diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
index 7c8c451f8..8b9bfb48f 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
   <string name="key_proxy_port">key_proxy_port</string>
   <string name="key_sms_port">key_sms_port</string>
   <string name="key_dict_host">key_dict_host2</string>
+  <string name="key_init_hintsallowed">key_init_hintsallowed</string>
   <string name="key_board_size">key_board_size</string>
   <string name="key_initial_player_minutes">key_initial_player_minutes</string>
   <string name="key_default_dict">key_default_dict</string>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
index 2372855d6..56854032a 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@
     open them without it.</string>
     
     <string name="hints_allowed">Allow hints</string>
+    <string name="hints_allowed_sum">Enable the hint feature</string>
     <string name="progress_title">Searching for moves</string>
     <string name="use_timer">Enable game timer</string>
     <string name="color_tiles">Color tiles</string>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml
index 371033e10..fbe8b2f64 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@
        android:defaultValue="CollegeEng_2to8"
        />
 
+    <CheckBoxPreference android:key="@string/key_init_hintsallowed"
+                        android:title="@string/hints_allowed"
+                        android:summary="@string/hints_allowed_sum"
+                        android:defaultValue="true"
+                        />
+
     <ListPreference android:key="@string/key_default_phonies"
                     android:title="@string/default_phonies"
                     android:entries="@array/phony_names"
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CommonPrefs.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CommonPrefs.java
index 42247b460..1d1d7feb4 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CommonPrefs.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CommonPrefs.java
@@ -237,6 +237,12 @@ public class CommonPrefs {
                                 false );
     }
 
+    public static boolean getDefaultHintsAllowed( Context context )
+    {
+        return getPrefsBoolean( context, R.string.key_init_hintsallowed, 
+                                true );
+    }
+
     public static boolean getHideTitleBar( Context context )
     {
         return getPrefsBoolean( context, R.string.key_hide_title, true );
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CurGameInfo.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CurGameInfo.java
index 421568b5b..b57b5e144 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CurGameInfo.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/jni/CurGameInfo.java
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public class CurGameInfo {
             : DeviceRole.SERVER_STANDALONE;
         dictName = CommonPrefs.getDefaultDict( context );
         dictLang = DictLangCache.getLangCode( context, dictName );
-        hintsNotAllowed = false;
+        hintsNotAllowed = !CommonPrefs.getDefaultHintsAllowed( context );
         phoniesAction = CommonPrefs.getDefaultPhonies( context );
         timerEnabled = CommonPrefs.getDefaultTimerEnabled( context );
         allowPickTiles = false;