How to ask the magic 8 ball
- Think of a question that can be answered yes or no. Type it in the box if you like; you don’t have to.
- Click the ball or Shake the ball, or press Enter or Space.
- Read the answer in the window. The line under the ball says whether it’s a yes, a no or a non-committal answer.
How the toy works
The real ball is filled with dark liquid and holds a 20-sided die with an answer on each face. When you turn the ball over, one face floats up against a small window. This page picks one of the same 20 answers at random, with each one equally likely, just as a fair die would.
Good questions to ask
The ball only answers yes or no, so phrase questions that way: “Will it rain on Saturday?” works, “What should I have for dinner?” doesn’t. It’s a party game and a way to break a tie when you genuinely don’t mind either way. For a decision between more than two options, list them on the wheel spinner instead.