Mahjong Online Multiplayer — Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about playing Mahjong online with friends on HeyMahjong. Can’t find your answer here? Contact us at info@heymahjong.com.

Getting Started

How do I start a multiplayer game?

Create a private room, share the room link with your friends, and have everyone join the table. Once all players are seated, start the game and begin playing.

Need step-by-step instructions? View the Multiplayer Setup Guide →

Can I play Mahjong online with my friends for free?

During the beta period, Multiplayer is available at no cost. Create a private room, invite friends, and play directly in your browser. Multiplayer will become a CORE membership benefit after beta.

Do I need to download anything?

No download or app install is needed. HeyMahjong runs entirely in your web browser. Just open the link and play.

Can I play by myself?

Yes. You can start a room with fewer than four human players. Any empty seats will be filled by AI players, allowing you to practice and play at your own pace.

How many people do I need to play?

Mahjong is traditionally a four-player game, but you do not need four human players to start a game on HeyMahjong.

You can create a table with fewer than four players, and any empty seats will be automatically filled by AI players. This makes it easy to practice on your own, play with a friend, or start a game while waiting for others to join.

Whether you’re playing solo, with a small group, or with a full table of four, you can enjoy a complete Mahjong experience.

Do my friends need an account to join?

Yes. Each player needs a HeyMahjong account to join a multiplayer room.

The host creates the private room and shares the room link or room code. Friends can then log in, enter the room, and join the table.

This helps keep games secure, saves player access, and supports a smoother multiplayer experience.

Private Rooms

How do I create a private room?

Go to the Multiplayer, click Create Room, choose your settings, and share the generated link with your friends. Full instructions are in our multiplayer setup guide.

How long does a private room stay open?

A private Multiplayer room remains active for 24 hours from its last activity.

Room records are retained internally for analytics and support purposes, but they are no longer accessible to players.

If players continue joining or interacting with the room, the activity timer is refreshed.

If a room is inactive for 24 hours, it automatically expires.

Expired rooms can no longer be joined or reopened.

Can strangers join my private room?

No. Your room link is unique and unguessable. Only logged-in players with the exact link can join. There are no public lobbies on HeyMahjong.

Can I play with the same group regularly?

Of course. Create a new room each session and share the fresh link with your group.

Gameplay

Which Mahjong rules does HeyMahjong use?

HeyMahjong Multiplayer uses a simplified Mahjong ruleset where any valid winning hand can declare Mahjong.

Core Mahjong mechanics such as Chi, Pong, Kong, self-draw wins, discard wins, call priority, and multiple winners are supported.

What happens if someone disconnects mid-game?

If a player disconnects, their seat is reserved and they can rejoin the game where they left off. If they do not return within 3 minutes, their seat is automatically taken over by an AI player so the game can continue.

Can I pause the game?

No. Multiplayer games cannot be manually paused. If a player disconnects, their seat is reserved for up to 3 minutes. If they do not return, an AI player will automatically take over their seat so the game can continue.

How is scoring calculated?

Automatic scoring is not currently available in Multiplayer. Players can focus on gameplay while keeping score separately. Automatic scoring and score tracking are planned for a future release.

AI Discard Coach

Does the AI Coach work during multiplayer games?

Yes. The AI Discard Coach is active during every multiplayer game and is visible only to you. It analyzes your hand in real time and recommends a discard based on tile efficiency and hand development.

Can other players see my AI Coach recommendations?

No. Coach suggestions are private and visible only to you. Other players cannot see what the coach is recommending.

Does using the AI Coach affect my score or ranking?

No. Using the AI Coach has no effect on your game score or player ranking. It is a learning tool only.

Technical

What browsers does HeyMahjong support?

HeyMahjong supports the latest versions of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge.

Is HeyMahjong available as a mobile app?

Not yet. HeyMahjong currently runs as a desktop web app.

My game froze — what do I do?

Refresh your browser page. Your room will still be open and you can rejoin using the original room link. If the issue persists, contact us at support@heymahjong.com.

Still have questions? Visit our multiplayer setup guide or reach out to our support team directly.