---
title: Working with Workflow Instances
slug: neurons-for-itsm/admin-user-help/enu/latest/working-with-workflow-instances
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-14T19:16:35.229Z
---

If a business object is part of a workflow (usually involving the approval process or a status progression), then a workflow appears under the **Workflow Instance** tab of a record or in the **Workflow Instance** workspace.

- [Viewing the Workflow Instance](docId\:uYae8z1XCnBSXJKMAo7E9)
- [About Adding a Workflow Instance](docId\:uYae8z1XCnBSXJKMAo7E9)
- [Modifying a Workflow Instance](docId\:uYae8z1XCnBSXJKMAo7E9)
- [About Deleting a Workflow Instance](docId\:uYae8z1XCnBSXJKMAo7E9)
- [Rerunning a Workflow](docId\:uYae8z1XCnBSXJKMAo7E9)
- [Aborting, Pausing, and Resuming a Workflow Instance](docId\:uYae8z1XCnBSXJKMAo7E9)

## Viewing a Workflow Instance

1. Log into the Service Desk Console.
2. Open a workspace.
3. Open a record.
4. Select the **Workflow Instance** tab. Any workflows associated with the record are listed.
5. Open a workflow item from the list or highlight one and click **Go To**. The system displays the **Edit Workflow Instance** window.

:::Paragraph{indent="1"}
*Edit Workflow Instance Window*
:::

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/parib0MC3hVoUNdfQdnac/IxqY3wQ1a0GEbcI5eTGIL_edit-workflow-instance.png" position="flex-start" size="40" initialPath="../../Resources/Images/help-images/edit workflow instance.png" githubPath="Content/Resources/Images/help-images/edit workflow instance.png" showCaption="false" indent="1"}

6. Click **View Instance**. The workflow appears in a new window.

## About Adding a Workflow Instance

Workflow instances are created in two ways:

- Automatically, according to the workflows and business rules set up by the administrator.
- By rerunning a workflow. See [Rerunning a Workflow](docId\:uYae8z1XCnBSXJKMAo7E9).

## Modifying a Workflow Instance

1. Log into the Service Desk Console.
2. Open a workspace.
3. Open a record.
4. Click the **Workflow Instance** tab. Any workflows associated with the record are listed.
5. Double-click a workflow item from the list or highlight one and click **Go To**. The system displays the **Edit Workflow Instance** window.
6. Modify the workflow as needed. See [Using Workflows](docId\:p4kB1HCF81WNxmoQhBcjs) for more information.

## About Deleting a Workflow Instance

You cannot delete workflow instances from within a record. You can, however, cancel or stop the workflow. See [Example: Canceling a Workflow that is Awaiting Approval](docId:0FVbwInDLffGuSsS3tsCN).

## Rerunning a Workflow

- [About Rerunning a Workflow](docId\:uYae8z1XCnBSXJKMAo7E9)
- [Rerunning a Workflow from a Workspace](docId\:uYae8z1XCnBSXJKMAo7E9)
- [Rerunning a Workflow from the Workflow Instance Workspace](docId\:uYae8z1XCnBSXJKMAo7E9)

### About Rerunning a Workflow

Workflows usually run when a trigger condition is met. However, there can be times when a workflow does not run as expected, due to various reasons. For example, the workflow engine could be stuck or not running, there could be a content conflict that causes unreachable conditions, or a process might have skipped a business rule. In prior releases, when this happened, you could not rerun the workflow because the trigger condition had passed.

Make sure that you understand the impact of rerunning a workflow. When you rerun a workflow, you are rerunning it again irrespective of the previous success or failure status of the workflow instance. Rerunning the workflow does not undo the previous workflow execution.

Use this feature with caution, as you cannot stop it and it cannot be undone.

If the workflow has already run as expected, and you rerun it, you may not get correct results because the conditions associated with the workflow may not be correct anymore.

Rerunning the workflow can duplicate data or cause other problems.

### Rerunning a Workflow from a Workspace

This is equivalent to running the **Execute Workflow** quick action. See [Execute Workflow Action](docId\:pe5az0D1ggDBDsWWPlGYI). You can also create a triggered action that uses the **Execute Workflow** quick action, to run the workflow on an event.

To rerun a workflow from a workspace, follow these steps:

1. Log into the Service Desk Console.
2. Open any workspace.
3. From the **Action Menu** drop-down list, click **View Workflow**.

:::Paragraph{indent="1"}
The item might be listed under a specific category, such as **Form Actions** in this example. If **View Workflow** does not appear under the Action Menu, then it has not been set up for this workspace.
:::

:::Paragraph{indent="1"}
The system displays the **View workflow definition and instance** dialog box.
:::

:::Paragraph{indent="1"}
*View Workflow Definition and Instance Dialog Box*
:::

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/parib0MC3hVoUNdfQdnac/dLDA8rmRdpP6Q2Zc7KImL_rerun-workflow.png" position="flex-start" size="40" initialPath="../../Resources/Images/help-images/rerun workflow.png" githubPath="Content/Resources/Images/help-images/rerun workflow.png" showCaption="false" indent="1"}

4. Click **Re-run Workflow** to rerun the workflow. The system displays a cautionary message.

:::Paragraph{indent="1"}
*Rerun Workflow Cautionary Message*
:::

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/parib0MC3hVoUNdfQdnac/ki9sip4j-oYuHGrHmMvn8_rerun-caution.png" position="flex-start" size="40" initialPath="../../Resources/Images/help-images/rerun-caution.png" githubPath="Content/Resources/Images/help-images/rerun-caution.png" showCaption="false" indent="1"}

5. Click **OK** to proceed.

### Rerunning a Workflow from the Workflow Instance Workspace

You can rerun a workflow only if the status is set to completed, failed, or aborted.

To rerun a workflow from the **Workflow Instance** workspace, follow these steps:

1. Log into the Service Desk Console.
2. Open the **Workflow Instance** workspace.

:::Paragraph{indent="1"}
*Workflow Instance Workspace*
:::

::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/parib0MC3hVoUNdfQdnac/M8rIwsRWG2ssCaw9mIccs_workflow-instance-workspace.png" position="flex-start" size="40" initialPath="../../Resources/Images/help-images/workflow-instance-workspace.png" githubPath="Content/Resources/Images/help-images/workflow-instance-workspace.png" showCaption="false" indent="1"}

3. Highlight one or more items.
4. Click **Re-run** from the top menu. The system displays a cautionary message.
5. Click **Yes** to rerun the workflow.
6. To verify that the workflow reran correctly, open the item in its parent by clicking **Open In Parent** from the **Workflow Instance** workspace. The system opens the item in its parent workspace.
7. Click the **Workflow Instance** tab and view the dates and times associated with the workflows.

## Aborting, Pausing, and Resuming a Workflow Instance

You can abort, pause, and resume a workflow instance if it is in the waiting state. Abort a workflow instance to stop it completely. Pause a workflow instance if you need to fix or investigate the business object, and then resume it when you are finished.

1. Log into the Service Desk Console.
2. Do one of the following:
   - Open the **Workflow Instance** workspace.
   - Go to a workspace, open a record, and click the **Workflow Instance** tab.
3. Find a workflow instance that has a status of waiting.
4. Do one of the following:
   - To abort the workflow instance, click **Abort**.
   - To pause a workflow instance that is running, click **Pause**.
   - To resume a paused workflow instance, click **Resume**.
