Wheel Spinner Troubleshooting: Missing Lists, Sound and Sharing
If your wheel list is missing, sound does not play or a shared link fails, start by identifying which part is affected. A browser-save problem needs a different response from an expired snapshot. Before clearing data, resetting the wheel or importing a file, preserve any entries you can still see.
This guide covers common situations in WheelSpinnerLive. If you are looking for the normal setup process, use the complete wheel instructions. Avoid making several changes at once: checking one cause at a time makes it easier to see what resolved the problem.
My saved names have disappeared
First check the page. The main wheel and dedicated template pages keep separate browser saves. A list entered on the classroom template will not necessarily appear when you open the homepage. Return to the exact page you used, then check the wheel tabs if you created additional wheels there.
Next check the browser and profile. Safari, Chrome and separate browser profiles do not share the same local storage. A new phone, a private window or a different computer can open the site normally without containing your earlier list. Signing into an unrelated account elsewhere does not synchronize this tool’s local wheel data.
Under Settings, review Save entries and Save settings. If website data was cleared, local state may no longer be available. Look for a downloaded JSON backup or a still-valid share link before recreating the list. Repeatedly refreshing cannot recover a browser save that has already been removed.
The wrong names appear when I open a template
With saving enabled, a template may reopen the list you previously customized rather than its original sample labels. That is expected behavior. Back up the current wheel if it matters, then use Reset template when you specifically want the starter list again.
Do not use reset as a general troubleshooting step before saving your work. If the unexpected list came from a shared snapshot or a restored file, inspect its entries and settings before drawing. A link or backup represents a particular version, not necessarily the latest list on another device.
The spin button will not start a new draw
Make sure there is at least one nonblank eligible entry and that an earlier spin is not still running. Close the winner popup after reading it if it covers the controls. When using Space, leave the text-entry field first; otherwise the key may simply type a space.
If the interface stops responding, copy any visible list or download a backup if those controls still work. Then reload once and inspect whether the expected state returns. Avoid clearing all browser data as the first response, because that can remove the very save you want to recover.
The same person wins twice
Check whether the selected entry was actually removed. If Auto-remove winner is off, previous winners stay eligible. When it is on, removal takes place after five seconds. Starting another draw before the count decreases can leave that entry in the pool. Selecting Keep also cancels the pending removal.
Inspect duplicates next. Removing a winning entry does not remove every other entry belonging to that person. A repeated label, another spelling or an additional ticket can still be selected. For one-win-per-person draws, prepare one entry per person or remove all their remaining tickets according to the rules.
If you intentionally keep all entries eligible, repeats are a normal possibility. The previous spin does not force the next outcome to be different. Distinguish a missing removal step from an unexpected but legitimate independent result.
I cannot hear the wheel
Check the tool’s volume, tick sound and winner sound controls, then check the device’s media volume and whether the browser tab is muted. On some browsers, audio needs a direct user interaction before playback. Press the visible spin control rather than assuming a page load alone can start sound.
A connected Bluetooth headset or another audio output can make a phone appear silent. Disconnect or select the intended output if appropriate. The written winner and Results tab remain usable without sound; audio does not determine the outcome.
A shared link does not open my latest wheel
A short link loads a snapshot from the time it was created. Changes you make afterward do not update that old snapshot. Create a fresh link for the current version. Large uploaded images are excluded from short links, so use a JSON backup if you need a complete transfer with images.
New short share links expire after 30 days. A connection problem, a copied URL missing characters and an expired snapshot are different causes of failure. Check that you copied the complete generated link and have internet access. If the snapshot has expired, return to the original saved wheel or a backup; the old link cannot act as permanent storage.
The saving and sharing guide explains which export to keep for each purpose. Creating a new link requires the source data; it does not restore a deleted or expired copy by itself.
The wheel looks crowded or fullscreen does not work
Use shorter labels and check the winner display rather than trying to read every tiny slice in a large list. The maximum displayed-name setting affects visual display, not whether all nonblank entries remain eligible. Inspect the actual list when verifying who can win.
Fullscreen support differs between browsers and devices. If the browser does not enter fullscreen, use normal mode, dismiss the phone keyboard and try the orientation that leaves more usable space. Lowering visual effects can help a constrained device, but do not assume a slower animation means different odds.
What to include when reporting a problem
Record the page used, device, browser, exact control selected and any error message. Note whether the issue survives one reload and whether it affects a fresh sample wheel. Describe entry counts rather than sending a confidential roster. Never include passwords or private participant information in a support message or public screenshot.
