GoHighLevel Custom Code Workflow Action Guide

The custom code workflow feature lets you extend GoHighLevel automation almost like you would customize ClickUp with scripts. In this guide you will learn how to add, configure, and debug a JavaScript-based custom code action inside your workflows while keeping your data safe.

This tutorial is based on the official workflow action documentation and walks you through each field, common use cases, and important limitations.

What Is the GoHighLevel Custom Code Action?

The custom code action is a workflow step in GoHighLevel that lets you run JavaScript on the server. It is meant for advanced users who need logic that goes beyond standard workflow conditions and actions.

With this action you can:

• Read data from the contact associated with the workflow execution.
• Process or transform that data with JavaScript.
• Return values to be used later in the same workflow.
• Write response values onto contact custom fields.

The action is executed in a controlled environment with security restrictions, so not all browser or Node.js APIs are available.

How to Add a Custom Code Action in GoHighLevel

Follow these steps to insert a custom code action into any workflow:

1. Open Automations in your GoHighLevel account.
2. Select the workflow where you want to add custom logic.
3. Click the plus icon to add a new step.
4. Choose Custom Code from the list of available actions.
5. Click the new action block to open the settings panel.

Once added, you can start configuring your JavaScript and response fields.

GoHighLevel Custom Code Action Fields Explained

The custom code workflow action contains several important configuration sections. Each one controls how your script runs and how the results are stored.

Basic Settings in GoHighLevel Custom Code

In the main settings panel you will see:

• Name: An internal label for the action so you can identify it later.
• Timeout: Maximum execution time for your JavaScript. If the code takes longer than this limit, the action fails.
• Retry: Number of times the system will attempt to re-run the code if an error or timeout occurs.

Adjust the timeout and retries carefully to avoid unnecessary delays in your automation.

JavaScript Editor in GoHighLevel Workflows

The center of the action is the code editor where you type your JavaScript. This section includes:

• JavaScript Code: The main script that will execute for each workflow run.
• Execution Context: An object that contains the current workflow data, including the contact information.
• Return Statement: At the end of the script you use return to send data back to the workflow.

Your script runs in an isolated server-side environment, not in the browser. You should write plain JavaScript that does not depend on DOM APIs like document or window.

Execution Context in GoHighLevel Custom Code

The execution context gives you access to workflow-specific data, so your code can react dynamically to each contact.

Available Context Data

Typical fields you can read include:

• Contact identifiers such as ID and email.
• Standard contact fields (name, phone, etc.).
• Custom fields stored on the contact record.
• Workflow metadata relevant to the current run.

The exact structure is documented in the official article, and you should review it before writing your script so you know which keys are available.

Using the Context Object Safely

When you access context data in your GoHighLevel script:

• Always check whether a field exists before using it.
• Use safe access patterns like optional chaining where possible.
• Convert strings and numbers explicitly when you perform calculations.

This reduces the chance that an undefined value will cause your workflow run to fail.

Returning and Using Data in GoHighLevel

Your custom code is only useful if the workflow can use its output. That is where the return object and destination fields come in.

Return Object from Custom Code

At the end of your JavaScript, you return a simple JSON-style object. For example:

return {
  score: 75,
  tag: "VIP Prospect"
};

Each property can be mapped to contact fields or used by subsequent steps, depending on how you configure the action.

Mapping Returned Values to Contact Fields

In the Response Mapping section you can tell GoHighLevel where to store each returned key:

1. Add a row for each property, such as score or tag.
2. Choose the corresponding destination contact field.
3. Save your changes.

After the workflow runs, these mapped values will be available for filters, decisions, and later actions.

Limitations of the GoHighLevel Custom Code Environment

Because this feature runs in a secure environment, some functions and APIs are not available.

Unsupported APIs and Restrictions

Common limitations include:

• No direct access to the browser DOM, so you cannot use window, document, or UI-related APIs.
• No unrestricted file system access.
• No long-running loops or blocking operations, since they can trigger a timeout.
• Restrictions on some network calls depending on internal security rules.

You should design your code to be fast, deterministic, and free of side effects outside the provided context.

Error Handling and Retries

When your code throws an error or exceeds the timeout:

• The action will fail for that run.
• If retries are configured, GoHighLevel will try again up to the limit.
• If all retries fail, the workflow may follow a failure path, depending on your configuration.

Use defensive coding and explicit checks to minimize failures.

Testing and Debugging Custom Code in GoHighLevel

Before you roll out a new workflow using advanced JavaScript logic, you should test thoroughly.

Best Practices for Testing

• Create a test workflow or duplicate the existing one.
• Use test contacts with known field values.
• Log intermediate values inside your script where possible.
• Run the workflow manually to confirm the expected output.

After each test run, check the resulting contact record to verify that fields are updated as expected.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If your GoHighLevel custom code action is not behaving as expected, consider these checks:

• Verify that every returned key is mapped to a valid destination field.
• Confirm that the context keys you reference actually exist.
• Shorten the code path to see where the problem begins.
• Reduce the timeout only after your script is stable.

When necessary, simplify the script into smaller logical parts that are easier to debug.

Advanced Use Cases for GoHighLevel Custom Code

Once you understand the basics, you can use this action for more complex workflows.

• Lead Scoring: Calculate a numeric score based on contact behavior and store it in a custom field.
• Data Normalization: Standardize phone numbers, capitalize names, or clean up input data.
• Conditional Routing: Return flags that control which workflow path to follow.
• Calculations: Compute totals, discounts, or time differences for later steps.

All of these can be done directly inside your automation without external tools, as long as the logic is expressed in JavaScript.

Where to Learn More About GoHighLevel Custom Code

For the complete technical reference, visit the official documentation at the GoHighLevel workflow action custom code article. It contains the latest details on supported fields, context structure, and environment updates.

If you need broader strategy support or implementation help with automation, CRM optimization, and related systems, you can also explore consulting resources like Consultevo for professional guidance.

Conclusion

The custom code workflow action turns GoHighLevel into a flexible automation engine that can handle advanced logic with JavaScript. By understanding the execution context, mapping returned values correctly, respecting environment limitations, and testing thoroughly, you can build powerful, reliable workflows that go far beyond standard actions.

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