Start with the Saved Puzzles shelf
A Wordplay Press puzzle does not have to disappear when a new idea takes its place. Each successful generation is added automatically to Saved Puzzles in the browser that made it. The saved entry holds more than a title and word bank: it keeps the grid, its difficulty, its creation time, its chosen language, and its favorite status. That makes the shelf a practical working history for a classroom set, a family game, or a puzzle that needs a second printout. [1]
Think of a saved entry as the version worth returning to after the layout is already right. Before moving on, glance at the title and word list, trace the answer key if needed, and make any correction in the editor. Then generate the corrected puzzle. The automatic save records the completed version; it is not a substitute for checking names, specialist terms, or an unfinished edit.
Favorite the versions that matter
Saved Puzzles can be useful even when the shelf becomes busy. Use the star to mark a puzzle as a favorite when it is the dependable copy: perhaps the one for an annual gathering, a well-tested vocabulary review, or a grid whose spacing works on a particular printer. Favorites stay available when recent history is cleared, so the star is a simple way to separate keepers from experiments. [1]
A favorite is still browser-local, not a shared collection. It will not appear automatically on another computer, another browser profile, or a private-browsing session. Marking an item as a favorite is best understood as sorting this device’s shelf, not publishing a copy to an account or to the cloud. [1] [3]
Open the exact grid instead of rebuilding it
When the same puzzle is needed again, select Open on its saved card. Wordplay Press restores the exact grid and settings rather than making a fresh arrangement from the same words. This matters when a facilitator has an answer key with positions already marked, when one group should receive the same challenge as an earlier group, or when a missing worksheet must be replaced without changing the solution path. [1]
Opening a saved puzzle also avoids a common mix-up between a grid and a word list. Generating again can create a different placement, even if every word is unchanged. A saved grid preserves the particular arrangement that was reviewed. If the words themselves need revision, make the edit deliberately and generate a new version; then favorite the version intended for future use.
Re-download the format the activity needs
The Download control on a saved puzzle can recreate its PDF from the exact saved puzzle and its original language. The PDF is a two-page printable: the puzzle is on page one and a highlighted answer key is on page two. For a replacement participant sheet, print only page one. Keep page two for the person leading the activity, and check printer preview, margins, and scaling before producing a batch. [1] [2]
For an interactive copy, choose Download playable puzzle while the saved grid is open. That produces a self-contained HTML game with that exact grid for browser-based play without remote fonts, trackers, advertising, or scripts. It is different from the PDF: a PDF is printable, while the HTML file is the playable version. A file manager, email preview, or some phone setups may not run the HTML game, so open it in a browser that supports local files or use the online studio instead. [1]
Treat progress as a separate record
A saved puzzle and its solved marks are related but not identical. When browser storage is available, interactive progress is stored locally for each exact grid. Restart game clears the found-word marks while retaining the grid. Deleting a history card does not automatically erase that separate progress record, which can explain why a reopened or otherwise matching grid may still show earlier progress. [3]
That separation is useful when a group wants to start the same puzzle over without losing the layout. Use Restart game for a clean solving attempt, rather than regenerating the puzzle. Conversely, do not depend on a found-word counter as a permanent record of participation. Private browsing and local-file browser settings can restrict progress storage, and clearing browser data removes stored game progress. [1] [3]
Clear recent history without losing favorites
Use Clear recent history when the shelf contains temporary tests, one-off drafts, or a shared-device session that no longer needs to remain visible. This clears recent items while preserving favorites, so the starred copies stay on the shelf. Individual cards can also be removed with Delete when only one entry should go. [1]
Clearing the shelf is not the same as clearing browser data. Wordplay Press can remove individual saved puzzles or recent history from its own shelf, but browser cleanup tools may remove all local storage, including saved history and favorites. On a shared device, remove personal entries after use. On a personal device, export the copies that matter before a browser reset, storage cleanup, or profile change. [1] [3]
Make a backup that can travel
Local history is convenient because the puzzle contents stay in the current browser and device, without an account or cloud synchronization. The trade-off is that it is not a durable archive. A PDF is the clearest backup for a print-ready worksheet. Keep it in a folder under the organizer’s control, with a descriptive file name that includes the activity and date. The downloaded copy remains under the person who saves or shares it. [2] [3]
For a puzzle that may need adapting later, retain the original word list and a short note about its grid size, difficulty, intended group, and language alongside the PDF. The playable HTML download can be a second backup for interactive use, but it should not be assumed to preserve progress consistently across every browser. This small record makes it possible to recreate the activity if local history is removed. [1] [3]
Use local history as a deliberate workspace
Saved Puzzles works best as a lightweight workspace: generate, review, favorite the version that earns a place, reopen it when the same grid is needed, and export a backup for anything important. That routine preserves the useful convenience of automatic local saving without pretending it is a synchronized filing system. [1] [3]
For a new word search, create and play it in the puzzle studio, then visit Saved Puzzles to manage the result. The help and printing guidance provide current details when a browser, a download, or a printer behaves differently than expected. [1] [2]