---
title: Previews
description: Open the running version of a change in your browser from the desktop app, before anything is committed.
---

When a change produces something you can open — a web page, an app with a dev
server — I can start it so you can look at it before you commit.

## Open a preview

The thread header shows a chip when there's something to see:

| Chip | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **Draft preview** | You can open the page while I'm still polishing it |
| **Preview ready** | It's built. Take a look while I check it |

Click the chip. The review pane opens on **Preview**:

![The Preview tab with a running preview](../assets/screens/desktop/preview.webp){ width="1440" height="994" }
/// caption
A running preview: its address, and when it stops.
///

Choose **Start preview**. I start this version's own dev server on your
computer and show its address. **Open in browser** opens it in your browser;
**Stop preview** ends it.

- Nothing is committed by previewing.
- The preview runs on this computer, at a local address.
- It stops by itself at the time shown.
- If the app needs an account, the tab shows a **Test account** made for this
  preview only. Use that, not real credentials.

A preview is available once there's a finished change to preview.