How to use the wheel of names
- Type or paste your names in the box, one per line. A single line of names separated by commas works too.
- Choose the colors, how long the wheel spins and, if you like, a title such as “Who presents first?”.
- Press Spin the wheel, click the wheel itself or press Space. The wheel slows down, ticks past each name and stops on the winner.
- Remove the winner or keep the name for the next spin. Turn on automatic removal when you are drawing several winners in a row.
Is the wheel really random?
Yes. Before the wheel even starts moving, the winner is drawn with your browser's cryptographic random number generator (the Web Crypto API), the same source browsers use to create security keys. The animation then turns the wheel so that it comes to rest on that name. Every name gets a slice of exactly the same size, so every name has exactly the same chance, and nothing about the last spin, the spin time or where the wheel stopped before affects the next result.
If you want one name to have a bigger chance, add it twice. Two slices mean twice the chance, which is handy for reward systems where pupils earn extra entries.
Ideas for using a name wheel
- In the classroom: choose who answers the next question, who reads aloud or the order of presentations.
- Giveaways and competitions: draw winners live on a stream or a video call with a full-screen wheel everyone can see.
- At home: settle what to eat, which film to watch or whose turn it is to do the dishes.
- Games and sport: pick teams, a starting player, a forfeit or a random challenge.
Sharing your wheel
Share this wheel creates a link that contains your names, title and colors. Anyone who opens it gets the same wheel and can spin it on their own device. The names travel inside the link itself and are not stored on our servers, but anyone you send the link to can read them, so avoid putting private information on a shared wheel. Your list is also remembered in this browser, so it is still there the next time you open the page.
On a projector or interactive whiteboard
Press the full-screen button to show only the title and a large wheel. It works with a mouse, a touch screen or a keyboard, and the tick sound can be switched off with the speaker button at the top of the page. Long names are shortened on the wheel so the slices stay readable, and the full name appears in the winner window.
Frequently asked questions
How many names can I put on the wheel?
Up to 200. With many names the slices get thin, so for very large lists the random name picker may be easier to read.
Can I remove a name after it wins?
Yes. The winner window lets you remove the name or keep it. If you tick “Remove the winner automatically”, each winner is taken off straight away and you can put it back with one click.
Does the wheel favour any name?
No. Each name has a slice of the same size and the winner is drawn with cryptographic randomness before the wheel moves. A name only has a bigger chance if you enter it more than once.
Are my names saved anywhere?
Only in your own browser, so the list is there when you come back. A share link contains the names too, so only send it to people who should see them.
Can I use Arabic names?
Yes. Arabic, English and mixed lists all display correctly on the wheel and in the winner window.
How do I turn off the sound?
Use the speaker button in the top bar of the page. The setting is remembered for every game and tool on PlayNovarc.
