Becoming a Gimkit host takes about five minutes once you know where to click. You pick a question set, choose a game mode, share a code, and press start.That is the short version. The longer version matters too, because small choices like the join setting, the nickname option, and the game goal can decide whether your lesson runs smoothly or turns into chaos.

This guide walks you through every step. You will learn how to host a game, how to share the code, how students join, what each setting does, and how to fix the problems teachers run into most often.

What Is a Gimkit Host?

A Gimkit host is the person who creates, launches, and manages a live Gimkit game. In most classrooms, that is the teacher.

The host chooses the kit (Gimkit’s name for a question set), selects the game mode, sets the rules, and controls when the game starts and ends. Players join from their own devices using a game code.

Here is how the roles split:

• Host: builds or picks the kit, sets options, shares the code, runs the game
• Players: enter the code, choose or receive a name, answer questions

One thing worth knowing: “Gimkit host” is not a separate app or product. It is simply the role you take on when you run a live game from a teacher account.

How to Host a Gimkit Game Step by Step?

Follow these six steps. Each one takes under a minute.

Step 1: Open the Official Gimkit Website

Go to gimkit.com and log in with your teacher account. If you do not have one yet, sign up with Google, Microsoft, or an email address.

Always use the official site. Lookalike pages exist, and they can cause login trouble or collect data you did not mean to share.

Once you are logged in, you land on your dashboard. This is your home base for kits, classes, assignments, and reports.

Step 2: Select or Create a Kit

Every game starts with a kit. You have three easy options:

1. Pick one of your saved kits from the dashboard
2. Search the public library for a kit another teacher already built
3. Create a new kit by typing questions, importing a spreadsheet, or using the built in creation tools

If this is your first time hosting, choose a short kit with 10 to 15 questions. It lets you test the flow before a full class joins.

Pro tip: Review the answer choices before you host. A single typo in a correct answer can frustrate a whole room.

Step 3: Choose a Game Mode

Open your kit and click the button to play live. Gimkit then shows you the mode picker.

Each mode changes how students earn points and compete. Some are fast and simple. Others add teams, traps, or strategy. If your students are new to Gimkit, start with Classic mode. It is the easiest to explain.

Mode availability can depend on your plan, so you may see some modes marked as Pro.

Step 4: Customize the Game Settings

After you pick a mode, you reach the options screen. Here you can set the game goal, decide whether students can join late, turn on the nickname generator, and connect a class.

Do not skip this screen. A thirty second review now saves you from a restart later. The next major section explains each setting in detail.

Step 5: Open the Lobby and Share the Code

Click Continue to open the lobby. Gimkit generates a game code and displays it on your screen, along with the join address, gimkit.com/join.

You can share it in three ways:

• Read or display the code: project your screen so students can type it in
• Use the QR code: hover over the game code on your host screen to reveal a scannable QR code
• Connect a class: students who are logged into a connected class join automatically, no code needed

Watch the player list fill up in real time. This is a good moment to remind students of your ground rules.

Step 6: Start and Manage the Game

When everyone is in, click Start Game. In 2D modes, the button sits near the bottom center of the screen. In other modes, you will usually find it in the upper right.

During play, a controls panel lets you monitor progress and manage the session. If something goes wrong, you can pause, adjust, or end the game. When the game finishes, open the report to see how each student and each question performed.

How to Get a Gimkit Host Code?

You do not request a host code. Gimkit creates one automatically every time you open a live game lobby.

Here is the quick process:

1. Log in at gimkit.com
2. Open a kit and choose to play live
3. Select a game mode and review the options
4. Click Continue
5. Copy the game code shown in the lobby

Keep these points in mind:

• Each code belongs to one game session only
• A new game means a new code
• Codes stop working after you end the game
• You can share a direct link or QR code instead of the number

Avoid posting your code on public pages or social media. Anyone with the code can try to join while the lobby is open.

How to Join a Gimkit Game as a Student?

Joining is quick and does not require a student account in most cases. Students can follow these steps:

1. Open gimkit.com/join on any browser or device
2. Type the game code from the host’s screen
3. Enter a nickname, or approve the one the game assigns
4. Wait in the lobby until the host starts the game

If a student scans the host’s QR code, the first two steps happen automatically.

If the teacher uses connected classes and the student is logged in, the student joins the game without typing anything. Teachers often prefer this because names stay clean and attendance is easy to track.

How does Gimkit Host Settings Work?

Host settings shape the pace, fairness, and safety of your game. The options you see depend on the mode you pick, but most hosts will work with the same core controls.

Game Goals and Timers

The game goal decides how the session ends. Depending on the mode, you may set:

• A time limit, such as 10 or 15 minutes
• A cash or score target that the first player or team must reach
• A question count in some formats

Start with a shorter time than you think you need. It is easier to play a second round than to sit through an overlong first one.

For test review, pick a goal that gives every student time to see most of the questions at least once.

Join-in-Late Settings

Join in Late controls whether students can enter after the game begins. According to Gimkit’s help center, live games allow late joining by default, and your choice is saved from one game to the next.

That second part catches many hosts off guard. If you switch late joining off for one game, it stays off until you turn it back on.

When to leave it on:

• Students arrive at different times
• Wi-Fi is unreliable and devices drop out

When to switch it off:

• You run a timed assessment
• You want a fair start for everyone

Nickname Generator and Class Settings

The Nickname Generator assigns each student a random, safe name. When it is on, students cannot type their own. This prevents inappropriate names before they appear.

Two things to remember:

• You can switch it on in any live game mode
• Games hosted with a connected class do not use it, because class accounts already keep names clean

If you have a class roster set up, connecting the class is usually the better choice. It gives you names you recognize, and it helps with reports later.

Game Mode-Specific Settings

Some options appear only in certain modes. Examples include:

• Team options and team size
• Power ups and upgrades
• Round length or number of rounds
• Player maximums for large groups
• Music and other game feel options

Look through each mode’s options screen the first time you use it. Modes with maps or special roles often have extra rules worth reading.

Popular Gimkit Game Modes for Hosts

Gimkit offers a wide mix of formats. Here are common choices and the situations where they work well. Availability and names change as Gimkit adds new modes, so check the mode picker for the current list.

Game Mode	Best For	Why Hosts Like It
Classic	First time hosts, quick review	Easy rules, strong question practice
Team Mode	Collaboration and class bonding	Students work together toward a shared goal
Trust No One	Older students who enjoy strategy	Adds suspense and social play
Fishtopia	Steady, relaxed review	Students collect and trade as they answer
The Floor Is Lava	Fast paced rounds	Quick decisions keep energy high
Tag and Humans vs. Zombies	High energy group games	Movement based play keeps students engaged
Draw That	Visual and creative classes	Combines questions with drawing

How to choose:

• For beginners, pick Classic
• For test review, pick a mode with lots of question repetition
• For large groups, pick a mode that supports high player counts
• For younger students, keep the rules simple and the timer short

Gimkit Host Controls and Features

Once the game begins, you are not stuck watching. A Gimkit host has several tools during and after play.

During the game:

• Pause and resume the session
• Monitor player progress in real time
• Remove a player who joined twice or chose a poor name
• Adjust certain settings as the game runs
• End the game early when time runs out

After the game:

• Open the report to review class performance
• Spot the questions students missed most
• Check individual results
• Plan reteaching based on the data

The report is one of the most valuable features. Do not close the page without looking at it. A five minute review can shape your next lesson.

Benefits of Hosting a Gimkit Game

Why do so many teachers use Gimkit? Here are the benefits that matter most:

• Higher engagement: students treat review like a game, not homework
• Instant feedback: players see right and wrong answers immediately
• Useful data: reports show who needs help and on which topics
• Flexible use: works for review, warm ups, exit tickets, and homework
• Low prep time: reuse kits across classes and school years
• Variety: many game modes prevent review sessions from feeling repetitive
• Easy access: students join from laptops, tablets, or phones

Gimkit also works well beyond math. Teachers use it for vocabulary, science, history, languages, and test prep.

Common Gimkit Host Problems and How to Fix Them?

Even a well planned session can hit a snag. These fixes solve most issues.

The Gimkit Game Code Is Not Working

Try these steps in order:

1. Check that the code was typed exactly as shown
2. Confirm the student is on gimkit.com/join, not another site
3. Make sure the game has not ended
4. Confirm that late joining is on if the game has already started
5. Refresh the host screen, or start a new game for a fresh code

Students Cannot Join the Lobby

Check these common causes:

• A weak Wi-Fi connection or a blocked site on the school network
• An outdated browser
• Too many players for your plan or mode
• A student using a school filter that blocks the page

Ask the student to close extra tabs, refresh the page, and try again. If one device keeps failing, try a different browser or a phone as a backup.

The Game Is Slow or Disconnects

Slow play usually points to connection trouble or heavy graphics. To improve performance:

• Ask students to close unused tabs and apps
• Use a simpler, non 2D mode for large groups
• Move closer to the router or switch networks if possible
• Ask students who dropped out to reopen the join page and enter the code again, as long as the lobby is still open

A Student Has an Inappropriate Nickname

Remove the player from the list straight away. Then, for the next game, switch on the Nickname Generator or connect your class. Both options stop the problem before it starts.

The Start Game Button or a Feature Is Missing

This often comes down to one of four things:

• You are on the free plan and selected a Pro feature or mode
• You are logged in with a student account, not a teacher account
• You are looking in the wrong place, since the button location changes between 2D and non 2D modes
• The browser window is too small to show the full screen

Zoom out, maximize the window, and confirm your account type before trying again.

Tips for Hosting a Successful Gimkit Session

These habits come from how strong classroom sessions usually run:

1. Test first. Run a quick demo game with your own device before class.
2. Log students in early. Have devices ready and logged in before you open the lobby.
3. Explain the rules. Set expectations about talking, teamwork, and device use.
4. Keep it short. Ten to fifteen minutes is often enough for review.
5. Connect your class. It keeps names clean and simplifies tracking.
6. Start easy. Use Classic until students know the flow.
7. Walk around. Watch faces, not just the leaderboard.
8. Review the report. Use the data to decide what to reteach.
9. End the game properly. Close the session when class finishes so the code stops working.
10. Protect the code. Share it only with your students.

Is Gimkit Host Free to Use?

Yes, with limits. Hosting a live game is possible on a free account, but the free plan offers a smaller set of game modes and features than the paid plan.

In general terms:

• Gimkit Basic (free): create kits and host live games with a limited mode selection
• Gimkit Pro (paid): unlocks all game modes, assignments, and extra features

Many new educator accounts have been reported to start with a short Pro trial. Pricing, trial length, and plan features change over time, so confirm current details on Gimkit’s official pricing page before you commit.

Gimkit Host vs. Gimkit Join: What Is the Difference?

The two terms describe opposite sides of the same game.

	Gimkit Host	Gimkit Join
Who uses it	Teacher or game leader	Student or player
Main action	Creates and runs the game	Enters a game that already exists
What you need	A Gimkit account and a kit	A game code, QR code, or link
Where you go	Your dashboard	gimkit.com/join
Controls	Settings, pause, remove players, end game	Answer questions and play

In short, the host runs the show. The player takes part in it.

Conclusion

Learning to be a Gimkit host is simple, and the payoff is big. Pick a kit, choose a mode, review the options, share the code, and start the game. After class, check the report so the data works for you.

Start small. Run one short game in Classic mode, notice what works, and build from there. With a little practice, your sessions will feel smooth and your students will ask to play again.Ready to try it? Open gimkit.com, pick a kit, and host your first game today.

FAQs

1. Can I prepare a Gimkit game before my lesson begins?

Yes. Build or choose your kit ahead of time, and open the lobby when class starts to get a fresh game code.

2. What should I do if a student loses connection during a game?

Ask them to refresh and rejoin with the same game code. If late joining is on, they can usually return to the game.

3. Can I use Gimkit to teach subjects other than mathematics?

Yes. Gimkit works for any subject you can turn into questions, including science, history, languages, and vocabulary.

4. How can I make a Gimkit game suitable for younger students?

Use a simple mode like Classic, keep the kit short, set a brief timer, and turn on the Nickname Generator or connect your class.

5. What should I do after finishing a hosted game?

Open the report, review the most missed questions, and use that data to plan reteaching or your next review session.