FUN XIANGQI GUIDES
How to Join an Online Xiangqi Match
By The Fun Xiangqi Team · Published · 4 min read
Video walkthrough coming soon
Steps
Open "Join a match" from Home
On the Home screen, tap the "Join a match" row ("Enter the code a friend sent you") to open the join sheet. Joining a match is free for everyone.
Type the 6-character code
Enter the code in the "ENTER CODE" boxes. Letters auto-capitalize, and O, I, and L are read as 0, 1, and 1, so a mistyped character still works. Fun Xiangqi checks the code automatically as you type ("CHECKING CODE") — there's no submit button.
Join the room or watch as a spectator
If the room is still open, tap "Join the match" to take the seat. If the match already started, tap "Watch the match" to spectate instead — spectators see a 15-second delay.
Wait for the host in a private room
If you joined before the host started the match, your seat shows "Ready" while you wait. The host starts the game once everyone's in.
Move pieces once the match starts
Tap a piece, then tap a highlighted point to move it. Your card sits below the board and your opponent's above; the board flips automatically if you're playing Black.
Offer a draw, resign, or send a cheer
Tap "Draw" to offer a draw once past the opening moves, or press and hold the resign button to leave the match — a light tap never resigns by accident. Send one of three cheer emoji anytime to react.
Before you start
Joining an online match in Fun Xiangqi is free for everyone — no Fun Pro required, no extra setup beyond the app itself. All you need is a six-character room code from a friend, or the invite link they send you.
If a friend shares a link like fxqchess.com/join/CODE, opening it on your phone launches Fun Xiangqi straight into the join sheet with the code already filled in. You can also type the code by hand from the Home screen.
Codes are forgiving. Letters auto-capitalize as you type, and the easily confused O, I, and L are read as 0, 1, and 1, so a slightly mistyped code still resolves. There's no submit button — Fun Xiangqi checks the code the moment you finish typing.
Tips
- If the room your friend created is still open, you'll see a "Join the match" button, with the host's name shown above it. Tap it to take the seat.
- If the game is already underway, you'll see "Watch the match" instead. Spectators see the position on a 15-second delay, so you're always a few moves behind the live action.
- Once you're seated, your own card sits below the board and your opponent's above it. The board flips automatically if you're playing Black, so your own pieces are always nearest you.
- During the match, "Draw" only becomes available once the opening moves are played out. The resign control is always press-and-hold — a light tap never ends your game by accident. Three cheer emoji let you react without breaking the silence of the position.
If something goes wrong
A code shows "This match is private." when the host has turned off sharing — ask them to send a fresh code or turn sharing back on. An invalid code says so plainly, and typing too many wrong codes in a row asks you to wait a moment before trying again. If a match has finished or the room has expired, Fun Xiangqi tells you it's no longer available.
If your opponent's connection drops mid-game, you'll see "Opponent is reconnecting…" with a running timer instead of a frozen board. If they stay away too long, the banner changes to say they have left the game.
Quick questions
Is joining a match really free? Yes. Every player can join, play, and watch matches for free. Fun Pro only affects certain solo opponents and extras elsewhere in the app.
What if I join before the room starts? In a private room, your seat shows "Ready" while you wait — the host starts the game once everyone's in.
Can spectators do anything besides watch? Spectators see the cheer counts but can't send cheers, move pieces or offer a draw — only the two players control the match.
Joining is always free, so head to Fun Xiangqi and get a room code from a friend — or try the AI Player or your daily quests while you wait for one.