Spinny.name User Guide & Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know to set up your wheel, manage name lists, customize spin duration and audio settings, and share your wheel with anyone.
Quick Start Manual (4 Easy Steps)
Add Your Entries
Type or paste your names into the Enter Names box (one name per line), pick a saved list from the Presets dropdown, or click Templates to load a ready-made wheel.
Customize Wheel Settings
Click Settings below the wheel to adjust the Spin Duration slider from 3s to 60s and set the Sound Volume (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%).
Spin the Wheel
Click the center SPIN button (or click anywhere on the wheel). When the wheel stops, a celebration modal announces the winner and logs them in the Winner History panel.
Manage Results & Share
Choose Remove Name to prevent repeat winners or Keep Name for the next round. Click Share Link to copy a direct link to your custom wheel.
1. Entering, Shuffling & Managing Names
How do I enter names onto the wheel?
In the right-hand Enter Names panel, type or paste your list into the text area with one entry per line. Every non-empty line immediately creates a colored slice on the wheel, and the live badge at the top of the panel displays the exact number of active entries. You can also paste an entire column directly from Excel, Google Sheets, or a text document.
How do I shuffle the order of names?
Click the Shuffle Names button located at the top right of the Enter Names panel. This instantly randomizes the order of lines in your text box and rearranges the slices on the wheel.
What happens after a winner is picked? Can I remove them?
When the wheel stops, a winner modal appears on screen with two options:
- Remove Name: Automatically deletes the selected winner from your list so they cannot be picked again in subsequent spins (ideal for raffles or calling on every student in class).
- Keep Name: Closes the modal and leaves the winner on the wheel for future spins.
Every winner is also recorded with a timestamp in the Winner History panel directly beneath the wheel.
How do I clear the entire list or winner history?
Click the red Clear button below the text box to erase all current names (a confirmation dialog will prevent accidental deletion). To reset past winners, click Clear History in the Winner History panel beneath the wheel.
2. Configuring Spin Duration (3s–60s) & Sound Volume
How do I change how long the wheel spins?
Click the Settings button in the toolbar directly below the wheel to open the Wheel Configuration modal. Drag the Spin Duration slider to select any duration between 3 seconds (quick picks) and 60 seconds (dramatic live raffle suspense). The currently configured time is always displayed next to the Settings button below the wheel.
How do I control the sound volume or mute the wheel?
Spinny.name offers two ways to control audio:
- Volume Levels (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%): Open the Settings modal below the wheel and click your preferred volume percentage. Selecting a level plays a quick preview tick so you can test the volume immediately.
- Quick Mute Toggle: Click the Sound On / Sound Muted button on the left side of the wheel toolbar to mute or unmute audio with a single click, even while the wheel is spinning.
3. Saving Presets, Templates & Sharing Links
How do I save multiple lists for different classes or events?
After entering your names, click the Save List button above the text box. Enter a preset name (for example, "Period 2 Biology" or "Friday Standup") and click Save. You can switch between any of your saved lists at any time using the Saved Lists (Presets) dropdown menu.
What are Quick Templates?
Clicking the Templates button opens a collection of pre-built wheels for common everyday decisions, including Yes or No, Numbers 1–10, What to Eat?, Flip a Coin, Roll a Dice, Truth or Dare, Movie Genre, Team Colors, and Meeting Roles.
How do I share my custom wheel with others?
Click the Share Link button at the bottom right of the Enter Names panel. Spinny.name generates a unique URL containing your current names and automatically copies it to your clipboard. Anyone who opens that link will immediately see your custom wheel loaded with your names.
4. Fairness, Privacy & General Questions
Is Spinny.name truly random?
Yes! Unlike basic scripts that rely on predictable pseudo-random functions, Spinny.name uses the browser's built-in cryptographic random number generator (window.crypto.getRandomValues()) to calculate the target rotation angle. Every entry on the wheel has an identical mathematical chance of being selected.
Will my names and settings be saved if I refresh or close the browser?
Yes. Your current list of names, saved presets, winner history, spin duration, and volume settings are automatically stored in your browser's local memory (localStorage), so everything is ready whenever you return.
Are the names I enter uploaded to any server?
No. All name lists are processed 100% locally inside your web browser. We never transmit or store your lists on external servers, making Spinny.name privacy-safe for classrooms and organizations.
Ready to Spin the Wheel?
Head back to the wheel or contact our support team if you have any additional questions.