---
schema_version: "1"
id: 3d5b220554bbb051f84dc508a8e56e316be786aa0d9e849593e5238e5ba9265c
title: Build a Flow
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/flow_build.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 979eca1c79db019eb53072cbb69704123bbd9e28afc25c594fe1e6fe0f5f565c
description: After you model the process that you want to automate, design and build the flow in Flow Builder.
products:
- Flow Builder
- Salesforce Platform
release: "264"
---
# Build a Flow
After you model the process that you want to automate, design and build the flow in Flow Builder.
### Required Editions
To open, edit, create, activate or
deactivate a flow using all flow types, elements, and features available in Flow
Builder, including Einstein and Agentforce for Flow:
Manage Flow
Note You don't need to be an admin to have the Manage Flow permission. Ask your admin to add it to your profile or permission set.
Tip Before you start creating your flow, plan it out. It's easier to use a flow to automate a business process when you understand all the details.
If you're new to Flow Builder or process automation, take a quick tour of the interface. Then explore the trails to learn how these tools work. You can also have Generative AI help you get started with a flow by using Agentforce for Flow.
- [Tour the Flow Builder User Interface](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_builder.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Get to know the Flow Builder user interface.")
- [Automate Your Business Processes with Flow Builder](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/trail/automate_business_processes)
- [Build Flows with Flow Builder](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en/content/learn/trails/build-flows-with-flow-builder)
- [Build Flows with AI](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_build_with_ai.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Describe the automation that you want, and let AI draft a flow for you. Select the tool that fits where you work and what you want to do.")
1. Open the Flows list view.
- From the Automation app, select the **Flows** tab.
- From the **Flows** tab in any Lightning app, click the actions menu and select **Open Flow**.
- From Setup, in the Quick Find box, enter Flows, and then select **Flows**.
Note that the Automation app and Flows tab options don't require Setup access.
2. Create the flow type of flow you want to use.
- From the Automation app, click **New**, then click the category, and then the flow type. For example, to create a record-triggered flow, click **Triggered** | **Record-Triggered Flow**.
- From Setup, click **New Flow**, then click the category, and then the flow type. For example, to create a screen flow, click **Screens** | **Screen Flow**.
3. Add the [elements](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_ref_elements.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "An element represents an action that the flow can run. Examples include reading or writing Salesforce data, displaying information and collecting data from flow users, runnning business logic, or manipulating data.") you want to use to the canvas.
4. If building in free-form, [connect](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_logic_route_add.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Identify which elements the flow runs and in what order by connecting the elements on your canvas together. To change the run order, move elements and add or remove connectors.") the elements to determine their order of execution. If building in auto-layout, connectors are automatically created on the canvas for you.
5. Save your flow.
After you build a flow, make sure that it's working as you expect it to by [testing](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_test_record_data_cloud_triggered.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Understand assertions, flow versions, and test data before you set up an automated test scenario through Test Mode (beta) or for a Data Cloud-triggered flow.") it. Then [activate](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_distribute_activate.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "You can activate or deactivate a flow from the Automation app Flows tab or the Flow Builder canvas.") the flow. You're now ready to [distribute](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_distribute.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "After you’ve designed and tested your flow, it’s time to put it to work! Flows can be run in several ways, depending on who the flow is designed for. Internal users, external users, or systems can run a flow, or a flow can be deployed for another organization.") the flow to users.
- **[Build Flows with AI](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_build_with_ai.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Describe the automation that you want, and let AI draft a flow for you. Select the tool that fits where you work and what you want to do.
- **[Add and Edit Elements](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_elements.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Use elements to define actions that the flow can run. When they’re on the canvas, connect them to create the order in which they run.
- **[Define Conditions in a Decision or Wait Element](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_logic_conditions.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Control when a flow takes a specific decision outcome or waits for a specific resume event.
- **[Creating Flow Formulas](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_create_flow_formulas.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Flow formulas help make your flows more dynamic by performing calculations, manipulating data, and making decisions based on field or variable values. Formulas can facilitate conditional logic, taking the flow down different paths based on criteria
- **[Save a Draft of Your Flow as You Build](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_save_a_draft_as_you_build.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
You can interact with your flow while an element is open and access the toolbar while editing that element. And you don't need to finish configuring an element before saving your flow.
- **[Move and Connect Elements to Change a Flow Route](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_logic_route_add.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Identify which elements the flow runs and in what order by connecting the elements on your canvas together. To change the run order, move elements and add or remove connectors.
- **[Customize What Happens When a Flow Fails](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_logic_fault.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Learn how fault paths customize what happens when a flow fails. Choose how to notify admins, guide users, and take a follow-up action.
- **[Working with Data in a Flow](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_data.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
The real power of a flow is that it can automate updates to your data, whether the data lives inside your Salesforce org or in an external database. In a flow, you can look up values from records, connect to external systems, create records, update records, and delete records.
- **[Start an Automation When a Record Is Created or Changed](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_build_get_started_record_triggered_start_with_record_change.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Record-triggered flows automatically run when someone creates, updates, or deletes a record in Salesforce. Think of them as helpful assistants that work behind the scenes to automate tasks, check data, and keep your records up to date—without you doing anything.
- **[Sending Emails from a Flow](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_actions_email.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Send emails to your customers, partners, and employees automatically in a flow. There are several different ways to send an email from a flow depending on who you want to send your email to and how you want your email content to look. Determine the best way to send your email based on the functionality that you need.
- **[Use Screen Flows to Interact with Users](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.create_forms_with_screen_flow_components.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Use screen flows to build online forms that collect or display information for internal and external users. Screen components enable you to gather user input or show data, such as using an Address component to collect street, city, state, and zip information. Create records such as contacts or leads from the collected data.
- **[Update Records and Send Reminders on a Schedule Example](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_build_example_update_records_send_reminders.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
This example creates schedule-triggered flows that automatically update records and send notifications to contacts based on your business schedule. Use flows to replace manual processes, such as spreadsheet tracking, with automated workflows that check record status, send timely reminders, and update data when conditions are met. This method maintains data accuracy and timely customer communication while reducing manual work.
- **[Send a Custom Notification with a Flow](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_build_example_send_custom_notification.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Create a flow that sends a custom notification to users when a specific event occurs. Custom notifications appear in the notification bell and can be delivered to the Salesforce desktop or mobile app.
- **[Connecting with External Systems and Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_data_integrate.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
With a Get Records element, you can easily look up your Salesforce data in a flow. But what if you need data that lives outside of Salesforce? Connect your flow to external systems using built-in Salesforce features such as MuleSoft for Flow: Integration connectors, HTTP callout actions, API Catalog, or by using MuleSoft RPA processes as external services. To extract data from documents, use MuleSoft for Flow: IDP
- **[Automate Data Delivery with Activation-Triggered Flows](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_build_create_activation_triggered_flow.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Connect Data 360 activations to external systems automatically using MuleSoft for Flow Integration connectors or an HTTP callout action.
- **[Build Automation Event-Triggered Flows](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_build_create_automation_event_triggered_flow.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Configure triggers to process records when events occur in integrated applications.
- **[Create a Broadcast Flow](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_build_create_broadcast_flow.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Use broadcast flows with dynamic segments to quickly reach large, targeted audiences. For example, notify affected customers about flight delays or reservation changes.
- **[Create a Segment Flow](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_build_create_segment_triggered.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Create a segment-triggered flow that runs on a schedule and sends messages to a segment of people. You can set a segment-triggered flow to run once, either immediately or at a specific time and date, or you can set the flow to run on a recurring schedule.
- **[Copy an Audience Flow](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_build_copy_audience_flow.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Save an audience flow as a copy without disrupting live campaigns.
- **[Give Users Access to Trigger On-Demand Flows](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.automate_flow_build_on_demand_grant_perms.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Before triggering on-demand flows, give the triggering user access to the flow.
- **[Use Flows with Slack](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_use_flows_with_slack.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Build a screen flow that’s designed to run in a Slack conversation or direct message group. Use another flow, a Slack shortcut, a slash command, or a button in a Slack view to run a flow from Slack.
- **[Extend Your Flow-Building Options](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_build_extend.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**
Sometimes your flow has to do more than what Flow Builder provides out of the box. You can extend flows by calling Apex classes or adding Lightning components.
#### See Also
- [Flow Lightning Runtime Considerations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_considerations_lex_runtime.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "When running flows, keep these considerations in mind.")
- [Building Blocks of Flows](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.flow_concepts_building_blocks.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Flows are built from three core components: elements, connectors, and resources. Elements represent actions that flows run, such as reading or writing Salesforce data. Connectors define the paths that flows can take at run time. Resources represent values that you can reference throughout a flow.")