Skip to main content
Once every check in the workflow Builder turns green, run a dry run before you publish to production.

​
Dry Run Steps

  1. Click Dry Run. Dry run button on the Builder screen
  2. The Dry Run screen appears. Review the details, then click Start Dry Run. Start Dry Run button on the dry run screen
  3. In the results list, each step lights up in real time as it runs. Review the results, then click Rerun or Publish.
    If you select a real user, the dry run affects real data. In that case, the run executes against production data rather than a simulation.If you do not want to affect actual employee accounts or production data, be sure to select a mock user.
    Dry run results list showing the progress of each step
  4. When the test finishes, the results appear in a banner at the top of the screen, along with a per-step results list. If a mock user (test account) was created, choose Delete or Keep. If the test succeeds, click Publish. If it fails, fix the issue and run the test again.

​
Troubleshooting

​
FAQ

​
Q. Does a dry run affect real data?

A. If you select a real user, the dry run affects real data. In that case, the run executes against production data rather than a simulation. If you do not want to affect actual employee accounts or production data, be sure to select a mock user.

​
Q. What happens to the mock user created for a dry run after the test?

A. After the test finishes, you can choose to Delete or Keep the mock user created for the dry run. Delete is selected by default, so the test data is removed immediately.

​
Q. Why doesn’t a new-hire dry run offer a choice between a real user and a mock user?

A. Testing onboarding always requires a new account, so a mock user is created automatically every time. Selecting a target user isn’t necessary in this case.

​
Q. Can I run a workflow dry run more than once?

A. Yes, you can run it as often as you like before publishing. As long as every node is configured correctly and the workflow isn’t archived, you can rerun the test. Use the header’s Dry Run button or the Rerun option on the dry run screen.

​
Q. What happens in production if I publish while some dry run steps are still failing?

A. If you click Publish while errors remain, those errors will continue to occur in production until you fix them.
Last modified on July 30, 2026