Quiz buzzer on your phone: how it works at an office party

How a phone buzzer works

1. The quiz runs on a laptop connected to the projector. The host starts the buzzer and the big screen shows a QR code and a five-character room code.
2. Players scan the code or open the player page and type the room code. No app, no account, no email address.
3. Each phone picks a team. Several phones can play for the same team, which suits large tables.
4. For A to D questions the phones show the answer buttons. The show counts the correct answers per team on its own.
5. For buzz questions the phones show one big button. The big screen lists the teams in the order their buzz arrived, and the host gives the point with one click.

Setup in five minutes

1. Enter the team names in the show first. Teams then only tap their name instead of typing.
2. Check the venue Wi-Fi or tell people that mobile data works just as well.
3. Start the buzzer before the welcome, so people can join while you speak.
4. Play one test question with the answer on screen. Everyone sees that their phone works and you see that every team is connected.
5. Print the A to D answer paddles from the kit as a backup. If a phone dies, that team simply holds up a paddle.

Buzz or answer: which round needs what

• Answer mode (A to D on every phone) is the fairest choice for most rounds. Every team answers, nobody is too slow.
• Buzz mode suits short rounds with open questions: name the song, finish the film quote, first team to say the year.
• Use buzz mode for at most one or two rounds. Quick teams love it, quiet teams switch off if every round is a race.
• Estimation questions work best on paper or as a closest-wins final, not on the buzzer.

Fair play with phones

• Buzzes are ranked in the order they reach the server. Wi-Fi and mobile data can differ by a fraction of a second, so for very close calls give both teams the chance to answer.
• Read the whole question before you open the buzzer. Otherwise the fastest reader wins, not the best answer.
• One wrong answer passes the question to the next team on the list. Nobody loses points, which keeps shy teams buzzing.
• Ask people to keep the player page open and the phone unlocked during the round. A locked phone has to reconnect first.

The games

Host tips

• Put the QR code on a printed card on every table too. Late arrivals can join without asking.
• Give every team one named captain for the phone. Fewer phones per team means less chaos.
• Say how long the room stays open. In our show it is deleted when you end it, at the latest after six hours without activity.
• Only team names and answers go through the buzzer. Do not ask for real names on the phones.

More party guides

• Quiz app, party game pack, hosted event or printable kit: which fits your work Christmas party?
• Christmas icebreaker questions for work that nobody finds awkward
• Work Christmas party ideas for any team size and budget
• Christmas party host script: sample lines from welcome to goodbye