Spin Wheel / Random Name Picker
Spin a wheel to pick names
Wheel of names
Add names, then spin. Each entry has an equal chance.
Press Space to spin when not editing.
One entry per line. Up to 1,000 entries. Repeated names count as separate entries.
Names, settings, and the last 100 picks are saved in this browser only.
Spin settings
Pick history 0
Your selected names will appear here.
About Spin Wheel / Random Name Picker
Spin Wheel is a random name picker for classroom participation, live streams, small raffles, and everyday decisions. Paste a list of names or choices, spin the wheel, and read the selected entry beneath the fixed pointer. You can keep the entry for the next round or remove it so it cannot be selected again. The picker uses your browser's cryptographic random source to choose an entry before the animation starts. The animation displays that selection rather than deciding the winner from timing, clicks, or device speed. Names, settings, and the last 100 picks are stored in this browser, not sent to a name-picker API. No account is needed.
How to Use Spin Wheel / Random Name Picker
Enter names or choices
Replace the sample names with your own list, one entry per line. Blank lines are ignored and leading or trailing spaces are removed. You can also import a UTF-8 .txt file up to 1 MB. Each wheel accepts up to 1,000 entries, with a maximum of 120 characters per entry. Commas inside a name remain part of that name.
Choose how each round works
Select a quick, normal, or slow spin. Turn on automatic removal for a draw without replacement, or leave it off when the same entry may win again. An optional winner sound is off by default. Shuffle changes the order of the entries without changing their chances. Remove duplicates keeps the first spelling of each name and ignores case.
Spin and read the result
Click Spin the wheel or the center button. You can also press Space when you are not typing or using another control. The entry list is locked during the spin so the wheel and result cannot disagree. In a browser configured for reduced motion, the same random selection is shown without the spinning animation.
Keep, remove, or record the pick
The result dialog lets you copy the selected name or remove just that entry. Continue closes the dialog for another round. Pick history lists the newest selection first and can be downloaded as a text file with timestamps. Clear history removes saved picks without changing the entry list.
Why Use Spin Wheel / Random Name Picker: Common Use Cases
Pick classroom participants
A teacher can paste a class roster and remove each selected entry to give every student a turn. Full screen keeps the wheel visible on a projector. Prepare questions alongside the Online Whiteboard, then return to the picker for the next participant. Keep student names off a public screen if they should not be shared.
Select stream participants
Paste an eligible participant list and share the full-screen wheel through your streaming software. Automatic removal prevents the same entry from being selected twice. The picker does not connect to Twitch, YouTube, or chat accounts, and it does not verify eligibility. Check the list yourself before starting and export the pick history if you need a record.
Choose a task or an everyday option
Use choices instead of names to pick a lunch option, a discussion topic, or the next practice exercise. Store a longer source list in the Online Notepad and paste the relevant choices here. For repeated decisions, leave automatic removal off so the list remains unchanged between rounds.
Spin Wheel / Random Name Picker Specifications
| Input Formats | One name or choice per line, UTF-8 .txt import, Up to 1,000 entries, Up to 120 characters per entry |
|---|---|
| Output Formats | Animated wheel and selected name, Last 100 picks, Timestamped .txt history export |
| File Size Limit | 1 MB |
| Processing Engine | 100% Client-side (Runs locally in your browser) |
| Data Retention | Entries, settings, and the last 100 picks are saved in local browser storage. Clear entries and history to remove them. |
| Batch Processing | Single file processing |
Tips for Spin Wheel / Random Name Picker
Each line has the same chance, not each distinct name. A name entered twice has two entries. Use Remove duplicates or clean your source list with Line Tools when everyone should have one entry.
Above 80 entries, individual labels are hidden because the slices become too narrow to read. The full entry list is still available in the text box, and all entries remain eligible for selection.
Browser storage belongs to the current browser and device. It is not an account backup or cross-device sync. Download the history before clearing site data or moving to another device.
Automatic removal removes only the selected line. Other lines with the same name remain eligible unless you remove duplicates first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every entry have an equal chance?
Yes. Each current entry receives the same selection probability. The picker uses crypto.getRandomValues with rejection sampling to avoid modulo bias. Duplicate lines are separate entries, so repeating a name increases its combined chance. Spin duration and shuffling do not change the probability of an individual entry.
Can I prevent the same name from winning again?
Turn on Remove selected entry after each spin, or use Remove entry in the result dialog. That removes the selected line only. If the same name appears on several lines, remove duplicates before drawing when you want one chance per person.
Are my names uploaded to a server?
This picker processes the entry list and selection in your browser and does not upload names. It saves entries, settings, and up to 100 picks in local browser storage. On a shared computer, clear the entry list and history after use. If storage is blocked, the wheel still works and tells you that the session cannot be saved.
Can I use the wheel on a phone or classroom projector?
Yes. The layout adapts to smaller screens, and the Full screen button shows just the wheel area on browsers that support the Fullscreen API. Full-screen availability depends on the browser. The normal page remains usable when full screen is unavailable.
How do I import names and export results?
Use Import .txt for a UTF-8 plain text file, one entry per line. Files must be no larger than 1 MB, and the same 1,000-entry and 120-character limits apply. Export .txt downloads the saved pick history with ISO timestamps. Spreadsheet and CSV files are not parsed as tables by this tool.
Is this picker suitable for official or regulated prize draws?
It is a browser utility, not a certified lottery system. It does not provide independent audits, tamper-proof logs, identity checks, or legal compliance guarantees. Use an audited process when a prize draw requires those safeguards, and check eligibility and applicable rules before conducting any giveaway.