Monitor workflow runs

You can monitor workflow runs from two places. Use the execution view on the canvas during a manual run, or use the Workflow Runs page for all runs.

Monitor workflow runs from the workflow builder canvas

After you run a workflow, you can inspect the input data, output data, and error details for each step. Use this information to verify that steps received the correct data and produced the expected results.

Procedure

  1. Run a workflow from the workflow builder canvas.

    The view automatically switches to the execution detail view. Each step on the canvas updates its status icon in real time as the workflow progresses. For branching steps (conditional, switch, and loop), the canvas highlights the path that the workflow followed. The taken branch handle displays a green border with a checkmark. Skipped path edges display as dashed lines, and skipped downstream nodes display with dashed borders at reduced opacity.

    Approval steps use color-coded branch handles instead: green for the approved handle and red for the rejected handle. A checkmark on the taken handle shows which path the workflow followed.

  2. Click any step on the canvas or in the activity list on the left.
  3. Review the step details:
    • Parameters: The input data that was sent to the step. This includes values from upstream step outputs, expressions, and credential references.
    • Output: The result data returned by the step after execution.
  4. Use the view selector to switch between display formats:
    • Schema: A structured tree view that shows field names, types, and values. Expand nested objects to drill into complex data.
    • Table: A flat tabular view for data that contains lists or records.
    • JSON: The raw JSON representation of the data. Use this view when you need to copy exact field paths for expressions in downstream steps.
  5. Use the search field at the top of the Parameters tab or Output pane to filter for specific field names or values.

Monitor runs and run history from the Workflow Runs page

The Workflow Runs page lets you choose which runs you want to monitor, filter by state, and cancel. You can also retry a workflow run.

Procedure

  1. Click Workflow Runs in the sidebar.

    The Workflow Runs page lists every execution with the following details:

    • Workflow name
    • Run ID
    • Status
    • Version
    • Created at
    • Completed at

    The Version column shows which workflow version was used for each run. When the version has a version name, automation orchestrator displays that name. Otherwise, the column shows the date and time the version was created. Click a version entry to navigate to that version in the version history panel.

  2. Click any run ID to open the execution detail view and the Run History panel.

    The detail view shows the same canvas layout as the workflow builder, with each step displaying its final status. Click any step to inspect its parameters and output.

    Note:

    You can also access a single workflow's run history by clicking the options menu (⋮) in the builder toolbar and selecting Run history. Each entry in the Run History panel also displays the version that was used for the run.

  3. To show only runs from a specific workflow version, use the version filter.
  4. You can use the status filter to narrow the list to runs in a specific state.

    The available status filters are:

    • Pending
    • Running
    • Paused
    • Completed
    • Completed with errors
    • Failed
    • Cancelled

    Click Clear all filters to reset the filter and view all runs.

  5. Optional: Use additional filters to narrow the list by workflow name or pending approval status.
  6. Optional: Click the options menu for a specific row and select Retry run?.

    This creates a new execution using the same workflow version and inputs as the original run. If you updated the workflow after the original run, the confirmation dialog displays the Retry original version button. This button confirms that the retry uses the original version, not the current version.

    Note:

    To run the current version of a workflow, open the workflow in the builder and click Run.

  7. Optional: Click Cancel run in the execution detail view toolbar to cancel any run that is in a Pending, Running, or Paused state.

    When you cancel an execution:

    • All currently running steps are stopped.
    • Any pending approval requests are automatically cancelled.
    • The execution transitions to a Cancelled state.

    You cannot undo a cancellation.

Monitor executions with approval steps

When a workflow reaches an approval step, the execution pauses and the approval side panel opens. If the workflow has multiple pending approval steps, you can navigate between them:

  • The panel header displays Review approval and an (X of Y) counter to indicate your position.
  • Use the previous and next arrow buttons, or press the left and right arrow keys, to move between pending approvals.
  • The canvas highlights the corresponding approval step as you navigate.

Monitor job execution details

When an Ansible Automation Platform job template or workflow template step runs, you can access the details from the node:

Procedure

  1. Click the View job in AAP link above the step detail panes.

    This link is displayed as soon as the job launches.

    The link opens the job in automation controller.

  2. In automation controller, view the full playbook log, host-level results, and task details.