Public rooms vs private rooms
Public rooms appear in the lobby for anyone to find. Private rooms only work with the 5-letter code. Here is when to use each.
When you create a Remote Control room, ToyControl asks whether you want it public or private. The choice changes who can find your room. Pick the one that matches your situation.
Private rooms
A private room only works if someone has the 5-letter code. It does not appear in the lobby for strangers to browse. Only the people you share the code with can join.
Use a private room when:
- You are playing with a partner you know.
- You are doing a one-on-one session.
- You do not want anyone uninvited to find the room.
Most couples use private rooms.
Public rooms
A public room appears in the lobby. Anyone using ToyControl can see it and join. Public rooms also show in the lobby's filter columns (people who want to control, people who want to be controlled).
Use a public room when:
- You want to meet new partners.
- You are happy for strangers to join your session.
- You are hosting a group play and want it open.
Public rooms come with a built-in safety net: the receiver still controls the Min and Max speed limits, so even an unknown controller cannot exceed your cap. See Setting safe limits for someone driving your toy.
Switching after the room is created
The choice is set when you create the room. There is no toggle to switch it mid-session. If you want to change from public to private (or vice versa), end the session and create a new room with the new setting.
What people see in the lobby
When someone opens the public room lobby, they see:
- The display name you set (or "Anonymous").
- Whether camera is on.
- Whether the room is "wanting a controller" or "wanting to be controlled" (based on which mode you picked).
- The participant count.
The 5-letter code itself is not shown publicly. The lobby uses the room ID internally.
Display name
The display name shown in the lobby (and to anyone who joins) is the one you typed when creating the room. The default is "Anonymous". You can pick any name. We do not validate it.
When to set the room to private
If you are in any doubt, start private. Sharing the code is one extra step but you control who joins. You can always create a public room next time.
When to set the room to public
If you are explicitly trying to meet new partners or join a community-style session, public makes sense. Combine it with conservative speed limits for safety.