To play solitaire on iPhone, install a solitaire app, start a Klondike game, then tap or drag cards to build four foundation piles.
New to cards on mobile, or just returning to a classic? You’ll be up and running in minutes. iPhone doesn’t ship with a built-in solitaire app, so you’ll grab one from the App Store, learn a couple of quick gestures, and start clearing piles. This guide shows clear steps, simple rules, and smart settings so your first deal feels smooth and your wins add up.
How To Play Solitaire On iPhone: Step-By-Step
- Install a solitaire app. Open the App Store, search “solitaire,” then tap Get on a trusted title. You can also browse the Games or Arcade tabs.
- Launch and pick a mode. Start with Klondike (the standard setup). Choose Draw 1 for easier play or Draw 3 for a bigger challenge.
- Learn the two core moves. Tap a card to auto-move when legal, or drag a card (or stack) onto a valid card of the opposite color and one rank higher (e.g., red 6 onto black 7).
- Build foundations. Move aces to the top foundation slots, then stack by suit in ascending order up to kings.
- Use the stock. When no tableau move exists, deal from the stock. Scan the tableau again after each flip.
- Finish with auto-complete. Many apps offer an Auto button when the end is guaranteed. It’s a time saver.
Popular iPhone Solitaire Apps At A Glance
Here’s a broad, in-depth look at well-known options so you can pick a fit. Each title handles taps, drags, and hints a bit differently.
| App | Cost Model | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| Solitaire by MobilityWare | Free (ads) / Premium | Classic Klondike feel with daily challenges |
| Microsoft Solitaire Collection | Free (ads) / Premium | Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, TriPeaks, Pyramid in one app |
| Solitaire Stories (Apple Arcade) | Arcade subscription | Story modes and extra variants without ads |
| Spider Solitaire (MobilityWare) | Free (ads) / Premium | Spider specialists; one-, two-, or four-suit runs |
| Solitaire · (Zynga) | Free (ads) / Premium | Clean Klondike play with Game Center leaderboards |
| Solitaire: Classic Card Game (Brainium) | Free (ads) / Premium | Minimal UI and smooth animations |
| FreeCell (various publishers) | Free / Premium | Strategy-heavy play with undo and move tracking |
| TriPeaks & Pyramid (various) | Free / Premium | Quick sessions and streak scoring |
Playing Solitaire On Your iPhone: Setup And Basics
If you’ve ever wondered “how to play solitaire on iphone” and wanted one clean checklist, this section is your friend. Here’s the standard Klondike layout and the moves that matter.
Standard Klondike Layout
- Tableau: Seven columns. From left to right, stacks grow by one card each. Only the top card in each stack starts face up.
- Stock & waste: The undealt deck sits in the stock. Tapping deals cards to the waste pile.
- Foundations: Four slots at the top. Build each by suit from ace to king.
Legal Moves, Quick Checks
- On the tableau, place a card on a card of the opposite color that’s one rank higher (7♣ on 8♥, Q♦ on K♣).
- Move runs (e.g., 9♦-8♣-7♦) as a group when allowed by the app.
- A king can move into any empty tableau column. Many wins hinge on opening a space for a king.
- Aces always go to foundations. Keep an eye out; moving them frees space below.
Beginner Settings That Help
- Draw 1: Easiest setting since every stock tap exposes one new card.
- Hints: Turn them on early. They teach patterns you’ll later spot on your own.
- Undo: Use it to test lines safely without losing a game.
- Right-hand layout: If available, switch to match your dominant hand.
- Auto-complete: When the finish is certain, let the app send cards to foundations.
Download, Sign-In, And Score Tracking
You’ll grab your game from the App Store. Apple outlines the steps clearly: open the App Store, browse tabs like Games or Arcade, or use Search, then tap Get or the price. If you see Open, you already have it.
For leaderboards and achievements, iPhone ties play to Apple’s gaming service. Open the Apple Games app, continue, and you’ll be signed in to Game Center with your Apple Account. That unlocks profile, friends, and shared scoreboards in many card apps.
Where Each Popular App Excels
Solitaire by MobilityWare: Feels like classic desktop play with snappy taps, fast redeals, and daily challenges. Good for short breaks and steady streaks.
Microsoft Solitaire Collection: One download covers five modes. If you like switching between Klondike, FreeCell, Spider, TriPeaks, and Pyramid, it’s tidy and consistent.
Solitaire Stories (Apple Arcade): If you already subscribe to Arcade, you get story campaigns and variants without ads. Nice for longer sessions and relaxed flow.
Rules That Raise Your Win Rate
Open Hidden Cards First
Moves that flip a face-down card on the tableau come first. New cards unlock chains and create fresh paths to foundations.
Save Aces And Twos For Foundations
Moving low cards up cleans the tableau. Don’t trap a 2 under a long run; send it up when legal to free lanes.
Balance Stock Taps And Tableau Moves
Run through visible options before you deal. A single smart move on the tableau often avoids locking the next stock card.
Mind The Color Pattern
If you place a red queen on a black king, you’re committing to a black jack below. Plan a step or two ahead so you don’t block a key move.
Keep A Slot For A King
Empty columns are for kings only. If you can open a space, do it; then slide over a king to build a fresh ladder under it.
Common Variants You’ll See
Spider
Build runs in the same suit from king down to ace. Start with one-suit games, then graduate to two-suit and four-suit once your pattern spotting is sharper.
FreeCell
Every card is face up. Use the four free cells to stage moves. It’s more planning, fewer surprises, and lots of logic.
TriPeaks & Pyramid
These are speedier. Match one-higher or one-lower in TriPeaks; match pairs to 13 in Pyramid. Perfect for short rides or quick lines.
Touch Controls And Quick Tips
Most iPhone solitaire apps share the same feel. Learn these gestures and quality-of-life toggles and your pace improves fast.
| Control / Setting | What It Does | When To Use |
|---|---|---|
| Tap To Move | Sends a card to a legal spot automatically | Fast, low-risk moves like sending aces up |
| Drag And Drop | Manual placement for cards or runs | When you want a specific destination |
| Undo | Reverts the last move | Testing lines without throwing a game |
| Hints | Highlights a legal move | Learning patterns or breaking a stall |
| Draw 1 / Draw 3 | Controls stock difficulty | Start with Draw 1, move to Draw 3 later |
| Auto-Complete | Finishes guaranteed wins | Save time once foundations are set |
| Left/Right Hand Layout | Moves the stock button for comfort | Reduce reach; keep rhythm steady |
Scoring, Streaks, And Daily Challenges
Apps often score speed, move count, and hints used. Some add streaks for consecutive wins, star ratings, or timed goals. Daily challenges keep short play interesting and offer simple rewards or badges. If you enjoy leaderboards, sign in through Apple’s gaming service so your stats follow you across reinstalls and devices.
Small Setups That Make Play Nicer
Turn On Larger Cards
Many titles let you bump card size. Bigger cards cut misses and speed up drags.
Simplify Animations
Clean transitions help focus. If the app feels busy, trim fancy effects in settings.
Pick A Calm Theme
Muted backgrounds and crisp suits make scanning painless. You’ll spot legal moves faster with clear contrast.
Trusted Places To Get Solitaire
Stick to the App Store to avoid risk and to get easy updates and family sharing. Apple’s guide to getting apps shows the exact steps. Many card apps also tie into the Apple Games app for Game Center achievements and leaderboards.
Troubleshooting And Quick Fixes
The App Won’t Install Or Open
Check your connection, confirm free storage, then restart the iPhone. If the button shows a cloud icon, the app is tied to your Apple ID and can be re-downloaded at no extra cost.
Ads Feel Heavy
Most free apps offer a one-time in-app purchase to remove ads. If you already subscribe to Apple Arcade, try a solitaire title there to avoid ads altogether.
Moves Feel Slow
Turn on Tap to move, increase card size, and trim animations. These three tweaks make the biggest difference on smaller screens.
Your First Win Plan
Here’s a light checklist you can run each game: flip hidden cards first; free a column for a king; move aces and twos up on sight; scan for color-alternating runs; tap the stock only when tableau moves dry up; and hit auto-complete when it appears. Try a week of Draw 1 with Hints on and you’ll feel your pace improve. If you came here asking “how to play solitaire on iphone,” these habits are the fast track.
Need the official steps to grab games? See Apple’s guide to downloading apps on iPhone. If you like leaderboards and achievements, the Apple Games app and Game Center tie many solitaire titles to friends and profiles.