Web Experience
Join and play group study sessions from a web browser without installing the app
Participants can join Group Study sessions from any web browser — no app installation required. This is perfect for classmates or study group members who don't have the Notesmakr app. Joining a group study is free.
How It Works
The host creates a session in the Notesmakr app and shares a link. Anyone with the link can open it in a browser and join the game. The web experience includes the full flow: joining, the lobby, gameplay, and results.
Joining from the Web
Via Link
Tap the session link shared by the host (e.g., notesmakr.com/group-study/join/ABC123). It opens in your browser.
The page shows the session title, the number of questions, the time for each question, the difficulty level, and how many players have joined out of the maximum (for example, 3/10). When 5 or fewer spots are left, a notice such as Only 4 spots left appears.
Type the name you want others to see during the game (up to 30 characters). The Join Session button stays disabled until you type a name.
Pick an emoji from the avatar picker. You can search for an emoji or filter by category: All, Animals, Faces, Nature, Food, or Objects. A preview shows your avatar and name with Ready to play.
Tap the Join Session button to enter the lobby.
Via Manual Code Entry
Go to notesmakr.com/group-study/join in your browser.
Type the code the host shared with you in the six boxes, or paste the whole code at once. Then tap Find Session.
Enter your display name, pick an avatar, and tap Join Session.
Web Game Experience
The web experience follows the same flow as the app:
- Lobby — see other participants joining in real-time, wait for the host to start
- Countdown — an animated countdown before the first question
- Questions — a timer, the question, and answer options to tap
- Results — a leaderboard and a final results page
- Responsive design — works on phones, tablets, and desktop browsers
The web pages have a hand-drawn ink look: cream lined paper, bold black outlines, and offset shadows, with a rainbow strip under the Notesmakr name.
Keep the Tab Open
While you wait in the lobby, keep the browser tab open. If you switch to another tab or app, or lock your phone, you are removed from the session and need to join again. You'll see You were removed from this session with a Rejoin button.
If the host removes you, you are sent back to the join page with a message that the host removed you from the session.
Sharing Your Results
On the results page, tap Share Results to share your result with friends. It uses your device's share sheet if available, and otherwise copies the text so you can paste it.
Differences from the App
- Cannot host sessions — hosting is a paid feature and requires the Notesmakr app
- No session history — your session data is stored in the browser tab only; closing the tab loses your local session data
- No account needed — web players join as guests with just a display name
- App download links — the join page and the results page show App Store and Play Store links for people who want to host their own quizzes
Troubleshooting
Session not found
If the code doesn't match any session, you'll see Session not found. Double-check the code with the host and tap Enter a code to try again.
Session has ended, was cancelled, or is in progress
If the session has finished, was cancelled by the host, or has already started, you can't join. Ask the host to start a new session.
Session is full
The host set a maximum number of players and they have all joined. Ask the host for another session.
I was removed from the session
This happens if you switched tabs or apps or locked your phone while in the lobby. Tap Rejoin to join again, if the session is still in the lobby.
Lost connection
Refresh the browser page in the same tab. If the session is still in the lobby, your place may be restored. Closing the tab loses your place. If you can't get back in, check with the host.
Page doesn't load correctly
Try a recent version of your browser, refresh the page, and clear your browser cache if the problem continues.
Next Steps
- Joining a Session — more details on the join flow
- During the Game — understanding the gameplay interface