How to start a live game

Want to host a kahoot in front of a live audience? Get started by launching the kahoot, selecting your preferred game settings, and choosing a game mode. 

This article covers...

• Tech requirements
• Launching a live game
• Settings
• Choosing a game mode
• Starting a live game

Tech requirements

To host a live game, you should have the following:

• A desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device - make sure a supported web browser or our mobile app is installed.
• A projector, large screen, or video conference software - display resolution should ideally be at least 1024x768. If text or elements on-screen overlap or are too small, try using your browser’s zoom in/out feature. 
• A stable internet connection - be sure to test your venue’s internet stability at least a few days before any major event.

Want to use Kahoot! on a video conference? You can use your conference tool’s screen share feature. We recommend that you have a look at one of our integrations: Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Accessibility tip for blind or visually-impaired learners: As the host of a live game, you and your learners can use screen readers. Your device will read out the question and answer text (answers prefaced by “answer one..., answer two…”), while learner devices will audibly say “answer one, answer two, …”. Your players can also use our Read Aloud feature available in mobile apps.

 

Launching a live game

Launching a live game differs depending on if you’re using a web browser or our mobile app.

On the web

To host a live game in a web browser, log in at kahoot.com, locate a kahoot and click its “Start” button. Depending on if the kahoot is on your Kahoots page or the Discover page, this button may look a little different.

Want to launch a playlist of 2 or more kahoots? You can play several kahoots in a row from your Library page. Click the checkmark on the left side of each kahoot you want in your sequence. Click them in the order you want them to play. Then use the special “Play” button that appears at the top of the list.

After each game, you need to click the "Next" button in the top right corner of the podium screen and then select the "Play Next" option.

Want to play a kahoot individually with only one device? Click the “Practice” button next to the “Assign” option. It will allow you to play with virtual participants.

 

Want to test your kahoot? You can preview a kahoot, which simulates a secondary device on the right of your screen. Click the title of a kahoot to view its Details page. Then click the kahoot’s "options" button [ ⋮ ] to find the “Preview” option.

“Preview” games are single-player and do not save game data to your Reports page.

 

Settings

Before you choose a game mode and in the lobby when waiting for the players, you can access a list of game options that can be accessed via the switches icon on the left side of the host's screen. You can also modify some of those settings during the game, in-between questions. Your settings will be saved for next time.

Choosing a game mode

On your screen, you’ll see two game modes to choose from. Choose the one that best matches the gameplay experience you want to provide your audience.

 

Classic

Use classic mode if you want every player to play individually.

Team mode

Use team mode if you want players to form teams. You can read more about Team Mode here. 

Starting a live game

After you choose a game mode, the PIN code and QR code will be displayed on your screen. This is when your players can start joining. Once you are sure everyone’s in, you can hit the “Start” button on the right side of the screen. Players can also join during the game, the PIN will be displayed on the bottom of your screen (unless you lock it with the padlock icon visible next to the “Start” button).

TIP: You can click on the PIN-code on the host's screen to copy a direct link to the Live Game. You can share it with your players. The link will connect them directly with the game and they won’t have to insert the PIN.

Game options:

• Recommended - Show questions & answers
• Recommended - Player identifier
• Recommended - Themes
• Recommended - Personalized learning
• General - Lobby music
• General - Nickname generator
• General - Randomize order of questions
• General - Randomize order of answers
• General - Language
• General - Remove players
• General - Lock game joining
• Advanced - 2-Step Join
• Advanced - Auto-play
• Fulls screen
• Mute, unmute, or adjust the lobby music volume
• Team mode - Team Talk

Recommended - Show questions & answers

You can enable this game option for all players when you’re hosting a live kahoot in person or virtually. Once it’s on, the players will be able to see questions and answers on their devices where they can directly submit responses. It may come especially useful when your players find it problematic to use an additional device to view the host's screen. 

It’s available for free for all Kahoot! users. 

Recommended - Player identifier

The player identifier is a new feature that allows tracking player performance across multiple games. Once you or your team have hosted multiple games with player identifier on, you’ll be able to combine reports into one. Learn more about it here.

Recommended - Themes

The creator can select the default theme for a game when editing in the kahoot creator but the host can also change it in the settings of a game. This section displays both pre-made themes and your own themes (if your subscription includes this feature). Read more about themes here.

Recommended - Personalized learning

Personalized learning uses proven learning methods such as spacing and testing to help learners retain information and master content. After a live game, our Android or iOS mobile app will encourage players to repeat questions they got wrong. Learn more about it here.

General - Lobby music

Occasionally, we will change the default lobby music to one of our many awesome tracks (like during Halloween or Christmas).

• If you’d prefer, you can always change back to the “Original” track during these times.
• With a Premium subscription, you can change to any track at any time! 

Simply open the lobby music drop down and select your preferred track. Use the play button next to a track to hear a preview of it.

General - Nickname generator

Get in the game fast! Our name generator will choose nicknames for players.

• Players click or tap “Spin!” on their devices to generate a nickname.
• They can spin up to three times.

General - Randomize the order of questions

Toggle this on to randomize when each question is asked.

You can’t randomize question order if the kahoot includes slides.

General - Randomize the order of answers

Toggle this on to randomize how answers are arranged on the screen.

General - Language

You can select the language in which you and your players will see the instructions and interface. This will not alter the language of your game’s content. We do not offer a built-in translation tool that would translate your questions and answers.

Remove players

You can click someone’s nickname on the host's lobby screen to kick them the your game. You can remove players only before starting the gameplay.

Lock game joining

To prevent any more players from joining, you can use the lock option next to the start button.

This can also be toggled anytime during gameplay at the bottom of the screen.

Advanced - 2-Step Join

Sometimes players might get a little too playful and share your game PIN with others who aren’t actually in the room. Turn this on to ensure that only people who can see your PIN are able to join.

• After entering your PIN, players must also click or tap four buttons in the pattern shown on your screen.
• The pattern changes every seven seconds.

Advanced - Auto-play

Want your game to progress on its own? Turning this option on is ideal for setting up self-operating kiosks or an auto-piloted training activity!

• The game will auto-start if at least one player has joined and 15 seconds elapse without any more players joining.
• Results and leaderboard screens each display for five seconds.
• Once the game is over, it will restart or play the next game in your playlist.

Fullscreen

To hide your browser interface, you can click the full screen button on the right side of the screen.

Mute, unmute, or adjust the lobby music volume

If there is no lobby video, then you can adjust the lobby music volume by clicking the volume button on the right side of the screen. 

 

Team mode - Team Talk

If you select the Team Mode option you can give your teams a chance to discuss their responses by enabling the “Team Talk” option. After every question is displayed, before teams can submit their answers, there will be a short moment for them to brainstorm. You will be able to see the countdown on the left side of your screen.