LOKALHelp Center
LOKAL USER GUIDE

From first setup to your everyday class.

Plain-language instructions for teachers, students, and school staff. No technical experience required.

Start from the beginning Help me choose a mode
You will learn how to:
WELCOME

Start here

LOKAL turns a Windows PowerPoint presentation into an interactive class. Teachers install LOKAL once. Students join from a browser and do not install anything.

1InstallDownload and install LOKAL
2PrepareCreate a class and add activities
3TeachShare the code and collect answers
4ReviewClose the session and check reports
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Before you begin

The teacher needs a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 computer, desktop PowerPoint 2016 or newer, and permission to install software. Students only need a modern web browser.

CHOOSE YOUR SETUP

Which classroom mode should I use?

For most face-to-face classrooms, choose Local Network. Choose a different mode only when your class needs it.

PC

Offline

This computer only

Use LOKAL on the teacher’s computer without allowing phones or other computers to connect.

  • No Internet needed
  • Students cannot join from another device
  • Best for preparation and testing
RECOMMENDED
Wi-Fi

Local Network

Same Wi-Fi or LAN

Students connect directly to the teacher’s computer through the classroom network.

  • No Internet needed
  • Students must use the same Wi-Fi/LAN
  • Best for normal classroom use
Web

Online

Join from anywhere

Students connect through the public LOKAL website over the Internet.

  • Internet required for everyone
  • Students can be in another location
  • Best for remote and hybrid classes

Still unsure?

Are students physically in the same classroom?Yes → Local Network
Are students joining from home or another location?Yes → Online
Are you only preparing or testing on your own computer?Yes → Offline
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Connection mode and cloud backup are separate

You can teach through Local Network while cloud backup synchronizes whenever Internet is available. If Internet drops, the local class can continue.

FIRST-TIME SETUP · PART 1

Download and install LOKAL

  1. 1

    Download from the official website

    Open download.lokal.college and select Download for Windows. The file is named LOKAL-Setup-x64.exe.

  2. 2

    Verify the download (recommended)

    On the download page, select Choose downloaded installer, then choose the EXE from Downloads. Continue only when the page confirms that it is the official installer. The file is checked on your device and is not uploaded.

  3. 3

    Close PowerPoint

    Save your presentation and close every PowerPoint window. PowerPoint cannot discover a newly installed add-in while it is already open.

  4. 4

    Run the installer

    Right-click LOKAL-Setup-x64.exe, choose Run as administrator, review the agreement, and select Install. If Windows shows an unknown-publisher warning, make sure the file came from the official LOKAL website and passed verification.

  5. 5

    Let setup finish

    The all-in-one installer adds the LOKAL Server, PowerPoint add-in, and Server Status tray app. It also installs .NET Framework 4.8 and the VSTO Runtime only when they are missing. Installation itself works offline.

  6. 6

    Confirm the server is running

    Look beside the Windows clock. If the LOKAL icon is hidden, select the ^ arrow. You can also open Start → LOKAL → LOKAL Server Status. The server should show as running.

  7. 7

    Open PowerPoint again

    Start PowerPoint after setup finishes. A new LOKAL tab should appear in the ribbon.

✓
Only one installer is needed

Normal users do not need the source code or separate MSI files. Students do not install LOKAL.

FIRST-TIME SETUP · PART 2

Create the teacher profile and first class

  1. 1

    Open the Teacher Dashboard

    Right-click the LOKAL tray icon and choose Teacher Dashboard. On the classroom computer, you can also open http://localhost:8080/teacher/.

  2. 2

    Create or sign in to the teacher account

    Select Create account if this is the first use. Enter the display name, username, email, organization, profession, and matching password entries. Sign in if the account already exists.

  3. 3

    Complete the profile

    Open Account to review the teacher information and, if desired, choose a profile picture from the computer.

  4. 4

    Create a class

    Open Classes → Create new class. Enter a class name and class code, then save. Students will use this code only while the teacher is conducting an active class session.

  5. 5

    Choose how students will connect

    Open Settings → Connection, select Offline, Local Network, or Online, then save. Restart the LOKAL Server if the page asks you to do so.

Recommended setup: Local Network+
  1. Connect the teacher computer and student devices to the same Wi-Fi or LAN.
  2. Choose Local Network under Settings → Connection.
  3. Keep port 8080 unless school IT tells you otherwise.
  4. Save and restart if requested.
  5. Share the displayed student address, such as http://192.168.1.25:8080/student/.

Seeing 0.0.0.0 is normal. It means LOKAL is listening through the computer’s available network connections.

OPTIONAL FOR LOCAL CLASSES

Connect an online account and cloud backup

Skip this section if you only need Offline or Local Network use without cloud backup. Complete it for Online mode or hosted synchronization.

  1. 1

    Sign in to hosted LOKAL

    Open app.lokal.college. Create an account, sign in with the existing account, or use Google sign-in when available.

  2. 2

    Generate a one-time enrollment code

    On the hosted dashboard, open Settings → Connection. Under Classroom computers, select Generate enrollment code and copy the code. It expires and can only be used once.

  3. 3

    Enter the code on the classroom computer

    Open the local Teacher Dashboard, then Settings → Connection → Connect this computer. Keep the hosted address as https://app.lokal.college, enter the code, name the computer, and select Connect this computer.

  4. 4

    Confirm the connection

    The hosted dashboard should list the classroom computer, and the local page should show cloud synchronization as active. Use Sync now if you want to send waiting records immediately.

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Use the same teacher account

Sign in to PowerPoint, the hosted Teacher Dashboard, and the enrolled classroom computer with the intended teacher account so classes and records are associated correctly.

BEFORE CLASS

Prepare the PowerPoint lesson

  1. 1

    Open the presentation

    Open PowerPoint, choose the LOKAL ribbon tab, and sign in if requested.

  2. 2

    Select the class

    Select Select Class, choose the class for this lesson, and confirm. Responses, participants, and reports will be connected to this selection.

  3. 3

    Add an activity to a slide

    Select the question slide, then choose Multiple Choice, Word Cloud, or Fill in the Blanks from the LOKAL ribbon. Configure the activity in the side panel.

  4. 4

    Review the question settings

    For Multiple Choice, set the choices and correct answer. For Word Cloud, set the submission limit and reveal preference. For Fill in the Blanks, set the number of blanks and accepted answers.

  5. 5

    Choose how the activity starts

    Enable Start activity with slide to begin automatically when the slide appears. Leave it off if you prefer to click the activity button yourself during Slide Show mode.

  6. 6

    Save the presentation

    Save after adding and configuring the activities.

AT THE START OF CLASS

Help students join

LOCAL NETWORK

Students in the classroom

  1. Join the same Wi-Fi/LAN as the teacher.
  2. Open the address or scan the QR code displayed by LOKAL.
  3. Enter the active class code.
  4. Enter the student name and select Join.
  5. Wait for the teacher to begin.
ONLINE

Students joining through Internet

  1. Open lokal.college.
  2. Enter the active class code.
  3. Enter the student name and select Join.
  4. Wait for the teacher to begin.
✓
The waiting screen is normal

“You’re in! Waiting for your teacher to start an activity” means the student joined successfully. The activity appears after the teacher starts it from PowerPoint.

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Offline mode does not accept student devices

Switch to Local Network or Online when students need to participate from phones, tablets, or computers.

DURING CLASS

Run the live activity

  1. 1

    Start the PowerPoint Slide Show

    Display the class code, student link, or QR code. Wait for the participant counter and participant list to update.

  2. 2

    Open the activity slide

    Navigate to the prepared slide. It starts automatically when Start activity with slide is enabled. Otherwise, click the activity button shown on the slide.

  3. 3

    Collect responses

    Give students time to answer. Monitor the participant and submission counts while responses arrive.

  4. 4

    Close the activity

    Close submissions manually, or let the automatic timer close them if configured. Reveal hidden responses when appropriate.

  5. 5

    Review the answer

    For graded questions, show the correct answer after submissions close. Discuss the result and award stars when the activity supports it.

  6. 6

    Continue the lesson

    Insert results into the presentation when useful, then continue to the next slide or activity.

AFTER CLASS

Finish and review the session

  1. 1

    Close the final activity

    Reveal the answer if needed and confirm responses were recorded.

  2. 2

    End the session

    Exit Slide Show mode and end the active class session when the option is shown.

  3. 3

    Check Reports

    Open Reports to review the session, participants, responses, scores, and awarded stars.

  4. 4

    Allow synchronization to finish

    If cloud backup is connected, confirm that queued records were delivered or select Sync now.

  5. 5

    Sign out on shared computers

    Save the presentation and sign out when another teacher will use the same computer.

FOR FUTURE CLASSES

The everyday teacher checklist

KEEP LOKAL HEALTHY

Update, repair, or uninstall

UPDATE

Install a newer release

  1. Download the latest installer.
  2. Verify it on the download page.
  3. Close PowerPoint.
  4. Run the installer as administrator.
  5. Open PowerPoint after setup finishes.
REPAIR

Fix a damaged installation

  1. Close PowerPoint.
  2. Run the official installer as administrator.
  3. Choose Repair when available.
  4. Reopen PowerPoint.
UNINSTALL

Remove LOKAL

  1. Close PowerPoint.
  2. Open Windows Settings → Apps.
  3. Find LOKAL and choose Uninstall.
  4. Classroom data is preserved to prevent accidental loss.
QUICK HELP

Fix a common problem

The LOKAL tab is missing in PowerPoint+
  1. Close every PowerPoint window and reopen it.
  2. In PowerPoint, open File → Options → Add-ins.
  3. Choose COM Add-ins under Manage, then select Go.
  4. Enable the LOKAL add-in if it is disabled.
  5. If it is absent, run the installer and choose Repair.
The LOKAL tray icon is missing+

Select the ^ arrow beside the Windows clock. If the icon is still absent, open Start → LOKAL → LOKAL Server Status. Exiting the tray app does not stop the server.

Students cannot join through Local Network+
  • Confirm the server is running.
  • Confirm Local Network is selected and saved.
  • Restart the server if requested.
  • Put every device on the same Wi-Fi/LAN.
  • Use the exact displayed address—not localhost.
  • Set the Windows network profile to Private.
  • Avoid guest Wi-Fi that blocks devices from communicating.
Students joined but only see the waiting screen+
  • Confirm the same class is selected in PowerPoint.
  • Confirm students used the displayed class code.
  • Start PowerPoint Slide Show mode.
  • Navigate to the prepared activity slide.
  • Enable Start activity with slide or click the activity button manually.
Online mode is not working+
  • Confirm teacher and students have Internet.
  • Sign in to the correct hosted teacher account.
  • Confirm the classroom computer is enrolled under Settings → Connection.
  • Select Online mode, save, and restart if requested.
  • Students should use https://lokal.college.
Cloud synchronization says “Needs attention”+
  1. Check the Internet connection.
  2. Open Settings → Connection.
  3. Select Sync now.
  4. Confirm the computer still appears in the hosted dashboard.
  5. If it was revoked, generate a new enrollment code and reconnect it.

Offline and Local Network teaching can continue while cloud backup is unavailable.

The displayed link or QR code is incorrect+

Open Settings → Connection, select the intended mode, save the configuration, and restart the LOKAL Server when requested. Return to PowerPoint and reopen the class code display.

Ready to use LOKAL?

Keep this guide bookmarked and return whenever you need help.

Download LOKALTeacher sign inStudent join page