To rig a wheel spin, use a spinner that lets you choose the result before it spins. On PrankWheel, add your names, long-press the slice you want to win (or press its number key), then spin normally. The wheel decelerates naturally and lands on your chosen name every time.
- Add the names. Type or paste one name per line into the names box. The wheel updates instantly.
- Secretly choose the winner. Long-press the winner's slice on the wheel for about half a second, or press their number key (1–9). A tiny dot next to the name count turns green to confirm.
- Hand over the spin. Tap the wheel or the SPIN button, or let a friend do it. The wheel spins with realistic physics and lands on your chosen name.
- Record the reaction. Keep auto-record on. When the result appears, tap "Save clip" to export a vertical video.
- Reveal the prank. Tap "Reveal prank" to show a full-screen YOU'VE BEEN PRANKED screen with an airhorn, and capture the second reaction.
The 10-second version
- Put your friends’ names on the wheel.
- Long-press the slice you want to win until your phone buzzes. On a laptop you can Alt+click it.
- Spin. It lands on that name, with a natural slowdown and no sudden snap.
That’s all there is to it. Below are the other hidden triggers, so you can pick whichever one is hardest for your audience to spot.
Every hidden trigger, explained
| Trigger | How to do it | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Long-press a slice | Press and hold the winning slice for ~0.7s | Phones and tablets |
| Alt+click a slice | Hold Alt/Option and click a slice | Laptops, screen-sharing |
| Number keys | Press 1–9 to rig the Nth name, 0 to un-rig | Streams and video calls |
| Hold to rig | Hold the SPIN button for 1.5s to toggle rigging on/off | Re-using your last pick |
| Tap-a-slice mode | Enable it in secret settings; wherever you tap the wheel to spin is the winner | Spinning right in front of people |
| Alt+click a name | Hold Alt and click a line in the names box | Long lists |
| Rigged link | Secret settings → “Copy rigged link” | Group chats, remote pranks |
A tiny dot next to the name count turns green when the wheel is rigged. That’s the only sign on screen, so nobody else will notice it unless they know where to look.
How do you open the secret settings?
Triple-tap the name count (“6 names”) or press S on a keyboard. From there you can:
- pick the winner from a dropdown
- keep the wheel rigged for every spin instead of just the next one
- turn on the dramatic fake-out, where the wheel crawls to a stop on the wrong name, pauses, and then tips over one more notch onto your target
- change the win sound (fanfare, airhorn, sad trombone or a game-show ding)
- copy a rigged link
How does a rigged spinner land on the right name?
A fair spinner picks a random stopping angle. A rigged one works backwards: it picks the slice you chose, chooses a random spot inside that slice (never right on the edge, so it doesn’t look like a close call), adds five to seven full turns, and then plays the spin with the same easing curve a fair spin uses. Speed, slowdown, tick sounds and spin length look the same either way, so nothing visibly separates a rigged spin from a fair one.
Can people tell the wheel is rigged?
Not from the spin itself. People usually get suspicious when the same person wins three times in a row, so mix it up:
- Leave the rig on its default (one spin only), so the next spin is genuinely fair.
- Have a friend spin it. The rig belongs to the wheel, not to whoever presses the button.
- Use the fake-out sparingly. It’s hilarious once and suspicious twice.
Prank ideas that work
- Who pays for dinner: load the Who Pays? Wheel and rig it for the friend who always “forgets their wallet”.
- Chores: rig the chore wheel so your roommate gets bathroom duty. Again.
- Yes or no: “Should we get pizza?” A rigged yes/no wheel always agrees with you.
- On stream: let chat “pick” the punishment, and quietly press 3 first.
Always finish with the Reveal prank button. The second reaction is usually better than the first.
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