diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
index 37ecd4c92..872d7bc9f 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
   <string name="key_logging_on">key_logging_on</string>
   <string name="key_show_sms">key_show_sms</string>
   <string name="key_init_hintsallowed">key_init_hintsallowed</string>
+  <string name="key_init_nethintsallowed">key_init_nethintsallowed</string>
   <string name="key_init_autojuggle">key_init_autojuggle</string>
   <string name="key_board_size">key_board_size</string>
   <string name="key_initial_player_minutes">key_initial_player_minutes</string>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
index 24cbd2f36..d9ab71247 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -386,6 +386,11 @@
          generated based on his tray.  Can be used to cheat.  -->
     <string name="hints_allowed">Allow hints</string>
 
+    <!-- text of checkbox.  If this checkbox is checked, games created
+         for network play will by default have the hint feature
+         enabled. -->
+    <string name="nethints_allowed">Allow hints (networked)</string>
+
     <!-- text of checkbox controlling whether there's a game timer -->
     <string name="use_timer">Enable game timer</string>
 
@@ -851,6 +856,11 @@
          in this file) -->
     <string name="hints_allowed_sum">Enable the hint feature</string>
 
+    <!-- clarification on hints_allowed, whether new NETWORKED games
+         will default to having the hint feature enabled(string
+         elsewhere in this file) -->
+    <string name="nethints_allowed_sum">Enable hints for two-device games</string>
+
     <!-- Will new games, on default, randomly rearrange the start
          order of players. -->
     <string name="init_autojuggle">Juggle players</string>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml
index 1f5badd5d..03b825685 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/res/xml/xwprefs.xml
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@
                         android:defaultValue="true"
                         />
 
+    <CheckBoxPreference android:key="@string/key_init_nethintsallowed"
+                        android:title="@string/nethints_allowed"
+                        android:summary="@string/nethints_allowed_sum"
+                        android:defaultValue="true"
+                        />
+
     <CheckBoxPreference android:key="@string/key_init_autojuggle"
                         android:title="@string/init_autojuggle"
                         android:summary="@string/init_autojuggle_sum"
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 29607cea6..c64848445 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
@@ -292,10 +292,12 @@ public class CommonPrefs {
                                 false );
     }
 
-    public static boolean getDefaultHintsAllowed( Context context )
+    public static boolean getDefaultHintsAllowed( Context context, 
+                                                  boolean networked )
     {
-        return getPrefsBoolean( context, R.string.key_init_hintsallowed, 
-                                true );
+        int key = networked ?
+            R.string.key_init_nethintsallowed : R.string.key_init_hintsallowed;
+        return getPrefsBoolean( context, key, true );
     }
 
     public static boolean getAutoJuggle( Context context )
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 4e2dcad01..028c492b0 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
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ public class CurGameInfo {
         players = new LocalPlayer[MAX_NUM_PLAYERS];
         serverRole = isNetworked ? DeviceRole.SERVER_ISCLIENT
             : DeviceRole.SERVER_STANDALONE;
-        hintsNotAllowed = !CommonPrefs.getDefaultHintsAllowed( context );
+        hintsNotAllowed = !CommonPrefs.getDefaultHintsAllowed( context, 
+                                                               isNetworked );
         phoniesAction = CommonPrefs.getDefaultPhonies( context );
         timerEnabled = CommonPrefs.getDefaultTimerEnabled( context );
         allowPickTiles = false;