---
title: "Flow Designer View Mode"
slug: "flow-designer-view-mode"
description: "Learn how Flow Designer View Mode lets users review a Flow’s configuration and logic without editing it or disrupting another user’s session."
updated: 2026-07-02T20:11:23Z
published: 2026-07-02T20:11:23Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/flow-designer-view-mode"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Flow Designer View Mode

## Overview

Flow Designer View Mode is a new feature introduced in v9.14 that allows users to open and review a Flow without making changes or breaking active user session locks. When one user is editing a Flow, other users can still open the same Flow in View Mode to examine its configuration, logic, and structure in real time without interrupting the editing session.

#### Key Benefits

- **Prevents Lock Conflicts**: Eliminates accidental lock overrides when multiple users need to access the same Flow.
- **Safe, Read-Only Access**: Users can view all Flow details without the risk of making unintended changes.
- **Improved Collaboration**: Stakeholders, reviewers, and non-technical team members can explore the logic and configuration of the Flow simultaneously.
- **Faster Reviews & Approvals**: Reduces bottlenecks by allowing concurrent viewing while editing is in progress.

## Accessing View Mode

1. **User action on the Flow** (added in v9.15): Right-click on any of the Flow > Open in View Mode.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1783023075615.png)
2. **Lock Entity Dialog**: A Flow can be opened in View Mode when it is locked by an active user session (i.e., another user currently has it open for editing). When a Flow is closed, a locked Flow icon appears in the Report to indicate its status. Clicking on a locked Flow will display a prompt with a newly added option to Open the Flow in View Mode.![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778607860317.png)

Clicking Open View Mode will launch the Designer in read-only mode. A clear indicator will be displayed in the header beneath the flow name to show that the flow is opened in View Mode.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/image-1778607700236.png)

## Capabilities and Restrictions in View Mode

#### Users cannot perform the following actions in View Mode:

- Debug the Flow.
- Run unit tests or sample data.
- Users cannot save, create a checkpoint, cut a step, delete a step, or paste copied steps.
- Move steps on the canvas.
- Add steps to the Flow (Toolbox is not available).
- Update any properties or configurations of a step or connector.
- Delete or change connector path mappings.
- Refresh the health score.
- Ignore or unignore validations.

#### Even though View Mode is read-only, users can still:

- Open the Properties Panel to view step details and configuration data.
- Copy text from the Properties Panel or other areas (all text is selectable).
- Navigate within the designer elements used in the Flow to review their configuration.