Zapier run troubleshooting guide

Zapier now lets you review detailed run information directly inside the Zap editor, so you can quickly understand what happened in each step, diagnose issues, and improve your automations without jumping between multiple pages.

This how-to explains how to open, filter, and read Zap runs in the editor, and how to use the new interface to troubleshoot problems faster.

What are Zap runs in the Zapier editor?

Zap runs are individual executions of your Zap. Each time your trigger fires and the workflow processes its actions, a new run is created with data, statuses, and logs for every step.

Viewing these runs inside the Zapier editor gives you:

Contextual troubleshooting while you build or edit a Zap.
Side-by-side access to your workflow and the data that passed through it.
Faster iteration, because you can inspect issues without leaving the editor.

How to open Zap runs in Zapier

You can open Zap runs in the Zapier editor from the right-hand side panel. The experience may look slightly different depending on whether you are using the updated editor, but the flow is similar.

Step 1: Open your Zap in Zapier

Sign in to your Zapier account.
From your dashboard, select the Zap you want to troubleshoot.
The Zap opens in the editor, showing all trigger and action steps.

Step 2: Access the runs panel

In the editor interface, you will find a panel dedicated to Zap runs. When you open it, you will see a chronological list of recent executions with high-level details, such as status and time.

If runs are available for the Zap, they are shown in the panel. If there are no runs yet, Zapier will indicate that none are available and may suggest turning the Zap on and generating data.

Using Zapier run filters and search

When you are troubleshooting, you often need to find a specific execution or a group of similar runs. The runs panel in Zapier includes filtering and search tools to help narrow down your results.

Filter Zap runs by status and time

Common filter options include:

Status: Focus on runs that are stopped, errored, or successfully completed.
Date and time: Limit the view to a particular period when issues occurred.

Use these filters to quickly locate the runs that are most relevant to the problem you are investigating.

Search through Zap runs in Zapier

Along with filters, you can search through runs using keywords related to data contained in the run. This helps you find a specific item or customer record without scrolling through a long list.

Filtering and searching together give you a fast way to pinpoint runs that need attention in Zapier.

Inspecting run details for each Zapier step

Once you select an individual run, the Zapier editor displays detailed information about every step in the workflow. This view is critical for understanding where and why something may have gone wrong.

Step timeline and status overview

At the top of the run detail view, you typically see a timeline of steps with a clear status indicator for each one. Common states include:

Success or completed.
Errored with a message.
Skipped or did not run.

This overview helps you quickly see which step needs more attention.

Input and output data in Zapier runs

For each step, Zapier shows the data that went into the step (input) and the data that came out (output). This is often displayed in structured, expandable sections so you can drill into specific fields.

Use this data to answer questions such as:

Did the step receive the fields you expected from the previous action?
Did the app return an error or missing values?
Are mapped fields correctly populated?

Comparing input and output is one of the most powerful ways to debug issues in Zapier.

Error messages and logs in Zapier run details

When a step fails, the run view displays error messages and, in many cases, diagnostic details from the connected app.

Typical troubleshooting actions include:

Reading the error message to understand whether the issue is related to authentication, permissions, missing data, or app-side limits.
Reviewing the step configuration in the editor to confirm the correct fields are mapped.
Testing a similar request directly in the connected app, using the same data shown in the run.

This structured information helps you resolve problems without guesswork.

How to troubleshoot common Zapier issues using runs

The new run experience in Zapier makes it easier to handle typical automation problems. Use the following patterns as a guide.

When a Zapier step is skipped

If you see that a step was skipped in the run timeline:

Open the skipped step to see any explanation or condition.
Check if there are filters, paths, or conditional logic that intentionally prevented the step from running.
Verify that the trigger and prior steps supplied the required data to meet those conditions.

Adjust your conditions or data mapping as needed, then retest the Zap.

When a Zapier run shows an error

For errored runs:

Open the specific step that failed.
Read the error message and any additional details returned by the app.
Compare the input data against the app’s requirements, such as required fields or formatting rules.
Update your field mappings, app settings, or account connections as necessary.
Run a new test to confirm the error is resolved.

When Zapier data looks different than expected

If the data in a run does not match what you anticipated:

Review the trigger data to make sure the original event in the source app is correct.
Check each step’s output to see where the values change.
Confirm that transformations, formatting, and lookups are configured correctly.

By walking step by step through the run, you can isolate where the data diverged and refine your Zap configuration.

Best practices for using Zapier run logs

To get the most from the new visual and contextual run experience in Zapier, keep these best practices in mind:

Test frequently: Run tests often while building or modifying a Zap so you always have fresh run data to inspect.
Use clear naming: Name your steps descriptively to make run timelines easier to scan.
Check edge cases: Trigger runs using different types of sample data to confirm behavior in non-standard scenarios.
Document fixes: Keep brief notes on what you changed when resolving issues so future troubleshooting is faster.

More resources for Zapier troubleshooting

For additional guidance on using Zap runs in the editor, you can review the official help article on better visual and contextual troubleshooting in Zapier runs in the editor.

If you need broader automation strategy help or want to optimize complex workflows, you can also consult experts at Consultevo, who specialize in automation design, documentation, and optimization.

By learning how to read and act on run data directly in the Zapier editor, you gain a clear, visual way to understand how your automations behave, fix errors quickly, and deliver more reliable workflows for your team.

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