1. Making sure KaraFun is setup and working properly
KaraFun Checklist:
If the Rotato-to-KaraFun connection does not appear to be working,
but Rotato is not displaying any relevant warning messages,
the problem may be with how your KaraFun app is configured.
Here is a simple list of things to check at the KaraFun end:
• Is KaraFun is running?
• Do you have KaraFun version 3? (v2 is not supported)
• Are you signed in?
• Do you have an active KaraFun Pro or Premium plan?
• Is the remote control feature turned on?
• Does Rotato appear in the remote control participants list?
• Does Rotato have admin permissions (checkmark turned on)?
• Is "singer rotation" mode completely disabled?
If the answer to any of these questions is "no", please read the KaraFun Integration help and review the KaraFun setup instructions.
KaraFun remote control panel displays an error message: This means the KaraFun remote control servers are currently offline. KaraFun usually resolves server issues within an hour or so.
KaraFun lyrics window shows an error code: This means the KaraFun song catalog servers are currently offline. KaraFun usually resolves server issues within an hour or so.
KaraFun PREMIUM Plan Users: Note that the Premium plan does not offer control over permissions granted to connected participants. All participants effectively have admin permissions. This is a KaraFun by-design limitation. Therefore, if using remote control to connect Rotato, it is recommended that you do not expose the remote control feature to your audience via the QR code, as they will be able to control and intefere with the show.
2. Rotato warning messages
"Insufficient KaraFun permissions": This appears because Rotato has not been granted "admin" permissions in KaraFun's remote control settings ("Participants" section). Without these permissions, it cannot sync with the KaraFun queue. Please read the KaraFun Integration help for instructions.
"KaraFun app is not running!": Exactly what it says - you need to fire up KaraFun and log in!
"KaraFun remote control ID is invalid.": The remote control ID you entered in the settings is either incorrect or no longer valid. Open the 👤 Account settings and double check the ID you entered against the one shown in KaraFuns's remote control settings.
"KaraFun session no longer active!": Occurs if the KaraFun app has been closed or logged off for a long time. Restart KaraFun and log on.
"KaraFun server not responding!": Occurs if after repeated attempts, Rotato cannot get a response from KaraFun's remote control servers. This occurs either because KaraFun's system is temporarily down, or because the KaraFun app has been closed or logged off for a long time. Restart KaraFun, log on, and check the remote control settings for any error indicating the remote control service may be down.
"KaraFun error 4: Username is already used by another client": Very occasionally, if a remote control participant disconnects and tries to reconnect later, KaraFun will incorrectly tell them that their original nickname is still in use by another user. This is a known KaraFun issue. Rotato will tell you if it encounters this error. The problem usually resolves itself after a period of time, but for a quick workaround during a show, go to Rotato's account settings and assign it a new (unused) nickname, then re-apply admin permissions for it when it appears in the Participants list.
"KaraFun error 3: You don't have permission {technical jargon}": This is equivalent to the "Insufficient KaraFun permissions" warning. Sometimes KaraFun responds with an internal error message instead of the normal response that Rotato expects.
3. Other Rotato issues
KaraFun toolbar does not appear: This just means you manually turned off KaraFun integration at some point. The visibility of the toolbar is tied to that setting. Go to the 👤 Account screen and turn it back on.
KaraFun toolbar says "KaraFun Not Connected": Indicates that the connection to the KaraFun app was terminated. Common reasons include the remote control feature being turned off, or being logged out of your KaraFun account. It can also appear momentarily when first connecting, due to network delays. When this message appears, Rotato will try to reconnect every 20 seconds. Most of the time, this will be accompanied by one of the explicit warnings described in the previous section.
Rotato is just not syncing to KaraFun: Please consult the KaraFun troubleshooting checklist at the top of this page to eliminate all possible causes at the KaraFun end. Next, make sure you have turned on KaraFun syncing in the Rotato settings, and double check that the Remote Control ID is correct.
I deleted a KaraFun-synced singer by mistake. How do I get it back? If it's too late for you to simply use Undo to retrieve the deleted singer, just re-add the singer manually but putting an "@" sign in front of their name. The pink circle next to the singer's name will indicate it is now sync-able. As long as the name matches that singer's KaraFun nickname, it should start sync-ing again normally.
3. If all else fails
If none of the above troubleshooting tips fixes your issue, it may be an issue that we have not encountered before. Disconnecting and reconnecting both apps may help establish a fresh connection. Here are some things worth trying, in no particlar order.
• See if KaraFun's remote control works from a browser (ie. www.karafun.com/<YOUR ID>)
• Refresh Rotato's browser page
• Delete all synchronized singers from Rotato's list, refresh, and wait
• Add a new song to the KaraFun queue and see if it appears in Rotato
• Turn Rotato's sync setting off and on (making sure to close the settings screen after each change)
• Close and reopen KaraFun
• Log out of both Rotato and KaraFun, and log back in again
• Start KaraFun first, Rotato second
For assistance, you can email the Rotato team at rotato.rocks@gmail.com. But we strongly encourage you to join the Rotato community Discord Server, where it is possible to engage in real-time conversations with both Rotato team members and other Rotato users.