Test and turn on a flow
A flow only replies to customers when it's Active. Test it first so customers never see a half-finished bot.
How do I turn a flow on?
- Open the flow in the builder.
- Fix anything listed under N things to fix at the top. See below.
- Click Save and turn on.
The badge changes to Active and you'll see "Flow is live". From now on, any customer whose message matches the trigger gets the flow.
If there are still problems, you'll see "Fix N things before turning the flow on" and the builder opens the first step that needs fixing.
How do I turn a flow off?
Open it and click Turn off. You'll see "Flow turned off". Customers already in the middle of the flow can finish it, but nobody new starts it.
What does the builder check before turning on?
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Add at least one trigger keyword. | Click Start and type a keyword. |
| Connect the Start step to the next step. | Click + on the Start card and add a step. |
| A text message step has no text. (or question, reply buttons, list menu) | Write the message. |
| Reply buttons need 1 to 3 buttons. / Button titles need 1 to 20 characters. | Fix the buttons. |
| A list menu needs 1 to 10 choices. / List choices need 1 to 24 characters. | Fix the choices. |
| A question needs a field to save the answer to. | Fill in Save the answer to field. |
| Choose a field to save the answer to (letters, numbers and _). | Use a name like delivery_address. |
| An image or file step needs a file address. | Paste the file's link. |
| Upload the file shown above the buttons, or remove it. | Upload it, or set the picture back to None. |
| A template step has no template chosen. | Choose an approved template. |
| A wait step needs a duration. | Type how long to wait. |
| A link step needs a web address starting with https:// | Fix the link. |
| An API call step needs a URL starting with https:// | Fix the URL. |
| A jump step has no flow chosen. | Choose the flow in Continue in. |
| Write times as HH:MM, like 09:30 or 16:00. | Fix the time slots. |
| A connection points to a step that no longer exists. | Click Tidy up and reconnect the steps. |
How do I test a flow on my own phone?
The simplest way is to be your own customer:
- Keep the flow Inactive while you build it. Then, when ready, turn it on at a quiet time.
- From your personal WhatsApp, send the trigger keyword to your business number.
- Go through every path: tap each button, give wrong answers to see the retry messages, and check the saved answers in the inbox's contact panel.
- If something's wrong, click Turn off, fix it, and turn it on again.
Testing "first message" flows
A flow that starts on A new contact messages for the first time only runs once per phone number. To test it again, use another phone number, or ask a colleague to message you.
Restart a test
If you're stuck in the middle of a flow while testing, reply to yourself from the inbox. That stops the bot for your chat, and your next keyword starts the flow fresh.
Can I test without a real WhatsApp number?
Not on your own. Test with your own phone, or a colleague's, messaging your business number as a customer would. Nothing is sent to anyone else while you test. If you'd rather not test on your live number, ask us on WhatsApp and we'll help.
Can I change a flow while it's live?
Yes. Edit it and click Save. Changes apply straight away to anyone who starts the flow afterwards.
A live flow can't be saved with problems, because customers would hit them immediately. If you try, a red bar at the top lists what to fix. Fix it, or turn the flow off first.
Customers in the middle of the flow
Someone who is waiting at a step (for example, after buttons) carries on with your new version. If you deleted the step they were waiting at, their run stops when they reply. For big changes, turn the flow off, make the changes, test, and turn it on again.
Why didn't my flow reply?
See Why didn't my flow reply? for a full checklist. The most common reasons are: the flow isn't Active, the keyword doesn't match exactly, another flow with the same keyword was created first, the customer has opted out, or someone on your team replied to the chat.