---
title: When Started
description: Run the flow on clicking the start button. Good for getting started quickly.
---

Start a workflow by hand, whenever you choose to run it.

## Try it

## What it does

When Started waits for nothing. The workflow runs when you click **Test Workflow** in the designer, run it from the workflow list, or press the trigger's own run button. The trigger has no settings and passes `{ "started": true }` to the next node.

A workflow whose only trigger is When Started also appears in the browser's right-click menu (under **Personal Workflows**), so you can run it on the page you are looking at.

If a workflow has several triggers, clicking **Test Workflow** asks you which one to start from. Only the branch after the chosen trigger runs.

## When to use it

* Try out a new workflow while you build it.
* Run a workflow on demand: clean up tabs, export data, send a one-off message.
* Keep a manual entry point next to an automatic trigger, so you can test the same steps without waiting for the event.

To run on a timer, use [Schedule](/nodes/builtin/trigger/schedule/). To run from a keyboard shortcut, use [Hotkey](/nodes/builtin/trigger/hotkey/).

## Inputs and settings

This node has no settings.

## Outputs

Each output item has these fields:

```json title="Shape of an output item"
{
  "started": true
}
```

The output carries no data of its own. The first real step after it usually fetches or reads something, for example the current page or an API.

## Dependencies and credentials

None. This node needs no connection and has no slots for other nodes.

## Example workflow

Save the text of the current page:

1. Add **When Started**.
2. Add [Get All Text](/nodes/extension/getalltext/) with **Output field name** `text` to read the page you have open.
3. Add [Data Store](/nodes/builtin/core/datastore/) with **Operation** set to **Set**, **Key** `last-page-text` and **Value** `{{ $input.text }}`.
4. Open the page you want, then click **Test Workflow**.

## Common issues

* **The workflow does not run on its own.** That is expected: When Started only runs when you start it. Add an automatic trigger such as [Schedule](/nodes/builtin/trigger/schedule/) or [Page Load](/nodes/builtin/trigger/pageload/) and activate the workflow.
* **A "Choose a trigger to run" dialog opens.** The workflow has more than one trigger. Pick When Started to run the branch that follows it.
* **The workflow is missing from the right-click menu.** It also has an automatic trigger (such as Schedule or Page Load), or it is not activated. Right-click and choose **Get / Refresh Workflows** after changing it.

## Recipes with this node

## Related nodes

* [Schedule](/nodes/builtin/trigger/schedule/): run at set times instead of by hand.
* [Hotkey](/nodes/builtin/trigger/hotkey/): run from a keyboard shortcut.
* [Context Menu](/nodes/builtin/trigger/contextmenu/): run from the right-click menu, with details of what you clicked.