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Guide · Discovery

Find the Right Room (Active Now)

Understand how active rooms are picked, how presence is calculated, and how to choose (or host) the right space for your session.

How-to

Pick or host with confidence

  1. Open the Active Rooms page to see public rooms. The list refreshes every ~60–80s with jitter.
  2. Check presence pills: a room shows as active when lastActive is within 15 minutes.
  3. Pick a vibe: solo/quiet, camera-optional pairs, or shared rooms with chat open.
  4. Join and post one task so others know your focus; mute mic by default.
  5. If hosting, keep the room open, set a clear timer, and pin a short purpose line.

Host tips

  • Update presence by staying in-room; moving rooms updates lastActive with roomId.
  • Use 3–5 person caps to keep chat readable and reduce social loafing.
  • Pin your purpose and timer; late joiners see context without interrupting.
  • Share the room link (try your current room); avoid ?room= legacy links—stick to /r/<roomId> URLs.

How “active” is calculated

Rooms appear when a participant’s lastActive is within 15 minutes; query orders by active count then roomId. Staying in-room or moving rooms updates your lastActive with the current roomId.

FAQ

Why did my room disappear?

Rooms drop off when no one has been active in the last ~15 minutes. Re-open the room or refresh presence to reappear.

How do I get more joiners?

Keep a clear title/purpose, run predictable timer blocks, and share the room link. Presence pills and chat activity help people choose.

Does camera-on matter?

Presence pills alone provide accountability. Cameras help trust; keep them optional to reduce drop-off.

Can I browse privately?

Yes. Use your private default room (the Zen room) or any direct room link. Private rooms won’t show in the active list unless you make them public.

Find a live room

Sort by activity and pick a vibe that matches yours.

Open →

Start private

Use your default room; flip public later if you want company.

Open →

Host a session

Set a timer, pin a purpose, and share the link—stay active to remain listed.

Open →

Related guides

Find the Right Room (Active Now) | Study Spaces