2048

The game

2048 is a sliding number puzzle. Swipe to slide all tiles at once: two equal tiles that bump into each other merge into one with double the value. Keep merging to make the 2048 tile — then keep going for even more points.

A danger indicator looks ahead at every possible new tile, so you can see how much room you still have before the board fills up.

Four difficulty levels

Highlights

• Danger indicator: 🟢 plenty of room, 🟠 getting tight, 🔴 danger — tap it for the exact survival chance and the safest move
• Hints: an arrow shows the best move, found by a player that looks ahead at every possible new tile
• Unlimited undo / redo — undo plus the same move always gives the same new tile (no rerolling)
• Live time, moves, points and your best score
• Top 10 per difficulty: fastest and fewest moves to the goal tile, and most points
• Optional arrow buttons under the board, vibration and keep-screen-on
• Pause hides the board and stops the clock; Continue picks up where you left off, including the undo history
• Sliding and popping tiles, floating points and confetti when you reach the goal
• Material 3 design with light and dark themes; adapts to phones, tablets and foldables

Download

Why 2048 isn't on the Google Play Store

Google currently enforces highly demanding and complex requirements to publish new apps (such as mandatory closed testing phases with at least 20 people for 14 days, rigorous identity verification, and heavy administrative overhead). Because we build apps purely for our own enjoyment and want to keep it simple, we prefer to share the app with you directly.

How to Install the App

How to install an APK directly on your phone

1. Tap the download button above and wait for 2048.apk to finish downloading.
2. Open the file (via your notification shade or the Files app).
3. Android will ask permission to install unknown apps. Tap Settings and enable "Allow from this source" for your browser or file manager.
4. Go back and tap Install.
5. Open 2048 when installation completes.

Installing apps from outside the Play Store is a normal Android feature. You can turn the "unknown sources" permission back off afterwards if you prefer.

How to install an APK via your computer

The cleanest, safest, and most secure way to install an APK file—without modifying your phone's mobile security settings or enabling "Unknown Sources"—is via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) from your computer. This is an official command-line utility supplied by Google for Android developers.

Step 1: Download ADB on your computer (The fastest way)

You do not need to install the massive Android Studio suite. Google provides a lightweight, standalone package called Platform-Tools.

• Windows: Download the official Android SDK Platform-Tools for Windows.
• Mac / Linux: Download the zip package above or install it instantly via your terminal line:
  • Mac (via Homebrew): Run brew install android-platform-tools
  • Linux (Ubuntu/Debian): Run sudo apt install adb

Note: If you downloaded the ZIP file (Windows/Mac), extract it into an easy-to-reach directory, such as C:\platform-tools or your Desktop.

Step 2: Prepare your Android phone

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Go to About phone (or System > About).
3. Tap Build number 7 times rapidly until a notification pop-up says: "You are now a developer!".
4. Return to the main Settings menu, open the new Developer options panel, and turn on USB debugging.

Step 3: Install the APK file

1. Connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable.
2. Look at your phone's screen: a prompt will ask "Allow USB debugging?". Check the option for “Always allow from this computer” and tap Allow.
3. Move your downloaded APK file directly into the folder where you extracted the platform-tools files.
4. Open Command Prompt (CMD) on Windows or Terminal on Mac/Linux, and change directories to that folder (e.g., on Windows, type: cd C:\platform-tools).
5. Run this command to verify your computer properly detects your device:

   adb devices

   (If you see a serial number followed by the word 'device', you are connected successfully!)
6. Run the installation script command:

   adb install 2048.apk

When the terminal returns a Success message, the app is fully installed on your device and ready to launch!

How to play

1. Start a game

On the menu, tap New game and choose a difficulty. Continue returns to the game in progress.

2. Swipe

Swipe up, down, left or right. All tiles slide as far as they can. Two equal tiles that bump into each other merge: 2+2 = 4, 4+4 = 8… A tile merges only once per move (2 2 2 2 → 4 4).

3. New tiles

After every move a new 2 (sometimes a 4) appears on a random empty cell.

4. Reach the goal

Make the goal tile (2048, or 256 on Expert) to win. Choose Keep going for more points or Finish to save your score. When the board is full and nothing can merge, the game is over.

Points & top 10

• Every merge scores the value of the new tile (8+8 → 16 points), the standard 2048 scoring.
• Undo takes the points and the move back; the clock keeps running. Hints are free, but limited per difficulty.
• A game enters the top 10 when you finish it: Finish after the goal, End game when no moves are left, or Pause → End game and save score.

The danger indicator

Permissions this app requests

• No internet, no mobile or Wi-Fi data. Android blocks all network access for the app.
• No background running. No services, jobs or alarms. When the game leaves the screen, it pauses, saves itself and stops all work; it continues when you return. Vibration and keep-screen-on need no permission.

Privacy & cost — in plain terms

• No usage data collected. No analytics, crash reporting or advertising SDKs, and no Google Play services or Firebase.
• No personal data requested. There are no accounts, no sign-up, no login.
• No cookies. The app is not a web app and stores no cookies; this website sets none either.
• No internet connection. The game works fully offline.
• No payment, ever. The game is completely free, with no ads and no in-app purchases.

Your settings, top 10 and the game in progress are stored only in a private file on your device. Cloud backup and device transfer are disabled. For the full statement, see Privacy & Disclaimer.

Provided as is

2048 is a hobby project, shared for learning and fun. It is provided "as is", without any warranty. Please read the full Privacy Statement & Disclaimer before use — by installing or using the app you accept those terms.

Have a question? Contact us →

Images