FAQ

Do you have a question about drawnames.com? Look for the answer below!

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Frequently asked questions

• How can I view all the drawn names?
  Only the organizer can view the list of drawn names, and only from the date of the celebration. Before this date, the list of drawn names cannot be viewed.
• How can I change the exclusions?
  You can set exclusions while you’re creating the celebration. The exclusions can be changed later on, as long as at least 4 group members haven’t yet drawn a name.
• I haven't received an email. What can I do?
  The email might have landed in your spam folder. You can fix this by adding drawnames@drawnames.com to your contacts or Safe Senders list (for Outlook). Also check to make sure your mailbox isn't full.
• How can I redraw the names?
  Unfortunately, that isn't possible; the draw can only be done once. You can't change the exclusions after the names have been drawn either. It is however possible to remove someone from the group after the names have been drawn. If you want to redraw the names, the organizer can set up a new group with a different name.
• Who can see who's drawn who?
  Members in the celebration can only see the name they themselves have drawn. From the date of the celebration, the organizer can view a list of all the drawn names via the group page by clicking on 'Manage group members' and then 'View drawn names.'

Below you'll find all the answers to questions about: my account.

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My account

• How can I change my email address?
  You can only do that if you have an account. It’s easy to change your email address via ‘my account’.
• How can I change my password?
  If you have an account you can easily change your password via this link.
  
  If you forgot your password, you can easily make a new one via this link.
• How can I delete my account?
  You can delete your account when you're logged in. Go to "My account" and select "Delete account" or click here.

Below you'll find all the answers to questions about: email.

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Email

• I haven't received an email. What can I do?
  The email might have landed in your spam folder. You can fix this by adding drawnames@drawnames.com to your contacts or Safe Senders list (for Outlook). Also check to make sure your mailbox isn't full.
• I've lost my email. What can I do?
  You can use this link to get your email with the link to the group page. Your wish list and drawn name can be found on the group page. The organizer can also resend an invitation via the group page.
• How can I change an email address?
  The organizer can do this via the group page. Once you have made an account, you can also do this yourself, via 'My account'.
• How can I use one email address for more than one person?
  Just fill in the same email address for each person. Then when you receive an email, you'll see who it is intended for in the subject line.
  
• Can I import names and email addresses?
  If you already have a list of names and/or email addresses, you can easily import them.
• The link in my email doesn't work. What can I do?
  Check to see if your internet connection is working by opening another website. Look to see whether the website is hidden behind your email. If you get a notice that the link is invalid, ask the organizer to invite you again via the group page.
• How can I unblock my email address?
  Perhaps your mailbox is full, your provider has marked the email as spam or the email address is invalid. Check the address, empty your mailbox and add drawnames@drawnames.com to your list of contacts. Then send an email to help@drawnames.com and ask us to unblock the email address.

Below you'll find all the answers to questions about: my celebration.

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My celebration

• How do I answer an anonymous question?
  Anonymous questions can only be answered by editing your wish list, adding gifts or text to it as an answer. To add tekst to your wishes, you can type in the search bar and select the heart.
  
• How can I change the group name?
  Unfortunately, that isn't possible.
• How can I delete a group?
  As the organizer, you can delete a group by going to My celebrations and clicking on the trash icon next to the group name. The organizer can only do this when they're logged in to their account.
• How can I add someone to the group?
  You can do that on the group page by clicking on 'Manage group members' and 'Add a member'. The person added will then be included in the draw. We'll make sure that all members who have already viewed their drawn name won't receive a new name. If everyone has already viewed their drawn name, the name drawn by the organiser will be exchanged with the new member.
• How can I remove someone from the group?
  As long as there are four people in the group, you can remove someone via the group page, even after the names have been drawn. The name drawn by the person who's been removed is then given to the person who had drawn the name of the person being removed.
• The message I sent wasn't received by everyone. What can I do?
  A group message is sent to everyone who has accepted the invitation. If someone hasn't yet confirmed that they are taking part, they won't receive email about new messages.
• I've lost the link to the group. What can I do?
  No worries! Here is the link to the group page.
• How can I add mailing addresses so we can send each other gifts?
  On the group page, the organizer can choose whether postal addresses are included. You can add your postal address on the group page or at the bottom of your wish list.
  
  The postal address is normally only visible to the person who has drawn your name, but the organizer can change the viewing options of postal addresses on the group page so that everyone’s postal addresses are visible.
• How can I use last year's group again this year?
  If you were the organizer, you can request the link or log in. In October, we automatically send this email to last year's organizer.
• How can I again draw names with an existing group?
  You can do that after the names have been drawn and the celebration has already taken place. The organizer first has to remove the group from My celebrations. Then the group remains available to draw names again, and no one will draw the same name as last time. When setting up the group, you can still change, delete or add new information.
• How can I change the name of a participant?
  Unfortunately, that isn't possible.
• How can I draw names with a large group?
  A quick way to draw names with a large group is to invite participants with an invitation link. You can do this by setting up a wish list group. Participants can sign up through this link and fill in their own name and email address. When everyone is included in the celebration, the organizer can start the draw by clicking on 'Draw names' on the group page.
  
  Already have a list of names and email addresses? These can be easily imported.
• How long will my group remain active?
  When the date of the celebration has passed and the group has not been visited by at least one member for several months, the group will be archived. New names can be drawn with the people from the group from that point on, but the old group page will be deleted.
• How can I draw names for birthdays?
  You can do this by setting up a normal group for drawing names. We recommend that you keep changing the date of the celebration to the next birthday so that the group remains active.

Below you'll find all the answers to questions about: exclusions.

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Exclusions

• How can I indicate who isn’t allowed to draw a particular name?
  You can set exclusions while you’re creating the celebration. The exclusions can be changed later on, as long as at least 4 group members haven’t yet drawn a name.
  
  If you want to exclude partners, make sure you set that for both names. You can enter exclusions for a group of at least 4 people.
• How many exclusions can I set?
  That depends on the size of the group. In a large group, you can set several exclusions per person. An additional list of choices will then appear next to the name after the first exclusion is set.
• Can everyone see the exclusions?
  The organizer can specify this on the group page. The exclusions are not normally visible to the group.
• How can I change the exclusions?
  You can set exclusions while you’re creating the celebration. The exclusions can be changed later on, as long as at least 4 group members haven’t yet drawn a name.

Below you'll find all the answers to questions about: wish lists.

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Wish lists

• Is there a way to create or share a wish list without drawing names?
  Yes, you can create a wish list here without drawing names. Go to 'My wish lists' in the header menu (person icon) and click on the button 'Create new wish list'.
  You can also set up a group to only share wish lists without drawing names. You'll find the link here: drawnames.com/wishlists
  
• How do I answer an anonymous question?
  That's simple. You just edit your wish list as an answer, by adding gifts or text. You can put in a text by typing in the search bar and then clicking on the heart icon.
  
• If I use the same wish list for different celebrations, how do I avoid being given the same gift twice?
  In your wish list, a group member can click on 'I'm giving this gift'. The gift will then be marked as 'bought' in all the celebrations where you use that list. It will be visible for everyone except you (the recipient). So you'll never get the same gift twice and it'll still be a surprise!
  
  
• (How) can I re-use my wishlist in multiple celebrations?
  Go to the group page for your celebration and click 'Choose another wish list' to select a different list or create a new one.
  
• How can I make changes to my wish list?
  When you accept your invitation, you'll receive an email link to the group page. You'll find a link to your wish list there. You can make changes to your wish list even after the names have been drawn! Then the person who has drawn your name will receive a notice that you have made changes.
• How can I add my own text to my wish list?
  To add text, go to your wish list and click on the pen icon. Then you can specify gifts you'd like, paste in a link or even add a photo.
• How can I add my own photo to my wish list?
  To add a photo, go to your wish list and click on the pen icon. Then click on the camera icon.
• How can I fill in my hobbies and interests?
  You can add or change your hobbies and interests at the bottom of your wish list. Do this by clicking on the three dots next to 'Hobbies and interests' and then click on 'Edit'.
  
  When you edit these, the person who has drawn your name will be automatically notified.
• How can I add a wish list for my child to the group?
  Go to 'Wish lists' on the group page and click on 'Add a children's wish list'. A children's wish list is linked to your email address, and only you can modify this wish list. Children with a children's wish list do not take part in the draw.
• How can I view my wish list from last year?
  You cannot view your old wish list if the group is no longer active.
• Are the wish lists visible to everyone?
  The wish lists are normally visible to all group members. You can view all the wish lists for your group on the group page.
  
  The organizer can adjust the settings on the group page so that members can view only the wish list of the person they have drawn, instead of all wish lists.
• How can I create or share a whish list without drawing names?
  Yes, you can create a wish list here without drawing names. Go to 'My wish lists' in the header menu (person icon) and click on the button 'Create new wish list'.
  You can also set up a group to only share wish lists without drawing names. You'll find the link here: drawnames.com/wishlists
  

Below you'll find all the answers to questions about: drawing names.

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Drawing names

• When can the organizer draw the name?
  The organizer can draw a name after the invitations have been sent and the first person has joined the group. That's when you know that the invitations have been sent correctly and names can be drawn.
• How can I draw the names?
  After the organizer has sent out the invitations, each participant can draw a name immediately via the link in the invitation. It is not necessary to draw names manually.
• How can I draw the names at a later time?
  Do you have a large group but don't yet know if everyone plans to participate? Click here to create a wish list group. Once the group is complete, go to the group page and choose the option 'Draw names'.
  
  To make it even more exciting, you can draw the names live as a group.
• Who can see who's drawn who?
  Members in the celebration can only see the name they themselves have drawn. From the date of the celebration, the organizer can view a list of all the drawn names via the group page by clicking on 'Manage group members' and then 'View drawn names.'
• Can I draw names with an uneven number of people?
  Yes, that's no problem. We'll draw a different name for each person! It works the same way as the old-fashioned method of drawing names from a hat, but you'll never draw your own name.
• How can I redraw the names?
  Unfortunately, that isn't possible; the draw can only be done once. You can't change the exclusions after the names have been drawn either. It is however possible to remove someone from the group after the names have been drawn. If you want to redraw the names, the organizer can set up a new group with a different name.
• How can I draw a different name than I did last year?
  If you drew names via drawnames.com last year, you can easily exclude last year's drawn names from the draw this year. To automatically keep the exclusions, use last year's group.
• How can I allow people to draw more than one name?
  If there are at least 4 members in the gift exchange, the group organizer can choose the option 'Draw two names' on the group page. This allows everyone to draw a second name. Please note that this does not take exclusions into account, and specifying different gift amounts is not possible.
• Is the draw really random?
  It works just like the old-fashioned method of drawing names from a hat, but you'll never draw your own name. The order that people are added to the group makes no difference. If you draw names with us year after year, the organizer can use last year's group to set up the new group. Then we make sure that everyone draws a different name than they did last year.
• How can I view all the drawn names?
  Only the organizer can view the list of drawn names, and only from the date of the celebration. Before this date, the list of drawn names cannot be viewed.
• How can I draw names via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger?
  After filling in the names, the organizer can choose to send the invitations via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. The participants can then fill in their own email address or account.
• As organizer, how can I not take part in the draw?
  The organizer always takes part in the draw. So someone who wants to participate in the draw should set up the group.

Below you'll find all the answers to questions about: my drawn name.

How can we help?

My drawn name

• How can I indicate what has already been bought?
  The text 'I'm giving this gift' is found at the top of each gift listed on the wish list. Check the box in front of this text to show what gifts you are giving. Then others will see that these gifts are no longer available. The owner of the list won't see which gifts have been bought.
• Can I ask a question anonymously?
  You can ask anyone in the group an anonymous question on their wish list. Once you've asked this question, it has to first be read before you can ask another question.
• How can I upload or write a poem for the person whose name I’ve drawn?
  You can upload or write a poem anonymously for the person whose name you’ve drawn by clicking ‘Upload poem’ on the group page. Everyone who has received a poem can view these on the group page during the celebration.
  
  The organizer needs to make the poems visible on the group page before the celebration takes place. You can do that by clicking on ‘view the poem you’ve received’ on the group page. The person who wrote the poem will remain anonymous!

Below you'll find all the answers to questions about: invitations.

How can we help?

Invitations

• I cannot open the invitation link in the app sent via Facebook Messenger. What can I do?
  At this moment it is not possible to accept an invitation sent via Facebook Messenger directly in our app.
  
  To be able to open this link in Facebook Messenger, we advise you to follow these steps:
  

  
  
  1. Click on the link in Facebook Messenger
  2. Depending on the type of device:
  
  
  • iOS: Click on the three dots in the bottom right and choose ‘Open in external browser’
  
  
  • Android: Click on the three dots in the right top corner and choose ‘Open in drawnames’
  
  

  Another option is to copy paste the link directly in your internet browser.
• I can only share my invitation with 5 chats in WhatsApp. What can I do?
  You can share the invitation with all the participants in a WhatsApp group. If you don't have a WhatsApp group, you can send the invitation to 5 people at a time via the group page.
• My group has not been finalized yet. Can I already send out invitations?
  Yes, you can send out invitations even if the group isn't complete. You can still add or remove members after confirming the group.
• How can I resend the invitation?
  The organizer can resend the invitation to any participant via the group page.
  
  You can also use this link to retrieve the email with the link to the group page. On the group page, you can also view your wish list and your drawn name.
• How can I create a group where group members can sign up on their own?
  The easiest way is to invite people with an invitation link. You can do that by creating a wish list group wish list group. The group members can sign up through this link and fill in their own name and email address. When everyone is included in the celebration, the organizer can start the draw by clicking on ‘Draw names’ on the group page.

All subjects

• My account
• Email
• My celebration
• Exclusions
• Wish lists
• Drawing names
• My drawn name
• Invitations

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