Gameplay Issues

Running into something unexpected during a game? This page covers the most common gameplay issues, from answer problems to power-up errors and scoring questions.

”You’ve already answered this question”

This message means your answer has already been locked in for the current question. Here’s what you should know:

• Each player can only submit one answer per question
• Once you tap or click your answer, it’s final — there’s no changing it
• This is by design to keep the game fair and fast-paced

[!TIP] Take a moment to think before you answer. Once it’s locked in, there’s no going back!

Power-Up Problems

Power-ups add an exciting layer to the game, but they come with certain rules and limits. Here are the error messages you might see:

[!NOTE] Power-ups are a subscriber feature. If you’re seeing “Power-ups are not enabled,” the host may be on the free plan. Learn more about power-ups in the Power-Ups guide.

”This action is not available right now”

This message appears when you try to do something that isn’t allowed during the current phase of the game. TriviaNow games move through distinct phases, and certain actions are only available at specific times.

For example:

• You can only submit answers during the “answering” phase
• You can only use power-ups when the question is active
• Some actions are only available in the lobby or between questions

Wait for the right moment, and the action should become available.

My Score Seems Wrong

Scoring in TriviaNow can involve several factors, so your score might be different from what you expected. Here’s what goes into it:

• Base points — Awarded for a correct answer
• Speed bonus — If enabled by the host, answering faster earns more points
• Streak multiplier — If enabled, consecutive correct answers multiply your score
• Power-up modifiers — Some power-ups can boost your points or reduce an opponent’s

For the full breakdown of how scoring works, check out Scoring & Streaks.

For text and number questions:

• Text answers use similarity matching — your answer needs to be approximately 90% similar to the correct answer
• Small typos are usually forgiven, but significantly different wording may not match
• Number answers need to be exact

[!TIP] If your text answer wasn’t accepted but you think it should have been, it’s possible the spelling was too far off. Try to be as precise as possible with text answers.

The 50/50 Didn’t Remove Any Answers

The 50/50 Eraser power-up only works with certain question types:

• Single Choice — Removes two incorrect options, leaving the correct answer and one wrong one
• Multiple Choice — Removes some incorrect options to narrow down your choices

It has no effect on:

• True/False questions (there are only 2 options, so removing half would give away the answer)
• Text questions (there are no options to remove)
• Number questions (there are no options to remove)

If you used a 50/50 on a True/False, Text, or Number question, the power-up won’t do anything, but it will still be counted as used.

Other Gameplay Issues

The timer ran out before I could answer

• Each question has a set time limit chosen by the host
• If you don’t answer in time, it counts as no answer for that question
• Stay focused and try to answer as quickly as you’re comfortable with

I can’t see the question or answer options

• Try scrolling down — on smaller screens, options may be below the visible area
• Rotate your phone to landscape mode for a wider view
• Refresh the page if the question doesn’t load

The game seems stuck on one screen

• The host may have paused the game
• Check your connection — you might have disconnected (see Connection Issues)
• If the host’s device lost connection, the game may be waiting for them to return

[!NOTE] Still stuck? Chat with Archie, our AI assistant, on the TriviaNow website , or contact our support team directly.