Scrabblepro is an online Scrabble club: you can play classic and duplicate Scrabble games against the computer and against other online players. You can also check your statistics, your ranking and make new friends.
It is simple and free.
Back to top

The most likely reason is a spelling mistake in your username, either when you registered or when you signed in. Check that the username you use to sign in is exactly the one you entered when you registered.
Back to top

Account activation on Scrabblepro is manual: you must click the link in the confirmation email received when you registered. This email is sent automatically to the email address you entered during registration. If you did not receive it, your email address may have been incorrect. Also check your junk mail folder, as some email services treat some of our automatic emails as spam. If you want to change your email address and/or request a new activation email, just use this form: https://www.scrabblepro.com/active.php .
Back to top

The software used to play Scrabble online can be downloaded from the download tab of the site. When you click the software link, the download should start automatically. If it does not start, check that your browser is not blocking pop-up windows. Also check that you have the rights to download and install programs on your computer.
Back to top

If you forgot your password, you can try to recover it with this form or by clicking the "lost password" link on the sign-in page.
Back to top

The most likely reason is a firewall or proxy server on your computer or network that blocks the connection. To handle the chat and the chat rooms during games, the software must connect to a chat server. To allow this connection, configure your firewall or proxy server to open ports 8667 and 8668. If you can't do it, ask your network administrator.
Back to top

The gateway is an indirect connection mode: the connection to the chat server is made from another computer on our network, and the replies are forwarded to your computer on ports 80 and 443, which antivirus programs and firewalls usually allow. This connection mode can therefore be slower and less reliable. If you have trouble connecting, the software will try to connect you on port 80 or 443 through the gateway. Please note that some firewalls or proxy servers can block the connection through the gateway.
Back to top

To make sure games run smoothly, when a game has been inactive for about thirty seconds the software checks whether you are still connected by sending a "Connection test" message. If the server replies properly, the software shows the message "Connection test successful", in which case it is probably your opponent who was disconnected. If, on the other hand, no reply is received after three attempts, the software assumes that you are disconnected and tries to reconnect you to the server, which lets you resume the game if it was saved.
Back to top

The best thing is to reconnect quickly, so that you can resume the game if it was saved. If your connection problem lasts, you can simply explain it kindly to your opponent the next time you sign in, or send them a message in their Scrabblepro mailbox. This way you avoid getting warning points for nothing and giving a bad image of yourself.
Back to top

This is not possible for now: your username is your only identifier on the site. If you think you made a mistake when you registered, the simplest solution is to create a new account.
Back to top

From the game's home page, click the "New game" button; you can also use the "Game" menu, then "New game". Then select the type of game and the game options.
Inviting a player
You can also send a player a special invitation to play a game: click a username in the list of online players or in the list of available players, then click "invite". The player receives the invitation and is free to accept or decline the game. In any case they must reply to your invitation, with a message giving a reason if they decline.
Being invited
An icon at the bottom shows the number of proposed games. Clicking this icon or the "proposed games" button opens the list of proposed games waiting for players. This list is updated automatically. Choose a game, then click "Join". You can also accept a special invitation if one is offered to you in a dialog box.
Back to top

To play duplicate, open the list of duplicate games in progress by clicking the "Proposed games" button, then the "Duplicate in progress" tab, then select a game and click "Join". You can also create your own duplicate game and invite your friends to join.
Back to top

There are 3 game modes:
classic game: you play in turns, and each player has 1 to 3 minutes to place their word (5 minutes against the computer). When your time runs out, the turn passes to the next player.
blitz game: the time per player is limited, but the time per turn is not. Each player has 5 to 25 minutes for the whole game. When a player's time runs out, the game is lost for that player. If the game ends normally without any player running out of time, the winner is the player with the most points, as in classic games.
duplicate game: all players have the same rack, and each player scores the points of the word they played in that turn. The highest-scoring word stays on the board. Each turn lasts 1 to 3 minutes.

You can also play against the computer, play unrated or private games, games limited to an overall duration and much more, by adding options to the game when you create it. Back to top

When you create a public game, any player can join. Instead, create a private game by clicking the "more options ..." button when you create the game, then click your friends' usernames and invite them to the game. You can also create a duplicate game between friends in the same way.
Back to top

Yes, you can play Scrabble with 2 to 4 players on Scrabblepro. Just choose the number of players when you create the game. You can also play alone, without an opponent (solo game), by choosing 1 player.
Back to top

Using the mouse: click a letter on your rack and, while holding the mouse button down, drag the letter to the square you want on the board.

Using the keyboard: double-click an empty square on the board and type your word directly on the keyboard. Note that double-clicking the same square again switches the word direction from horizontal to vertical and back. You must choose the direction of the word before you start typing it.

Once your word is placed, just click the "Submit" button.
Back to top

In games against the computer, all words are checked automatically. In games between players, there are two challenge modes:

simple mode: when a player places a word, the opponent has 15 seconds to challenge or accept it. If a player challenges a word that does not exist, the word is removed and the player who placed it loses their turn. In all other cases, the word is accepted and the game continues. This mode has no penalties for challenges.

auto mode: all words are checked; if a player places a word that does not exist, the word is removed and the player loses their turn.
Back to top

Scrabblepro's reference dictionary is the official Scrabble dictionary: all words found in it are accepted, and all others are refused. Every word placed by the computer is fully checked.
Back to top

Just place your word using the blank tile (the tile with a question mark). After you submit, the system asks you to select the letter the blank stands for.
Back to top

If you click the "Resign" button, you have about 20 seconds to come back to the game in case it was a mistake. After that, the game counts as lost: you will most likely lose points from your rating, your resignation percentage will go up and your Fair-play points will go down. Finally, you will be penalized for a few minutes and will not be allowed to start a new game immediately.
Back to top

Fair-play points are calculated from the number of games played and the number of games resigned. Your Fair-play points start at 100%; they go down if you resign from games and go up otherwise. Note: Fair-play points can change very quickly while you have not played many games yet, but they hardly change once the number of games played becomes very large.
Back to top

Scrabblepro no longer saves abandoned games, because too many players refused to resume them. Now, after a disconnection, if the player does not come back within 3 minutes, the game counts as lost for the player who left.
Back to top

PM (Match Points, from the French "Points de Match") is your rating: the estimate of your Scrabble level in the club against other players (PM), against the computer (PMO) or in duplicate (PMD). This level is adjusted at the end of each game according to your skills.
Back to top

To reduce cheating aimed at artificially raising PM, we decided to remove the exact formula from the FAQ. The elements it uses are:
- the result of the game (win or loss).
- the number and percentage of your wins.
- your level at the time of the game and the level of your opponents.
The formula used is very close to the one used in official Scrabble competitions.

TIP: you gain more PM by beating opponents whose PM is higher than yours, and you lose more after a defeat against an opponent whose PM is lower than yours.
Back to top

The PM cannot go down after a win. If it happens, it is usually because you started a game with a PM that was not up to date; in this case the PM shown in the score panel was wrong. Very often, it is because you resigned from a 3 or 4 player game and started a new game before the previous one had ended. So the points you seem to have lost after a win come from the fact that the new win did not give you more points than you lost in the previous game. In any case, check the game history in your account to see for yourself.
Back to top

You lost more PM than usual because you were beaten by an opponent whose PM is much lower than yours. If, however, you lose PM after a win, feel free to contact us.
Back to top

Tie-break points (PDEP) are the estimate of the average level of the opponents you beat.
When you finish a game, a number of points is added to your total PDEP, on this principle: the winner of the game scores the higher PM and the loser scores the lower PM. This PDEP total divided by the number of games played gives your PDEP.

Unlike PM, tie-break points do not necessarily go down after a defeat.
TIP: if you have a low PDEP and beat players with a higher level than your PM, your PDEP will go up towards the PM of the players you beat. But if you have a high PDEP and mostly beat players with a lower level than your PM, your PDEP will go down towards your PM.

The rankings only include players who have played at least one game in the last three months.
Back to top

It's simple: you can choose the computer's level when you create the game.
Note: only level 10 games count in the rankings.
Back to top

You can sign in to your account from the site, by going to the site's home page and clicking "My account", or from the software, through the "File" menu, then "My account".
Back to top

Just sign in to your account and click "Mailbox".
Back to top

Just sign in to your account and click "Change photo" on the main page of your account.
Back to top

Sign in to your account, go to "Profile" and click "Delete my account", then follow the instructions. A confirmation email is sent to you: your account is only deleted after you click the link it contains, within 24 hours.
Deletion is permanent: your username and email address can no longer be used to register again. To find out which information is erased and which is kept, see our privacy policy.
Back to top

In return, we offer contributors a number of benefits. See Make a donation.
Back to top

To contribute, you can click this link: Make a donation, or use the "help" menu, then "make a donation" in the software, then click the "Contribute now" link further down.
Back to top

No. Contributions are made only through PayPal, with a PayPal account or by card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express...) through PayPal's secure payment. Checks and bank transfers are not accepted.
Back to top

PayPal payments are usually instant, in which case your contribution is taken into account immediately. However, for security or verification reasons, processing a transaction can take up to 48 hours.
Back to top

Yes, just fill in the donation form with the username of the user concerned. For better follow-up, it is best to use the email address of the user who will be invoiced or who makes the payment. If you plan to make several donations, fill in a separate form for each user.
Back to top

Absolutely not! Donations are only a way to help the club survive. If you make a donation and then disrupt the site's activities, you will be treated accordingly, under the terms of the netiquette.
Back to top

Yes, just contact us.
Back to top

Playing offline is no longer possible: the software can only be used online.
Back to top

If the recipient's username is not in your list of recent recipients, type their username in the "Message to: " box; otherwise select the username in the list, then click "Send a message". The usernames of your opponents and of the people you talk to are saved automatically in the list of recent recipients.
Back to top

Yes, by clicking the button with the "happy" smiley in the message area.
Back to top

Yes, just click the "rooms" button, select a room, then click "join". To leave the previous room, click the room's tab, then the door icon in that room's toolbar.
You can also create your own room.
Please note that rooms are not needed to play: you do not need to be in the same room as another player to play against them.
Back to top

Nothing obliges your opponent to talk to you during the game: some have their reasons, and others don't know yet how to send private messages. Just encourage them gently. If that doesn't work and you value friendliness, you can simply add them to your block list so that you no longer play against them.
Back to top

Do you have proof? If so, send it to us and we will take the necessary action; otherwise there is nothing we can do for now. You can also use window monitoring by ticking the corresponding option when you create the game. Window monitoring tells you whether your opponents switch away from the main game window, for example to use helper software, but unfortunately it is not formal proof of cheating. In any case, remember that this club was created first of all for the pleasure of playing.
Back to top

The simplest thing is first to avoid any confrontation by ignoring the player or adding them to your block list. If the discussion takes place on the forum or in a public chat room, call an online operator or moderator, who will know what to do. You can also report abuse directly through the "Club" menu, then "Report abuse" in the software, and include part of the conversation using the dedicated form; the team members will handle your report as soon as possible.
Back to top

In principle, when a player is disconnected involuntarily, the game is saved automatically; then, if the player does not come back within the set time, the game is awarded. If, however, the player resigns voluntarily, the game counts directly as a defeat for them and as a win for you, even if you were behind on points, and the player who resigned is penalized. To avoid this player in the future, you can add them to your block list. So you understand that it is better not to start a game if you think you won't have enough time to finish it.
Back to top

The main role of operators is to enforce the netiquette and help players. Moderators are operators with more privileges and a deeper knowledge of the site. These people have volunteered some of their time so that the club's activities run smoothly, so you must treat them with great respect. You must not harass them or attack them personally; they do their best to meet your expectations. The sanctions for disrespecting operators or moderators are exclusion and a ban of the player's computer.
Back to top

See Why am I told that I have been banned!
Back to top

The list of banned players is public and available at https://www.scrabblepro.com/banlist.php .
Back to top

A player's rating is the estimate of their level of fair play towards other players in the club. It is the average of the ratings given by other players. To rate a player, select their username and click "rate".
Back to top

For one reason or another, you may not see all the online players when you arrive in the game. In this case, click the "online players list" button, then "refresh the list".
Back to top

For now, the languages available on Scrabblepro are French and English. The game language is set when you register and cannot be changed. If you think you made a mistake, it is best to create a new account.
Back to top

Yes, through the "options" menu, then "settings" in the software.
Back to top

Yes, through the "options" menu, then "settings", then by clicking "Letters".
Back to top

By default, the time to challenge a word placed by your opponent before the new tiles are drawn is 15 seconds. This time can no longer be changed.
Back to top

Just change your status to "busy" through the "option" menu, then "change status".
Back to top

The Scrabblepro software runs on any computer with Windows and at least 64 MB of RAM, but at least 1 GB of RAM is strongly recommended for smooth play. The Microsoft .NET Framework, usually available on most versions of Windows, is required and will be offered during the game installation if it is not on your computer.

In short:
Computer with Windows
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or later
RAM: 64 MB
Microsoft .NET Framework

Scrabblepro contains no known malware. If your computer does not meet these minimum requirements, the software may not start properly or may not work correctly.
Back to top

For now the software only runs on Windows. Depending on our developers' capacity, steps will be taken to release versions compatible with other operating systems.
Back to top

There can be three reasons:

1. If your computer also seems to slow down, the most likely reason is a performance problem with your computer, which then takes much longer to process the messages coming from the server. This can also happen if several resource-hungry applications are running on your computer at the same time as Scrabblepro.
2. The second most likely reason is a network problem. If your Internet connection is slow or unstable, the messages coming from the server are delayed and take longer to be processed by the software. This can cause disconnections.
3. The rarest case is an overloaded server, which then takes longer to process the requests it receives. We usually take every step to avoid this kind of overload.

One known reason is a drop in your computer's performance, see Why is the chat sometimes slow to show recent messages, and the game very slow!
Back to top

Usually your computer's default screen resolution will suit the game. By default, the Scrabblepro software is optimized for a screen resolution of 1024 x 768. With another resolution, some elements (buttons, text, rack letters...) may look very small or very large. So try other screen resolutions and restart the software.
Back to top

Scrabblepro uses Internet Explorer's color rendering. One cause of a white board is colors or JavaScript being disabled in Internet Explorer. In this case, open Internet Explorer, enable JavaScript in the options and check that colors and styles are not disabled. Other causes are unknown for now: if this happens to you, send us a screenshot of your board along with other information, such as your operating system version, Internet browser, etc., to help us understand the problem.
Back to top

Some error messages can appear during games. They are usually caused by software or server malfunctions; in this case, contacting us with a few extra details can help us fix the problem and improve the software.
Back to top

To improve the software and fix possible bugs and errors, a new version of the software may be available on the site at any time, as an update or as a download. To update the software, just sign in to the game and accept when the software offers it. If you cannot update the software, or if you want to reinstall it, go to the Download page of the site to download the latest version.
Back to top

A file needed by Scrabblepro cannot be used; the simplest solution is to reinstall the game completely.
Back to top

If your computer does not meet the minimum requirements, or if you do not have enough free RAM, you may get the "insufficient memory" error message. First, try leaving the chat rooms: the chat uses a lot of resources. If you see no change, close some of the applications running on your computer, then restart the software.
Back to top