How to Use Elimination Mode Step by Step

Before you start

This is a practical walkthrough. If you're still deciding whether elimination is right for your situation, read the strategy guide first. Here we assume you already know you want each entry picked once, and you want to set it up quickly and run it without hiccups. Everything happens in your browser, and your list and results are stored on your device, not uploaded.

You need a list of entries, one per line. Names, tasks, prizes and numbers all work. If you're copying from a spreadsheet, paste the column straight into the entries box; each row becomes a slice. Check the entry count shown under the box matches what you expected.

Step 1: clean the list

Open the "⋯" menu next to the entry tools and choose Dedupe. This removes repeated lines that would otherwise give someone two slices and two turns. If you want entries in a fixed order on screen, for example alphabetical so people can find their name, choose Sort from the same menu. Sorting doesn't affect the randomness, only how the slices are arranged around the wheel.

If anyone should be left out today, hide their entry rather than deleting it. Hidden entries stay in your saved list but don't appear on the wheel, so you won't need to retype them next time.

Step 2: turn on elimination

There are two ways to remove winners. For occasional use, spin normally and click Remove winner in the result popup each time. For a full round, open the Design tab and switch on the option to remove winners automatically after each spin. With it on, the popup still announces the result, but the slice disappears as soon as you close it, ready for the next spin.

If you're picking several people at once (say three winners per spin), set the number of winners in the spin options. Each spin will then remove all the picked entries together. Make sure no-repeat is on so the same entry can't be chosen twice in a single multi-pick.

Step 3: spin through the list

Click Spin, or press the space bar or Enter while the wheel is focused. Let the animation finish; the result is decided at the start, so stopping early doesn't change anything, but watching the spin is part of what makes it feel fair to others. Read the name aloud, close the popup and spin again.

The wheel resizes the remaining slices automatically, so they always fill the circle. As the list gets shorter, the slices get bigger and the names easier to read. When one entry remains, you can spin it for completeness or simply announce it as the last in the order.

Step 4: watch the history

Open the History tab to see the results in order. Each entry shows the time and the winning name. This is your running order, so there's no need to write it down separately. If you're projecting the wheel, you can keep the history visible to the side so people know who's been picked and who's still waiting.

Step 5: fix mistakes with Undo

If you remove the wrong entry or spin by accident, click Undo in the entry tools. It restores the most recently removed entry to the wheel without affecting earlier picks. You can undo several steps in a row. Redo puts the change back if you undo too far. Avoid fixing mistakes by retyping names, because that can create duplicates or change the order on the wheel.

Step 6: export the order

When the round is finished, go to the History tab and choose Export CSV. You'll get a file with the order of picks and timestamps that opens in any spreadsheet. For formal uses, such as interview slots or prize draws, download a receipt as well. It records the list and the results with a fingerprint, so you can prove later that the order wasn't changed.

Step 7: reset for next time

To start a new round with the full list, click Reset. Every removed entry returns to the wheel and the hidden ones stay hidden. If you want to keep this session's history, export it before clearing. Your wheel, list and settings remain saved in the browser, so next time you open the page it's ready to go.

Using a share link

If someone else needs to run the same round, such as a co-teacher or a colleague in another office, use the Share button to create a link. The link contains the entries and settings, so the other person sees exactly the same wheel. It doesn't contain your history, so each person's results stay separate. Remember the link includes the names in your list, so share it only with people who should see them.

Troubleshooting

A name came up twice: check for duplicates, including near-duplicates like "Jo" and "Jo." with a full stop. Run Dedupe and check the entry count. The slice didn't disappear: make sure automatic removal is switched on, or use Remove winner in the popup. Names are too small to read: the wheel scales text to fit, so very long entries shrink. Shorten labels, or use fullscreen for a bigger wheel. The list reset itself: your browser may be set to clear site data when it closes. Use a share link or export your list to keep a backup. Sound is distracting: mute it in the Sound Lab tab; the result popup still appears.

Keyboard and accessibility tips

You can run a whole elimination round from the keyboard. Tab to the Spin button and press Enter or Space to spin. Press Escape to close the result popup, then Space again for the next spin. Screen readers announce the result from the popup. If motion is uncomfortable, choose a shorter spin duration in settings, and the wheel will respect your device's reduced-motion preference.

Example: presentation order in five minutes

Paste twenty-four student names. Run Dedupe and check the count reads 24. Hide the two absent students. Turn on automatic removal. Spin twenty-two times, reading each name aloud while a student writes the order on the board, or simply leave the history panel on screen. Export the CSV for your records and click Reset at the end of the lesson. The whole process takes a few minutes, and nobody can say the order was chosen to suit anyone.

Example: a multi-prize giveaway

Paste the eligible entries and dedupe them. Set winners per spin to one and turn on automatic removal. Spin once for first prize, once for second and once for third, then two more times for reserves. Every spin chooses only from people who haven't yet won. Download the receipt and export the history, then announce the winners. Record your screen throughout so you can share the full process if anyone asks.

Try it now

Put these ideas into practice with the Random Name Picker, Elimination Mode Strategy, Random Student Picker, or open the main spin the wheel tool.