# Manage Flow status and lifecycle
___

After you create a WhatsApp Flow, you can publish it for sending, deprecate it when it is no longer needed, or limit it automatically. This page outlines how flow status works and how to manage it.
___

## Flow lifecycle

WhatsApp Flows can transition through several statuses during their lifecycle. These statuses determine how the flow can be used and whether it is available for customers.

| Status | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Draft** | A flow enters the **Draft** state when it is first created or edited, and is available only for testing purposes.Draft flows can be freely modified or deleted if no longer needed. Only flows in Draft can be deleted. |
| **Published** | When a flow is ready to send, you can move it to the **Published** state.If you update the metadata or JSON, the flow is automatically reverted to **Draft** and must be published again. A published flow can transition to **Deprecated** or **Throttled** status, based on system monitoring or user decisions. |
| **Deprecated** | **Deprecated** flows can no longer be sent to users but may still exist on their devices. You may still receive responses from those flows. |
| **Throttled** | WhatsApp may mark your flow to **Throttled** if the endpoint becomes unstable. For example, due to slow response times or repeated errors. While throttled, sending is limited to 10 messages per hour.If the flow's endpoint health improves, it will transition back to **Published**.If conditions worsen, WhatsApp can **block** it. |
| **Blocked** | **Blocked** flows occur when endpoint performance significantly deteriorates. This is done to ensure that users are not exposed to degraded experiences. While in this state, the flow cannot be sent or opened.If the endpoint improves, WhatsApp can revert the flow status to **Throttled** and eventually to **Published**. |

NOTE
Only draft flows can be fully deleted. You can delete a draft flow using the **Flow Builder** interface inside the [WhatsApp Manager](https://business.facebook.com/wa/manage/) or our [API](https://www.infobip.com/docs/whatsapp/whatsapp-flows/build-whatsapp-flows#whatsapp-flows-over-api).

### Manage a Flow [#manage-a-flow-flow-lifecycle]

You can manage WhatsApp Flows and monitor their status through the [web interface](https://portal.infobip.com/login) or use the [WhatsApp API flow actions](https://www.infobip.com/docs/whatsapp/whatsapp-flows/build-whatsapp-flows#flow-actions-whatsapp-flows) for full programmatic control.

In the web interface, you can view WhatsApp Flows at both **channel** and **sender** levels.

#### View Flows at the channel level

1. In the [web interface](https://portal.infobip.com/login), navigate to **Channels and Numbers** > **Channels** and select **WhatsApp**.

2. Open the **Flows** tab to see all your flows.
    - You will find details such as the **WABA** they belong to, **Flow ID**, **First flow screen**, and **Status**.
    - You can copy the **Flow ID** and **First flow screen** element for reference.

#### View Flows at the sender level [#sender-level-manage-a-flow-flow-lifecycle]

1. In the web interface, navigate to **Channels and Numbers** > **Channels** and select **WhatsApp**.

2. Open the **Senders** tab.

3. Select the three-dot menu next to the desired sender and choose **View Flows**.
    - You will see all Flows associated with the sender, including the **Flow ID**, **First flow screen**, and **Status**.
    - You can copy the **Flow ID** and **First flow screen** element if needed.
    - You can also [change the status](#manage-flow-status-flow-lifecycle) of your flows.

### Manage flow status [#manage-flow-status-flow-lifecycle]

In the web interface, you can change the status of a flow depending on its current status.

Note
Changing the flow status is available only at the **sender level**.

To change a flow's status, open the sender-level flows view. Then, select the three-dot menu next to the desired flow. Choose one of the available statuses to transition the flow.

- **Draft**: You can **publish** or **delete** the flow.
- **Published**: You can **deprecate** the Flow.
- **Throttled** or **Blocked**: You can **deprecate** the flow to prevent further issues.
___