Frequently asked questions
Everything about how WheelWhirl wheels work, grouped by topic. For a step-by-step tour of the controls, see how to use the wheel.
Spinning and fairness
How does the wheel decide where to stop?
The result is picked first, the moment you press Spin, using the cryptographic random number generator in your browser. The animation then slows down onto that slice. How hard you click, how long the spin lasts and the sound settings have no effect on the result.
Why did the same name come up twice in a row?
Because every spin is independent. A name that just won has exactly the same chance on the next spin as before, the same way a coin can land on heads twice. If each entry should only be picked once, remove the winner after each spin.
Can I make one entry more likely than another?
Yes. In the Weights and colors tab, raise an entry’s weight. A weight of 3 makes that entry three times as likely as an entry with a weight of 1, and the winner window shows each result’s chance.
How can I prove a giveaway was fair?
Use Verified draw (the shield icon). It locks your list, waits for a public randomness round that nobody can know in advance, and works out the winner from both. You get a receipt link that anyone can open to check the result.
Can I change how long the wheel spins?
Yes. Settings has a spin duration slider from 1 to 20 seconds, plus an instant result mode when you only need the answer.
Entries, pictures and hidden tasks
How do I add a long list quickly?
Paste it into the List tab, one entry per line. A column copied from Google Sheets or Excel works as it is. Blank lines are ignored, and the Remove duplicates button cleans up names entered twice.
Can I import entries from a file?
Yes. Import accepts .csv, .tsv and .txt files. The columns are Label, Weight, Color and Hidden, and only Label is required. Export saves your list in the same format.
Can I put pictures on the wheel?
Yes. In the Weights and colors tab, press the picture icon next to an entry and choose an image. It is resized in your browser and shown on the slice; it is never uploaded.
What is a hidden task?
Any entry can hold a hidden task or answer, such as a dare, a forfeit or the answer to a math fact. After the spin, the result window shows a Reveal button, and the hidden text appears only when someone presses it. Click the eye icon next to an entry in the Weights and colors tab to add one.
Can I leave an entry out without deleting it?
Yes. Untick its checkbox in the Weights and colors tab. It stays in your list but is left off the wheel until you tick it again.
Is there a limit to the number of entries?
No fixed limit. Very thin slices hide their labels so the wheel stays readable, but every entry is still in the draw and the winner is always shown in full.
Results
How do I remove the winner?
Press Remove winner in the result window, or turn on "Remove winner after each spin" to remove every winner automatically until one entry is left.
Can I pick several winners at once?
Yes. In Settings, choose how many winners you need and press Pick winners. They are drawn together with no repeats.
Can the wheel read the result aloud?
Yes. Turn on "Read the result aloud" in Settings. The wheel uses your browser’s speech feature, reads the winner when the wheel stops, and reads a hidden task when it is revealed. What is read never reaches WheelWhirl.
Where can I see earlier results?
The History button lists every result from your visit with the time, and you can download the list as a CSV file. History is cleared when you leave the page.
Classrooms, streams and events
Are student names sent to WheelWhirl?
No. Entries stay in the browser while you use the wheel. They only leave your device if you choose to share a link, and even then they are inside the link rather than stored by us.
Can I use a wheel on Twitch or YouTube?
Yes. The Streamer Studio gives you an overlay for OBS or Streamlabs, can add viewers from Twitch chat or YouTube Live chat, and lets chat trigger spins.
Can I pick a winner from YouTube comments?
Yes. The YouTube Comment Picker loads the comments of a video, counts each commenter once and spins to pick one. The winner window shows their comment with a link to it.
Can I spin more than one wheel at the same time?
Yes. The Multi Wheel page spins several wheels together, for example a person, a task and a time, so you can build a full combination in one go.
Cost, accounts and devices
Is WheelWhirl free?
Yes. Every wheel and tool is free to use. The site is paid for by ads on its pages; embedded wheels and stream overlays never show ads.
Do I need an account?
No. There is nothing to sign up for. Saved wheels live in your browser and shared wheels live in their links.
Does it work on phones and tablets?
Yes. The wheel resizes to fit any screen, the entries open in a panel at the bottom on small screens, and you can spin by tapping the wheel.
Can I suggest a new wheel?
Yes, please do. Send us the idea through the contact page and tell us what you would use it for.
Didn't find your answer? Send us a message, or go straight to the main wheel and all wheels.