--- title: "Define a step as optional" slug: "defining-a-step-as-optional" updated: 2025-12-01T16:55:03Z published: 2026-02-05T14:20:32Z --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.whatfix.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Define a step as optional Optional steps are included in a Flow to ensure a seamless user experience across different scenarios without breaking the Flow's continuity. These steps are designed to be skipped if the relevant pages, elements, or conditions are not presented to a specific user. The process ensures that the intended Flow remains functional and complete for all users, regardless of their current state or application view. Use the following steps to make a step optional when creating a Flow: 1. Log in to the application where you want to create content, and then launch the **Whatfix Studio**. ![CLM_editor plug in2](https://cdn.document360.io/a268766e-d74d-4619-9613-e2472f809ffb/Images/Documentation/CLM_editor%20plug%20in%282%29.png) 2. Click **Flow**. ![Studio_Click_Flow](https://cdn.document360.io/a268766e-d74d-4619-9613-e2472f809ffb/Images/Documentation/Click_Flow%281%29.png) 3. Enter the name of the Flow as you want it displayed to the users. ![Studio_Enter_Flow_Name](https://cdn.document360.io/a268766e-d74d-4619-9613-e2472f809ffb/Images/Documentation/Enter_Flow_Name.png) 4. Click **Add Step**. ![Studio_Click_Add_Step](https://cdn.document360.io/a268766e-d74d-4619-9613-e2472f809ffb/Images/Documentation/Click_Add_Step.png) 5. Under **Choose step type**, select the Flow step type. ![Switch over to the Flow step types from the dialog box that appears ](https://cdn.document360.io/a268766e-d74d-4619-9613-e2472f809ffb/Images/Documentation/Studio_Flow_Step%20Types_Switch.png) Note: - With the Flow enhancement feature, you have the option to select two types of Flow steps, and not just element latching Flows. A dialog box appears on the application to highlight the two types of Flows. Under **Choose step type**, select a Flow step based on your requirements: either **Attached to element** or **Free-floating**. ![Studio switcher enables you to switch between 2 flow types: element-attached flow types and free-floating flow types](https://cdn.document360.io/a268766e-d74d-4619-9613-e2472f809ffb/Images/Documentation/Studio_Switcher_Flow_Types.png) | Attached to element | Free-floating | | --- | --- | | When you select this type of Flow step, it remains attached to an element on your application. | When you select this type of Flow step, it remains flexibly positioned devoid of any element attachment. | - You also have the option to select a default template by clicking **Set as Default** for all the subsequent steps in a Flow. If you change the default step at an enterprise (ENT) level, it appears the same for all the users using that ENT. - For more information, see [Free-floating Flows](/studio/docs/free-floating-flows) and [Create a Free-floating Flow step](/studio/docs/create-free-floating-flows). - Free-floating Flows is currently Beta. Contact [support@whatfix.com](http://mailto:support@whatfix.com?subject=Enable%20Free-floating%20Flow%20step%20&body=Hi%0A%0AI%20would%20like%20to%20explore%20the%20new%20Free-floating%20Flow%20step%20type.%20Kindly%20enable%20it%20on%20my%20ENT%0A%0AThanks) for more information. 1. Click the desired element on the page that the user needs to select. ![Create_Flow_Leads_Click](https://cdn.document360.io/a268766e-d74d-4619-9613-e2472f809ffb/Images/Documentation/Create_Flow_Leads_Click.png) 1. Review or edit the auto generated action text on the step. ![image(183).png](https://cdn.document360.io/a268766e-d74d-4619-9613-e2472f809ffb/Images/Documentation/image%28183%29.png) Info: Enter any additional information that you want to provide in the description section of the tooltip. 1. On Studio, click the **Advanced Options**. ![Click Advanced options on Flow steps ](https://cdn.document360.io/a268766e-d74d-4619-9613-e2472f809ffb/Images/Documentation/Studio_FlowSteps_Advancedoptions.png) 2. To enable optional step, under **More Options**, enable the **Make this an optional step** toggle. ![Studio_optionalstep](https://cdn.document360.io/a268766e-d74d-4619-9613-e2472f809ffb/Images/Documentation/2024-10-18_12-38-16.png) 3. In the **Step Timeout Duration (ms)** field, enter the desired value. ![Studio_entervalue](https://cdn.document360.io/a268766e-d74d-4619-9613-e2472f809ffb/Images/Documentation/2024-10-18_12-40-49.png) Info: When you set a maximum time in the Step Timeout Duration field for Optional Steps, Whatfix waits for the specified duration to see if the end user performs an action before moving to the next step. If the action is not performed within the specified time, Whatfix continues to the next step. By default, Whatfix checks for the next step at regular intervals of 500 milliseconds. For more information on Step Timeout Duration for Flows, see [Set Step Timeout Duration for Flows](/studio/docs/set-step-timeout-duration-for-flows). 1. Click **Save Step** to finish creating the step, and then continue creating the Flow. ![Studio_SaveFlowstep](https://cdn.document360.io/a268766e-d74d-4619-9613-e2472f809ffb/Images/Documentation/2024-10-18_10-24-13%281%29.png) ## Related - [Set Step Timeout Duration for Flows](/set-step-timeout-duration-for-flows.md)