# Disabling or enabling a process flow deployment for a virtual environment
## Introduction
If you need to temporarily prevent a deployed process flow from running in a virtual environment, you can [disable](#disabling-a-flow-deployment-for-a-virtual-environment) it, then [enable](#enabling-a-flow-deployment-for-a-virtual-environment) it again when you're ready. For example, if your third-party system experiences an outage, you may want to stop a flow running until the issue is resolved.
{% hint style="info" %}
When a process flow version is deployed to a virtual environment (either [individually](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/virtual-environments/implementing-virtual-environments/deploying-a-single-process-flow-to-a-virtual-environment) or [as part of a package](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/virtual-environments/virtual-environment-packages/managing-packages/deploying-a-package)), it is enabled automatically. The steps detailed on this page are only required if you need to disable a deployed process flow for any reason and then enable it again later.
{% endhint %}
{% hint style="warning" %}
If you do NOT use virtual environments, different instructions apply; please refer to [Enabling & disabling a process flow](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/process-flows/managing-process-flows/enabling-and-disabling-a-process-flow/enabling-and-disabling-a-process-flow-without-virtual-enviroments).
{% endhint %}
## Disabling a flow deployment for a virtual environment
When a process flow deployment is disabled for a virtual environment, the flow stops being initialised in that environment (keep in mind that you're disabling a *deployment* of a flow, not the flow itself - any deployments of this flow in other virtual environments will be unaffected).
There are two ways to disable a flow deployment for a virtual environment:
* [Via the process flow canvas](#disabling-a-process-flow-deployment-from-the-canvas)
* [Via the virtual environment](#disabling-a-process-flow-deployment-from-the-virtual-environment)
### Disabling a process flow deployment from the canvas
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Access the required process flow**
[Access the process flow version](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/process-flows/accessing-your-process-flows) that you want to disable (it doesn't matter which version is displayed on the canvas).
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Access process flow settings**
Select `flow settings` from the actions bar - for example:
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**View deployments for this process flow**
Click the `view deployments` button:
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Access deployment options**
Click the ellipsis icon associated with the deployment that you want to disable - for example:
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Disable the flow deployment**
Select the `disable` option:
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
### Disabling a process flow deployment from the virtual environment
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Access virtual environments**
[Log in to the dashboard](https://app.wearepatchworks.com/virtual-environments) and select `virtual environments` | `overview` from the left-hand navigation menu.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select the required virtual environment**
Click the name associated with the virtual environment that you want to access - for example:
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Access deployment options**
Click the ellipsis icon associated with the deployment that you want to disable - for example:
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Disable the flow deployment**
Select the `disable` option:
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
## Enabling a flow deployment for a virtual environment
When a process flow is enabled for a virtual environment, it will be initialised in that environment (as per any defined [triggers](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/process-flow-shapes/standard-shapes/trigger-shape) or [API calls](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/virtual-environments/managing-virtual-environments-versions-and-flows/managing-virtual-environment-flow-deployments/broken-reference)). There are two ways to enable a flow deployment for a virtual environment:
* [Via the process flow canvas](#enabling-a-process-flow-deployment-from-the-canvas)
* [Via the virtual environment](#enabling-a-process-flow-deployment-from-the-virtual-environment)
### Enabling a process flow deployment from the canvas
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Access the required process flow**
[Access the process flow version](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/process-flows/accessing-your-process-flows) that you want to enable (it doesn't matter which version is displayed on the canvas).
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Access process flow settings**
Select `flow settings` from the actions bar - for example:
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**View deployments for this process flow**
Click the `view deployments` button:
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Access deployment options**
Click the ellipsis icon associated with the deployment that you want to enable - for example:
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Enable the flow deployment**
Select the `enable` option:
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
### Enabling a process flow deployment from the virtual environment
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Access virtual environments**
[Log in to the dashboard](https://app.wearepatchworks.com/virtual-environments) and select `virtual environments` | `overview` from the left-hand navigation menu.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select the required virtual environment**
Click the name associated with the virtual environment that you want to access - for example:
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Access deployment options**
Click the ellipsis icon associated with the deployment that you want to enable - for example:
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Enable the flow deployment**
Select the `enable` option:
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
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