Welcome to Pickwheelie FAQs

PickWheelie makes it simple to enter names and spin the Wheel, creating an engaging way to pick a random item from a list and instantly identify the winner. It is highly effective for teachers in classrooms and for raffles, as it saves considerable time. With customizable features, users can easily adjust the look and feel, save wheels, and share them with others.

A built-in function ensures quick and accurate answers, while detailed reviews from every user provide additional insights. This balance of simplicity, customization, and support ensures a smooth and efficient experience. The platform organizes common questions in a clear table of contents, making it convenient to search through the browser

Randomness

1. Is the wheel random?

The wheel works in a way that feels truly random each time you click it. It first accelerates for one second, then the system sets a rotation between 0 and 360 degrees, and later decelerates to a stop. This hidden setting is not visible to the naked eye while the wheel is spinning fast. The process relies on computers using a random number generator built into the browser JavaScript engine.

2. But I spun the wheel several times, and one entry came up more often than the others!

Every spun entry is treated fresh, with no memory of the past outcomes, so the future results are fair. Like a coin toss, if you flip it ten times, there’s no guarantee of getting exactly five heads and five tails, though in fact there is a 24.6% chance of that outcome. When you spin often, you may see duplicate results, which is common, but that’s just how intuition can be misleading. With 10 entries and 5 times of spinning, there’s even a 69.8% chance of one entry showing up more than once.

3. Is the Shuffle button really random?

The Shuffle button adds another layer of random behavior by using the Durstenfeld algorithm, an optimized computer version of the Fisher-Yates shuffle. This means items typed into a textbox can change order, but 20% of the time, the first place may stay the same, similar to shuffling a deck of cards manually. Extra shuffling doesn’t create more randomness, but the spinning experience feels like fun.

4. Can the wheel be rigged?

No, the wheel cannot be rigged. Pickwheelie uses your browser’s built-in random function to ensure every spin is fair and unbiased. Each result is generated on the spot, which keeps giveaways, raffles, and classroom activities completely trustworthy.

How to?

1. How do I add items to the wheel?

To add items, simply type each option on a new line inside the text box. Each line automatically becomes one slice of the wheel. Once your list is ready, just press the Spin button, and the wheel will select a random winner for you.

2. How do I remove a slice?

To remove a slice, delete the item directly from the input box. If you’ve already spun the wheel, you can also choose Delete winner and continue to remove the winning slice and keep spinning without duplicates. This is especially useful for raffles, classroom activities, or any game where each option should only win once.

3. How can I undo a change?

If you make a mistake while editing your list, press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac) to undo your last action. Most browsers also have an undo button in the Edit menu. For long lists, it’s a good idea to keep a backup copy in a text file so you can restore it quickly if needed.

Customization

1. Can I duplicate slices to increase chances?

Yes! You can make an item appear more often by typing it multiple times in the list. This increases its odds of being selected since it takes up more slices on the wheel. For example, if you write “Pizza” three times, it will be three times more likely to win compared to a single entry.

2. Can I change slice colors?

Yes! You can choose from ready-made color themes or create your own with up to six custom colors. The wheel cycles through your chosen colors and repeats them if needed. This is a great way to match event themes, school colors, or brand designs.

3. What if two slices have the same color?

This can happen if the number of slices doesn’t divide evenly by your chosen colors. To fix it, you can add more colors, remove some, or adjust them manually using the color picker. With a little tweaking, you can make every slice look distinct.

4. Can I resize the wheel?

Yes. You can use full-screen mode to make the wheel fill the screen, which removes distractions like the text box. You can also use your browser’s zoom feature to make it larger or smaller, depending on your needs.

5. Can I embed the wheel on my site?

Yes! Pickwheelie gives you an embed code so you can place a wheel directly on your website. Visitors will be able to spin it without leaving your page, which is perfect for blogs, classrooms, or business promotions.

Sharing:

1. How to share the result?

Once the wheel has finished spinning and the winner is displayed on the screen, you can easily share the outcome with others. Simply click on the Share Result button, and the system will generate a unique link for your result. This link can be copied and sent to anyone—whether it’s your friends, your team, or a larger group. Sharing through the link ensures that everyone sees the exact same winning result without any changes. It’s a quick and reliable way to let others view the outcome directly, no matter where they are.

2. Do shared links give the same results to everyone?

No. When you share your wheel link, others will see the same setup of items, but the results are unique for each user. Every spin is calculated independently, which means no two people are guaranteed to get the same outcome even if they use the same link.

3. How Can I Share My Wheel Spin Live?

To share a wheel-spinning experience, the simplest way is through social media platforms that allow you to stream your screen live. With a quick search on the internet for “live streaming” combined with the social media platform of choice, it becomes easy to set up. The thrill comes from letting the audience watch the action unfold in real time, creating instant excitement and engagement.

When going live isn’t possible, there’s always another option. Using a recording feature on the operating system, a video of the wheel can be captured and later shared. This way, the audience can still enjoy the moment without missing out. Whether through stream or recording, both methods make sure the spinning action reaches the right people, keeping the experience just as entertaining

saving:

1. How Can I Save My Wheel for Next Time?

Every wheel comes with its entries and customization, and the good news is that these are saved on your device automatically after every change. When the web page is reopened on the same device, the last wheel is loaded again without extra effort. This makes it simple to continue where you left off without worrying that you might lose your progress.

For extra flexibility, it helps to manage multiple wheels. To switch between different versions, simply click Save and give the wheel a name. Later, just open it by selecting the one you want to use. This method ensures no important setup disappears, while making it easy to jump between saved versions whenever needed.

2. How to export the result?

After the wheel has finished spinning and shows the winner, you can easily save that result for later use. Simply click on the Export Image button, and the winning option will be downloaded as an image file. This makes it convenient to keep a record of your results, share them on social media, or send them to friends, teammates, or colleagues. Exporting the result as an image ensures that the outcome is clear, visually appealing, and ready to be shared anywhere you need.

Other

1. Does the wheel work offline?

Yes. Once the page is loaded, the wheel continues to work even if your internet goes down. You can still spin, see animations, and get results without needing a connection.

2. Why did the wheel stop instantly when I came back to the tab?

Browsers pause animations when a tab isn’t active to save power. If you spin the wheel and switch tabs, the physics simulation pauses. When you return, the wheel instantly finishes the spin and shows the winner.

3. Can I use Pickwheelie on mobile?

Yes. Pickwheelie is fully responsive and works smoothly on mobile devices. The wheel automatically resizes to fit your screen, and you can even use full-screen mode or rotate your phone for a larger view.

4. Do I need an account?

No account is required to use Pickwheelie. Just open the website, add your items, and start spinning immediately. This makes it quick and hassle-free for everyone.

5. Is Pickwheelie free?

Yes! The core features of Pickwheelie are completely free. You can spin unlimited times, customize your wheel, and share it with others at no cost.

Embed

Can I embed the wheel on my site?

How can I get the embed code?

Insert the HTML in your web page

Replace the link with the one provided when you clicked the Share button. You can also adjust the width and height values to achieve the best fit.

You can also get the embed code from the result pop-up. Simply spin the wheel, and you will see an option for the embed code. Click on ‘Continue,’ and the code will be generated. Then, click ‘Copy to Clipboard’ and paste the code into your webpage.