JoeChat is a private group chat that runs in your browser. There are no accounts to create – pick a name, share the invite link, and talk. Messages, files and game moves go from browser to browser, and nobody’s server can read them.

What makes it work

• End-to-end encryption: everything is encrypted with AES-GCM using a key derived from the secret part of the invite link (after the #). That key is never sent to any server, so only people who have the link can read the conversation.
• Up to 6 users: one host plus up to five guests per room. The host passes the encrypted messages along to everyone else.
• TURN relay support: connections are direct (peer-to-peer) whenever possible. When strict firewalls or mobile networks block that, a TURN relay forwards the already-encrypted traffic. The header badge shows P2P or RELAY. File transfers are turned off on relayed connections to conserve relay bandwidth.
• Signaling-server reconnect: the signaling server is only used to introduce devices to each other. If the connection to it drops, JoeChat reconnects on its own.
• Automatic guest re-join: if a guest’s link to the host drops, the guest retries and slips back into the room without having to start over.
• iOS background/resume handling: when you lock your iPhone or switch apps and come back, JoeChat checks the connection and restores it.
• Ordered message processing: incoming messages are handled in the order they were sent, so conversations always read correctly.
• File-transfer back-pressure: photos and PDFs (up to 15 MB) are sent in small pieces, and sending pauses whenever the connection is backed up, so big transfers don’t overwhelm it.

Extras

• Read receipts (✓ sent, ✓✓ read) and typing indicators.
• Light and dark themes.
• Games: WordGuess, JoeBlocks, JoeSlider and JoeSimon (1 player), Tic-Tac-Toe, Pong and Checkers (2 players).

Entering the chat

• Type your name (up to 20 characters) in the Join Chat box and tap Start Chatting. If you leave it blank you’ll get a name like Guest_123.
• Opening JoeChat on its own creates a new room and makes you the host. Opening someone’s invite link joins their room.
• Wait for the status dot in the header to turn green – that means you’re connected.
• Type a message and press Enter or tap Send.

Inviting people

• Tap Link in the header to copy the invite link. It contains the encryption key, so only send it to people you trust. A room holds up to 6 people.

The header

• Users: how many people are in the room (for example 2/6), with your name underneath.
• E2EE and P2P/RELAY: messages are end-to-end encrypted; the second badge shows whether your connection is direct (P2P) or through a relay (RELAY).
• Light/Dark switch: changes the theme. The same switch is also under Settings in the menu.
• Leave Chat / End Room: guests leave; when the host ends the room, everyone is disconnected. You are asked to confirm first – the /leave, /quit and /exit commands ask the same question.

Chat commands

• Type / in the message box to see the commands; keep typing to filter, use ↑/↓ then Enter or Tab (or just tap one) to pick it. Type /help for the full list.
• /me, /status, /away, /back, /lurk tell the room what you are up to. /hug, /cry, /laugh send an emoji. /shrug adds ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ to your message. /flip and /roll toss a coin or roll dice for the room. /rules shows the room rules.
• /time, /timeon, /clear are just for you – nobody else sees them. /leave (or /quit, /exit) asks you to confirm, then leaves the chat.
• /msg @name message (or /dm) sends a private message that only that person sees – type /msg and pick a name from the list. /shh @name sends them a quiet “shhhhh”. /timed @name,2,message is a private message that disappears from both screens after the number of minutes you choose (1–60). Private messages are hidden from the rest of the room, but they pass through the host’s device, so don’t treat them as secret from the host.
• /block @name hides someone’s messages, private messages and files from you, and they get a private notice that you blocked them (they can’t send you private messages while blocked). /block on its own lists who you’ve blocked, and /unblock @name undoes it. Blocking only affects your own screen.
• Everyone in a room has a unique name – if yours is already taken you’ll be given a number after it, like Joe_2. Use /nick NewName to change yours any time (names can’t contain @ or commas).
• /listusers shows who is in the room and how long each person has been here. /topic text sets a topic that everyone sees in a bar above the chat (and new arrivals get it too); /topic on its own shows it and /topic clear removes it.
• /reminder 10, message posts your message to the room after 10 minutes (1–240). It is sent from your device, so keep this chat open until it goes out. /reminder list and /reminder cancel manage what is waiting.
• Admin commands – /kick @name removes someone and changes the room link – the old link stops working, everyone still in the room switches automatically, and the Link button gives the new link (anyone invited but not yet in the room needs it). On the host’s screen the link and QR code under the header are redrawn with the new link, /mute @name,10 silences them for 10 minutes (the room sees nothing; they are told), /unmute @name lifts it, and /clearall clears everyone’s screen. Each one asks for the admin password in a private box – never type the password into the message box.
• Start a message with // to send text that begins with a slash.

The menu (☰ button, bottom left)

• File Transfers: send a Photo (JPG/PNG) or a Document (PDF), up to 15 MB. Files only work on direct peer-to-peer connections; the options are greyed out if your connection is relayed or nobody else is connected yet.
• 1 Player Games:JoeSlider – slide and merge matching tiles on a 4×4 board (swipe, arrow keys, or the on-screen arrows). Daily Challenge gives everyone the same tiles that UTC day; your best score is saved on your device. Also JoeBlocks – a falling-blocks puzzle on a small 8×16 board. Choose Daily Challenge (everyone gets the same pieces that UTC day, with unlimited tries – your best counts) or Free Play. Use the on-screen buttons (◀ ▶ move, ▼ soft drop, ⟳ rotate, ⤓ drop, H hold) or the keyboard (arrows, Space, C, P). The 🏆 button shows today’s and this week’s leaderboard for people in your room; weekly score is the sum of your daily bests (Monday–Sunday, UTC). Scores are shared only inside your room. Also JoeSimon – watch the colours light up, then repeat the pattern; it grows longer and faster each round, and one wrong colour ends the game. Your score is how many steps you remembered (best is saved on your device). Turn Sound on with the switch (off by default); on a keyboard use G, R, Y, B. Also WordGuess – guess the daily 5-letter word in 6 tries. Green = right letter, right spot; yellow = right letter, wrong spot; grey = not in the word. Your guesses stay on your device; the chat only sees “completed WordGuess in N steps.”
• 2 Player Games:Pong – choose someone in the room to challenge; they have to accept. The challenger plays the left paddle and the other player the right. Turn the on-screen knob to move your paddle (you can also drag on the court, or use the ↑/↓ or W/S keys). First to 11 wins, and the ball speeds up the longer a rally lasts. Sound is off by default. Leaving mid-game ends it for both players. Also Tic-Tac-Toe – choose someone in the room to challenge. They have to accept the invitation. Also Checkers – choose someone in the room to challenge; the challenger plays Red and moves first, and rematches swap colours. Tap a piece, then tap the square it should go to (dots show where it can go). Captures are compulsory – a piece that must capture is ringed in yellow – and a multi-jump is made by tapping each landing square in turn. Offer a draw or resign from the game window; you lose if you have no legal move. At least one other person must be in the room.
• Settings: the Dark / Light switch (the same one as in the header) changes the theme and your choice is remembered on this device. Clear Screen clears your own screen – the same as typing /clear – and Chat Command List shows the chat commands, the same as /help.
• Help: this window.
• About: what JoeChat is and how it works.