How-to3 min read · Reviewed September 3, 2026
hostQR codeinvite linksession codecreate invite
Starting a Session as Host
Pick a person, then deck, depth, language, and length; share the QR code, link, or code; cancel or end it.
Hosting begins by choosing a person, then a ritual.
Step 0 — Who Is This For?
Open the Start tab.
- Tap a friend's face to start a ritual with them. Bonded notifies them that you want to play.
- Tap Someone new for an ordinary open invite with a link and a code.
- Press and hold a face to hide it from these shortcuts. They remain your friend everywhere else, and Show hidden friends brings them back.
Steps 1-4 — Build the Ritual
- Pick the mood — the deck. Your recommended deck is marked; locked decks open Premium.
- Set the depth — Light, Playful, Deep, or Spicy.
- Choose the language — English or Greek.
- How many questions? — 2 (quickest), 4, 6, or 10 (default). Free accounts can host up to 4; longer lengths are shown but locked.
Then tap Create invite.
Opening the wizard from a deck's detail page skips straight to the depth step.
Waiting Room
After creating the invite, Bonded shows:
- A QR code.
- The 6-character session code.
- Share invite.
- Cancel session.
- A live connection indicator.
If you invited a specific friend, the screen says who you are waiting for. The ritual starts the moment they join — and the code still works for anyone else you send it to.
Share Options
| Option | Best for |
|---|---|
| QR code | Partner is physically nearby and can scan your screen. |
| Invite link | Sending through messages, chat, or another app. |
| 6-character code | Partner is using the mobile app or manual web entry. |
Cancel or End
- Before anyone joins: tap Cancel session on the waiting screen. Bonded marks the ritual abandoned and returns you home.
- After it starts: either person can end it from inside the ritual, or from the Home card. Ending closes it for both of you and keeps anything already saved.
Host Troubleshooting
| Problem | Meaning | What to try |
|---|---|---|
WEEKLY_SESSION_LIMIT | Your free hosted ritual for the rolling week is used. | Wait for the reset window, or start Premium. Joining is still free. |
SESSION_ALREADY_OPEN | You already have a ritual open. | Bonded routes you into it. Finish or end it, then start another. |
DECK_REQUIRED | No deck was selected. | Go back and choose a deck. |
PACK_NOT_FOUND | The selected deck is unavailable or inactive. | Choose a visible deck. |
PACK_NOT_OWNED | You selected a locked Premium deck. | Choose Starter, or review Premium. |
| Longer lengths are locked | Free hosting is capped at 4 questions. | Start Premium, or host a shorter ritual. |
| "Create invite" does nothing | A limit was hit and the paywall was dismissed. | Read the message shown, then retry or shorten the ritual. |
| Session failed | Network or server request failed. | Retry on a stable connection. |
| Partner cannot join | Wrong code, ritual ended, or the invite is no longer joinable. | Share the latest code/link and keep the waiting screen open. |
| Share button does nothing | No join link is available. | Cancel and create a new invite. |
Next steps
If this does not resolve the issue, check the related path below or use the support checklist with the exact error or screen name.
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