Pokémon GO Party Play lets two to four nearby Trainers play together in a shared session. Each participant must be at least Trainer Level 21, and eligible child accounts need a parent or guardian to enable the feature. To start, one Trainer creates a lobby from the Party tab; others join nearby by scanning a QR code or entering a nine-digit Party Code.
What is Party Play?
Party Play is Pokémon GO’s in-person group feature. Once a Party begins, members can take on shared Party Challenges, track each other’s contributions, and build Party Power together during Raid Battles. Niantic describes the group as “between two to four Trainers, including you” in the Pokémon GO Help Center overview.
Trainers must be physically close to the host to join and should stay nearby during play. A member who moves too far away may receive a warning and could be removed from the Party. Party Play is available to Trainers at Level 21 or higher; child accounts need guardian permission and have additional restrictions.
How do I host a Party?
- From Map View, open your Trainer Profile, then select the Party tab.
- Choose the option to create a Party Play lobby. Share the QR code or nine-digit Party Code displayed in the lobby with nearby players.
- Once at least one other Trainer has joined, start the Party when the app allows it. Niantic’s host and joining instructions differ on the precise start threshold, so follow the in-app prompt rather than relying on a higher minimum.
- Choose a Party Challenge from the available options when prompted.
The lobby remains open for 15 minutes for players to join. A Party can contain no more than four Trainers, including the host. See Niantic’s hosting instructions for the current lobby flow.
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How do I join a Party?
- Meet the host in person and stay close enough to them for the lobby to appear.
- Open Trainer Profile from Map View, select Party, then choose Join a Party.
- Scan the host’s QR code, or enter the nine-digit Party Code shown in the host’s lobby.
Both options connect you to the same lobby. Scanning is convenient if you can use your phone’s camera; entering the code is an alternative if you cannot scan. You must join within the lobby’s 15-minute window. Niantic’s joining guide covers the process.
What can a Party do together?
Complete Party Challenges
At the beginning of a session, the group can choose from predetermined challenges. Examples include spinning PokéStops or Gyms and catching a set number of Pokémon. The reward depends on the challenge selected. You can check overall progress and each member’s contribution in the Party tab; after a challenge is completed, the host is prompted to choose another.
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Build Party Power in Raids
Party members can join Raid Battles as usual. As members attack the Raid Boss, Party Power fills; when it is full, the next Charged Attack gets a special boost. The bonus applies to the Trainer, not just the Pokémon currently battling, so it carries over to the next Pokémon if the active one faints. Players outside your Party can also join the raid, but additional Party members in the battle contribute more to Party Power. Details are in Niantic’s Party Play feature instructions.
Share certain item effects
Some item effects can be shared from the Party tab. Each member receives a portion of the shared effect, and it may stack with an effect already active up to an upper limit. This applies to certain items, not everything in a Trainer’s inventory.
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How long can a Party last?
A session can last up to three hours, or end earlier if the group finishes or the host ends it. Niantic says a 10-minute warning appears near the time limit. If the host leaves while other members remain, another host is selected; the Party is disbanded if fewer than two Trainers are left.
To leave, open the Party tab and use the option to leave the Party. You can view a session summary showing contributions and achievements afterward. Niantic states: “Your Party can last up to 3 hours, or until you end your Party Play session.”
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Can I turn off location sharing?
Yes. Party members may see one another’s approximate real-world location on the Party Map View after the session starts. To disable sharing, go to Map View > Main Menu > Settings > General > Party Play > Share Location with Party. Location sharing stops when the Party ends. Members can also see one another’s nickname and avatar. See Niantic’s Party Play safety guidance.
Child-account rules
Parents or guardians must enable Party Play permission for eligible Pokémon Trainer Club or Niantic Kids accounts through the Parent Portal. Child accounts cannot host a Party and must be friends with the host to join. They also need at least two other players in the Party. For privacy, child avatars do not appear on other members’ Map Views, and child-account users do not see other Trainers on their own Map View.
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