at the board next. On a 9x9 grid, a solver can check whether the numbers in the lower rows match the iPhone, since numbers fall to the lowest empty cell and drop order shapes the whole board. The app does not say how long a change takes to show up, so the comparison only reflects the moment the iPad is opened.
A short check on a Mac with Apple silicon
On an iPhone, a solver plays a few Quick 4x4 levels, finishing each set of ten one board at a time. The solver later opens the Mac version on a Mac with Apple silicon running macOS 14 or later. The Mac screen is bigger, and the first thing the solver does is look for what was left on the phone.
Three things are easy to compare. The level set has a name, so the solver checks that the Mac shows the same one. The stars on each finished level come next, and a solver who remembers a three-star finish on the fourth level can look for it. The Daily Drop streak is the third number, a count of days in a row and it can be read off both screens in a moment.
A solver who wants to test a switch can finish one level on the iPhone, noting the set name, the star count and the streak. After that the solver closes app and opens it on the Mac. On the Mac the solver looks for the same board in the same set, with the same stars showing.
The Quick board is a good size for this check, since a 4x4 level takes little time to finish and the starting grid is small enough to remember.
FAQ
Does NumFall sync progress between an iPhone and an iPad?
The App Store listing for NumFall includes iCloud sync among its features on iPhone and iPad. A solver signed in to the same Apple account can open the same level set on either device and check it.
Will my star count carry over to a new device?
Stars are kept for each level inside its set, so a solver can compare the count on each device after opening app. The app does not say how long a change takes to appear, so checking at the moment the second device is opened is the safest approach.
What is the difference between stars and Sparks in the puzzle?
Stars come from fast finishes with no mistakes, while Sparks are a separate total that players earn by playing. Players spend Sparks on hints, undos, an extra heart or a skip. A solver should not assume both move between devices the same way.
How can I tell if my Daily Drop streak synced to my Mac?
Open the same day's puzzle on each device and read the streak count shown on the screen. The streak counts the days in a row a solver has played that day's puzzle, so both screens should show the same number.
Which Apple devices can run NumFall?
It also runs on a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 14 or later.
NumFall is made by the publisher of this site. Any health or brain-training points here are general information, not medical advice.