# Using Play Mode

Source: https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode
Section: Project Tools > Play Mode
Description: Play your story in Play Mode, set the starting element, choose options, edit content, restart, and change audio and language

This page explains how to use **Play Mode**.

Access to Play Mode and its features depends on a user's role within the project. For a quick overview of roles, see [Workspace and project roles](https://docs.arcweave.com/workspaces/roles).

Unless otherwise noted, all instructions apply to project or workspace owners and editors, who have full access to the project.

## Set Play Mode start

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Set Play Mode start

Before running your project in Play Mode, you must define a starting element. To set a starting element:

1. Right-click the desired element.
2. Select **Play Mode > Set Play Mode start**.

You can change the starting element at any time by repeating the same action on a different element.

> ⚠️ A project can have only one starting element.

> ℹ️ There is no option to unset the starting element; setting another element as the Play Mode start replaces it. If you delete the starting element, the project has no starting element until you set a new one.

## Enter Play Mode

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Enter Play Mode

To enter Play Mode, click the **Play Mode** button on the top-left of the menu bar. Play Mode opens in a new browser tab.

![An orange arrow pointing at the Play Mode button in the top menu of an Arcweave project.](https://docs.arcweave.com/assets/play-button.Cx3qNU9M.png)

If you are working in a [translation](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/localization), Play Mode starts in that language.

> ⚠️ Project visitors without access to the board can only enter Play Mode via a **public link**. This occurs when a project has been shared publicly for Play Mode access only. See [Share your project](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/share).

## Quickstart Play Mode from here

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Quickstart Play Mode from here

Workspace and project owners and editors can also start Play Mode from any element in the project, ignoring the starting element. To do this:

1. Right-click an element.
2. Select **Play Mode > Quickstart Play Mode from here**. Play Mode opens in a new browser tab, starting from that element.

> ⚠️ Quick-starting from an element skips all variable changes and element visits that would normally occur when reaching that element through standard play.

## Continue to the next element

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Continue to the next element

Select an option button to continue the story. Arcweave determines the available options by evaluating [branch conditions](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-items/branches) and [label Arcscript](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-items/labels#arcscript-in-labels).

If **only one option is available** and its labels produce **no text**, a blinking arrow appears instead of a button. Click the element's content area to continue. This can happen even with several outgoing connections if branch conditions leave only one option.

To show a button for a single option, give its path a label that produces text, such as **Continue**. Variable assignments alone do not produce option text. For paths through branches, Arcweave uses the [last label that produces text](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-items/labels#labels-across-branches).

## Reorder options

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Reorder options

Workspace and project owners and editors can **reorder an element's clickable options** in Play Mode while [Edit content](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode#edit-content-in-play-mode) mode is enabled.

To reorder an element's options:

1. Right-click the element on the board.
2. Select **Play Mode > Quickstart Play Mode from here**.
3. Once in Play Mode, press **Edit content** (the **pencil** icon in the top menu).
4. Drag an option by the grip handle on its left, or by its border, to reorder it. Changes are saved automatically.

## Play Mode menu

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Play Mode menu

### Open Play Mode menu

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Play Mode menu > Open Play Mode menu

**On desktop**:
To open the Play Mode menu, hover your cursor near the top of your browser window. The menu hides a few seconds after your cursor leaves it. To keep it visible, select **Lock Toolbar** from the menu icon (☰) at its left.

**On mobile**:
In browser windows narrower than 768 pixels, the Play Mode menu is always visible. On other touch screens, tap the top of the screen to show it.

### Functionality

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Play Mode menu > Functionality

The Play Mode menu provides access to the following tools and options:

- [Restart story](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode#restart-story): Resets everything and restarts the story.
- **Full screen**: Enters or exits full-screen view.
- [Share](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode#share-project): Lets you share your project and control its public access.
- [Audio](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode#control-audio-volume): Controls the playback volume of your project's audio.
- [Localization](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode#choose-language): Select the story's language (if [Localization](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/localization) is available).
- [Edit content](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode#edit-content-in-play-mode): Lets you edit the current element's text and option labels while playtesting.
- [Style Editor](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/style-editor): Lets you style Play Mode's appearance through direct CSS editing.
- [Debug](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/debugger): Opens the Debugger, where you can inspect the current board, current element, and variable changes.
- **Menu** (☰): **Lock Toolbar** keeps the Play Mode menu visible, and **Go to Editor** opens the project's boards in the same tab.

**Edit content**, **Style Editor**, and **Debug** are available only to owners and editors. On desktop, the menu icon (☰) and **Share** are hidden from [project visitors](https://docs.arcweave.com/workspaces/roles#project-visitors). On narrow screens, the menu icon (☰) is available to everyone and contains **Restart**; **Edit content**, **Share**, and **Open in Editor** appear according to your permissions.

## Edit content in Play Mode

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Edit content in Play Mode

Workspace and project owners and editors can edit story content directly in Play Mode, without switching back to the board. This is useful when playtesting reveals wording you want to fix on the spot.

![Play Mode with Edit content enabled: the pencil button in the top menu, the Editing indicator, and editable element text and option labels.](https://docs.arcweave.com/assets/play-mode-edit-content.CPnglMqz.gif)

While editing, the top menu shows an **Editing** indicator next to the project name. Story navigation is paused: option buttons are not clickable, and the single-path advance arrow does not progress the story until you finish editing.

### Enter edit mode

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Edit content in Play Mode > Enter edit mode

To start editing the current element:

1. Click the **Edit content** button (pencil icon) in Play Mode's top menu, or
2. Double-click the element's text content.

The button is disabled when no element is loaded. On smaller screens, use the mobile menu to access **Edit content**.

### What you can edit

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Edit content in Play Mode > What you can edit

In edit mode you can change:

- The current element's [rich text](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/rich-text) content.
- The [labels](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-items/labels) of the element's outgoing connections (the option buttons shown in Play Mode).
- The order of option buttons, by dragging the handle on the left of each option (same behavior as [reorder options](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode#reorder-options)).

Edits use the same [rich text](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/rich-text) toolbar as on the board, including formatting and [@mentions](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/mentions). If the project uses [localization](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/localization), changes apply to the language currently selected in Play Mode.

When an option has no label text, Play Mode shows the target element's title as option text, or the beginning of its content if it has no title.

### Move between fields

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Edit content in Play Mode > Move between fields

Use **Tab** and **Shift + Tab** to move focus between the element content and option labels. From the last option, **Tab** returns to the element content; from the element content, **Shift + Tab** moves to the last option.

### Save and exit edit mode

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Edit content in Play Mode > Save and exit edit mode

To save your changes and return to normal playtesting:

- Press **Esc**, or
- Click outside the content and option areas, or
- Click the **Edit content** button again.

**Restart** and [**Undo last choice**](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/debugger#undo-last-choice) save your edits and exit edit mode before they run.

> ℹ️ Changes are saved to the project immediately and are visible on the board and in future Play Mode sessions.

## Restart story

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Restart story

To restart the story, click the **Restart** button on the left side of the Play Mode top menu. The button is disabled while the story is at the element it restarts from.

![Arcweave Play Mode with an orange arrow pointing at the Restart button in the top menu.](https://docs.arcweave.com/assets/play-mode-restart.CQ4BTfFQ.png)

This resets all [variables](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-items/variables/overview) and element [visits](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-items/arcscript#visits), and restarts the story from the project's [starting element](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode#set-play-mode-start).

> ℹ️ If you entered Play Mode using [Quickstart Play Mode from here](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode#quickstart-play-mode-from-here), restarting will restart the story from that element, not the project's starting element.

## Control audio volume

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Control audio volume

If you attach [audio assets](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-items/elements#audio-attachments) to elements, these files will automatically play during transitions between elements in Play Mode.

Play Mode follows each attachment's [audio reference settings](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-items/assets/audio#audio-reference-settings), including its behavior, volume, **Delay**, **Fade in**, **Fade out**, and **Auto-stop on element exit**.

The Play Mode interface includes audio controls on the top menu:

1. Click the **audio icon** to access volume controls.

![Arcweave's Play Mode environment, with an orange arrow pointing at the volume control button on the top menu.](https://docs.arcweave.com/assets/playmode-audio-open.BKkPJmnl.png)

2. Adjust the volume slider to set your preferred audio level.
3. Click the **mute icon** to toggle audio on or off.

## Choose language

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Choose language

The Play Mode interface includes a menu that lets you select the story's language. This option is useful when a project uses Arcweave's [localization](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/localization) feature and includes multiple languages.

![Arcweave Play Mode's interface with an orange arrow pointing at the Localization button.](https://docs.arcweave.com/assets/play-mode-localization.BQ17viup.png)

To change the story's language:

1. Click the **Localization icon** to open the list of available story languages.
2. Choose the desired language.

## Share project

Context: Arcweave docs > Project Tools > Play Mode > Using Play Mode > Share project

For all users except [project visitors](https://docs.arcweave.com/workspaces/roles#project-visitors), the **Play Mode** interface includes a **Share** button, located on the left side of the top menu.

![Arcweave's Play Mode environment, with an orange arrow pointing at the Share button on the top menu.](https://docs.arcweave.com/assets/playmode-share-closed.aVUfWXJ7.png)

This button functions identically to the project's main [Share](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/share) button: it opens the **Share panel**, where you can manage project collaborator and visitor access. The available sharing options and permissions depend on the user's assigned role within the project.

![Arcweave's Play Mode environment, with an orange arrow pointing at the Share button on the top menu. The Share panel is open and identical to the project's Share panel, providing the option to invite project collaborators and change the project's public access.](https://docs.arcweave.com/assets/playmode-share-open.TdloxnU2.png)

For a detailed description of the Share panel, see [Share your project](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/share).