# Publish, schedule and unpublish

FunctionFlow AI · Test & publish · Updated October 3, 2026

> How publishing works, what each status means, how to schedule a function with start and end dates, and how to unpublish, archive, duplicate or delete it.

Saving a function never changes your checkout. **Publishing** does: it creates or updates the function in your Shopify store, and Shopify starts running it at checkout.

## Publish a function

Click **Publish…** in the builder. The first time — or whenever the function isn’t live — FunctionFlow asks how it should go live:

![The publish dialog with Test mode first and Live for everyone](https://help.fleekapps.com/media/functionflow-ai/publish-dialog.webp "Choose test mode first, or go live for everyone straight away.")

- **Test mode first** (recommended) — only customers tagged `ff-test` see it. See [Test mode](https://help.fleekapps.com/functionflow-ai/test-mode/).
- **Live for everyone** — every customer gets it, right away or from the start date.

Once a function is live, the button reads **Save & publish** and publishes your changes straight away, keeping its test mode setting.

When you publish, FunctionFlow creates the matching object in Shopify:

| Kind | Shopify creates | Find it in Shopify admin |
|---|---|---|
| Discounts, free and discounted shipping | An app discount (automatic or code) | **Discounts** |
| Shipping rules | A delivery customization | **Settings → Shipping and delivery** |
| Payment rules | A payment customization | **Settings → Payments** |
| Checkout rules | A checkout validation | **Settings → Checkout** |

The **Status** card’s **View in Shopify** link opens it. See [FunctionFlow in your Shopify admin](https://help.fleekapps.com/functionflow-ai/shopify-admin/).

## Statuses and badges

| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **Draft** | Saved, not running at checkout |
| **Active** | Published and running |
| **Scheduled** | Published with a start date in the future |
| **Archived** | Removed from Shopify; history kept |
| **Publish failed** | Shopify rejected the last publish — the builder shows Shopify’s message |

Extra badges:

- **Test mode** — only customers tagged `ff-test` see it.
- **Unpublished changes** — you’ve saved changes to a live function that aren’t published yet. Customers still get the published version.
- **Schedule waiting for an admin visit** — see [below](#schedule-a-function).

## Change a live function safely

Edit a live function as much as you like and click **Save draft** — checkout keeps running the published version and the function shows **Unpublished changes**. When you’re ready, click **Save & publish**. The subtitle (*v4 · published v3*) and the Status card show which version is live.

## Schedule a function

Use the **Active dates** card to start a function later or end it automatically — for a sale, a holiday cutoff or a weekend offer.

![The Active dates card with start date, start time and Set end date](https://help.fleekapps.com/media/functionflow-ai/active-dates.webp "Start and end times use your store’s time zone.")

1. Set the **Start date** and **Start time**. Leave them as they are to start as soon as you publish.
2. Tick **Set end date** and choose the **End date** and **End time** (it suggests one week later, at 11:59 PM).
3. Publish. With a future start, the status is **Scheduled**.

Times use your store’s time zone, shown next to the time fields.

Who switches it on and off:

- **Discounts** — Shopify starts and ends the discount at the exact times. In FunctionFlow, the status may keep showing *Scheduled* or *Active* afterwards; Shopify’s **Discounts** page shows the live state.
- **Shipping, payment and checkout rules** — FunctionFlow switches them on and off at the scheduled times. It does this using a staff member’s recent session in the app; if nobody from your team has opened FunctionFlow in about a day, the function shows **Schedule waiting for an admin visit** and switches as soon as someone opens the app.

> **Tip:** For a repeating window — every weekday from 5 to 7 PM — use [time conditions](https://help.fleekapps.com/functionflow-ai/happy-hours-and-time-rules/) instead of active dates.

## Unpublish, archive, restore and delete

- **Unpublish** — in the builder header (or switch off **Live** on the Functions page). The function stops running at checkout and becomes a **Draft**. Its Shopify discount or customization is switched off but kept.
- **Archive** — in the Status card or the Functions page menu. Removes the function from Shopify and keeps its history. Archived functions don’t count toward your plan’s limit.
- **Restore as draft** — brings an archived function back as a draft.
- **Delete** — in the Functions page menu. Removes the function from FunctionFlow and from Shopify. This can’t be undone in the app.

## Duplicate, export and import

- **Duplicate** makes a draft copy called *Copy of …*. A discount code gets *-COPY* added so it doesn’t clash.
- **Export** downloads a `.functionflow.json` file. **Import** on the Functions page turns it into a new draft — handy for moving rules between stores.

## If publishing fails

The builder shows **The last publish failed** with Shopify’s message, and your draft is kept. The most common causes are in [Troubleshooting](https://help.fleekapps.com/functionflow-ai/troubleshooting/#publishing-failed).

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Source: https://help.fleekapps.com/functionflow-ai/publish-and-schedule/