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Assign people

Give each person one secret name

Add the group and run the draw. Each person then uses their own link to see the name drawn for them.

  • randomly assign people to each other
  • set exclusions before the draw
  • prevent anyone from getting themselves
  • share personal links instead of a public list
  • Useful for gift exchanges and other secret person assignments
The overview – in the browser
Each result stays personal – in the iPhone app

Wichtlify fit

When each person should secretly get another person

A secret person assignment is useful when every person in a group should randomly get another person, and the outcome should not be posted in a shared chat.

Wichtlify fits that exact case: person A secretly gets person B. Each person later opens their own link and sees only their own assignment.

If you need a visible order, an open list or a single winner, compare that with an online draw.

Set exclusions before the draw – in the browser
Set exclusions before the draw – in the iPhone app

Use it when

  • each person needs one assignment
  • the result should stay secret
  • exclusions matter
  • no public chat list is needed

How it works

How assigning people works with Wichtlify

First, create a group for your activity. It can be a private group, club, course, team, or another set of people.

Add everyone who should participate and check the list before the draw. Then define which assignments are not allowed, such as couples, siblings, people from the same household, or direct coworkers.

Once participants and exclusions are correct, run the secret draw. Wichtlify randomly assigns people to each other, prevents self-matches, and creates personal links.

Steps

  • Create a group
  • Add people
  • Save exclusions
  • Run the secret draw
  • Share links

Limits

What Wichtlify assigns and what it does not

Wichtlify is designed for secret person-to-person assignments: one person gets another person, sees only their own assignment, and reaches it through a personal link.

It is not meant for drawing winners, creating random orders, building teams, assigning tasks, assigning roles, or assigning seats. Those cases need a different tool or separate group rules.

For buddy-style activities, remember that Wichtlify does not create guaranteed mutual pairs. It draws one secret direction, so person A gets person B.

See what needs attention next – in the browser
Who has opened their link – in the iPhone app

Wichtlify can

  • Person A gets person B
  • Secret assignment
  • Respect exclusions
  • Create personal links

Exclusions

Assign people with exclusions

Not every random assignment makes sense. Couples, households, siblings, or direct coworkers may need to be kept apart. For one-way and mutual rules, Secret Santa with exclusions goes deeper into how blocked pairings work.

Exclusions must be set before the draw. Wichtlify respects them as long as a valid assignment is still possible.

If too many combinations are blocked, a fair draw may no longer be possible. Then the group should loosen a rule, add more people, or create separate groups.

A member's personal page – in the browser
Each result stays personal – in the iPhone app

Common exclusions

  • Couples
  • Households
  • Siblings
  • Direct coworkers
  • Close groups

Why secret

Personal links instead of a result list in chat

Many random tools show a complete list at the end. That is useful when everyone should see the outcome. For secret assignments, it gives away the surprise immediately.

Wichtlify therefore creates personal links. The organizer manually shares the right link with the right participant, and each person sees only their own assignment.

If you describe the job as drawing names, draw names online is a useful adjacent explanation.

Links help when

  • assignments should stay secret
  • no public list should be shared
  • surprises should remain intact
  • each person needs only their own result

Year-round

Year-round examples for person assignments

A secret person assignment is not limited to Christmas. It works for gift activities around birthdays, summer parties, farewells, club events, or small thank-you rounds.

In courses, groups, or communities, each person can be assigned to another person for a small message, question, or gesture. In clubs or teams, a secret assignment helps when the full result list should not be public.

If the assignment is specifically a gift activity, gift exchange draw may be the more direct starting point.

Possible rounds

  • Gift activity
  • Get-to-know round
  • Group activity
  • Club round
  • Small thank-you

Template

Example message for your group

Confirm who is actually joining and collect exclusions before you draw. After that, you can create the group in Wichtlify and run the assignment.

Short message

We are doing a secret person assignment in the group. Each person will randomly get another person. Please confirm by [date] if you want to participate. If any assignments should be excluded, please let me know before the draw.

After the draw, each person will receive their own personal link and see only their own assignment. Please open only your own link and keep the assignment secret.

Fair setup

Tips for a fair assignment

Confirm participation before the draw. Collect exclusions early, avoid too many rules in small groups, and explain clearly what the assignment means.

Share results personally instead of posting a list in chat. If important changes happen later, consider a fresh draw rather than quietly moving individual assignments.

Clarify first

  • Participation
  • Exclusions
  • Meaning of the assignment
  • Link sharing
  • Change handling

Next steps

More ways to run a secret draw

Choose the next step that matches your activity: draw names, prepare a general online draw or organize a gift exchange.

Draw names online

Use this when the assignment is best explained as a secret name draw with personal links.

Draw names privately

Online draw

Decide when an open draw is enough and when personal links are the better fit.

Choose open or secret

Secret Santa with exclusions

Plan couples, households, siblings, or coworkers before running the draw.

Set exclusions

Gift exchange draw

For year-round gift activities where each person secretly gives to someone else.

Prepare a gift activity

Draw slips online

Replace paper slips with personal links when you do not want photos or screenshots in chat.

Replace paper slips

Secret Santa generator

Use this when the general assignment becomes a classic Secret Santa round.

Create a Secret Santa group

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How can I randomly assign people?

Create a group, add all people, set exclusions if needed, and run the secret draw. Each person then sees only their own assignment through a personal link.

What does person-to-person assignment mean?

One person randomly gets another person assigned. For example, Anna secretly gets Ben. It is not a public list or a guaranteed mutual pair.

Can someone get themselves?

No. Wichtlify is designed for personal assignments and prevents self-matches.

Can I exclude certain assignments?

Yes. You can define before the draw which people should not be assigned to each other. If too many combinations are blocked, the group or rules need to be adjusted.

Does everyone see the full result list?

No. Each person sees only their own assignment. That is why Wichtlify creates personal links.

Can Wichtlify build teams or groups?

No. Wichtlify does not build teams or multi-person groups. It secretly assigns people to each other.

Can Wichtlify assign tasks or roles?

No. Wichtlify does not assign tasks, roles, shifts, or seats. Use a different tool or separate group rules for those cases.

Is this only for Secret Santa?

No. The same secret person assignment can also be used for gift activities, group activities and other year-round cases, as long as mutual pairs are not expected.

Secretly assign people

Create the group, check participants and exclusions, then share personal links instead of a public result list.

Secretly assign people

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