Preview sessions let you test your study flow end-to-end before sending real participant links.
They are the fastest way to catch preventable issues such as permissions, device setup problems, incorrect landing pages, and moderator-side configuration.
Preview sessions are strongly recommended for:
new studies or new research rounds
any new device type (desktop vs iOS vs Android)
studies involving prototypes or external tools
unmoderated studies (SelfTest / Tasks), especially when instructions must be crystal clear
Preview Links can be accessed in the Round Editor:
Tips for testing your flow with a Preview Link
For moderated rounds (Interview and LiveShare)
If possible, test with a colleague:
one person acts as the moderator
one person acts as the participant
If you are working solo, you can still preview your flow by playing both roles:
ideally use separate devices (recommended)
or use an Incognito window in Chrome to simulate the participant view
This helps avoid confusing “moderator” vs “participant” contexts.
The process for testing a round (Preview session workflow)
Send the Preview Link
Send the preview link to your participant (or to the device/window you will use as the participant).
Open the Preview Link on the participant device
On the participant device, open the Preview Link.If you are doing a LiveShare, SelfTest, or Tasks round on mobile, the participant may be prompted to install the Participate app.
Complete setup on the participant device
Follow the setup instructions on the participant device. (If you need help, refer to the participant flow articles in the Help Center.)Wait state vs immediate start
For moderated rounds (Interview / LiveShare), the participant will typically reach a screen indicating they are waiting for the other party to join.
For unmoderated rounds (SelfTest / Tasks), the session typically starts from the participant side once setup is complete.
Prepare the moderator device
On the moderator device:log in to Lookback
use Chrome or Microsoft Edge (currently the supported browsers for moderating)
keep the moderator-side help articles available if you need guidance
Find the session and join
You should see the participant device session appear:in the Round
and in the Live tab (lightning bolt)
Click Join.
Audio setup (important when testing solo in the same room)
If you are acting as both moderator and participant on devices in the same room:set the moderator microphone to Microphone off to avoid echo
enable the moderator microphone only if the participant is in a different location
Start the preview call
The moderator will “call” the participant device.
Answer the call on the participant device — the Preview Session will begin.
What preview sessions are good for
Preview sessions help validate:
participant setup flow and permissions
screen sharing behavior (especially LiveShare)
camera/microphone access and audio quality
landing pages / prototypes / external tools
instructions clarity (especially unmoderated)
whether sessions appear correctly in Live and within the Project
Preview session limitations (important)
Preview sessions have no time limit, but they are not full sessions.
Key limitations:
you can only watch the first minute of playback
you cannot download or export preview sessions
preview sessions cannot be transcribed
If you decide you need to keep a preview as a full session, you can convert it (as described in the conversion instructions in the Help Center).
For any team members with a Collaborator license, Preview Sessions will have a "Convert to Standard Session" option inside that session's Player when you click on the Preview button
Converting a Preview Session to a Standard Session will have the following effects:
Playback will be fully available
Transcriptions of session are available
Findings can be created and shared
The session will be listed normally inside your Round
The session will count towards your Plan Limit
When to re-run a preview
Re-run a preview session whenever you change:
landing pages or prototypes
tasks or instructions
target device types
moderator setup or observer workflow
A five-minute preview often prevents an hour of live troubleshooting.
Where this fits
This article is part of Setting Up & Running Studies → Before You Run a Study and should be used alongside:
Study Readiness Checklist
Participant PreCheck (especially for LiveShare)
device/browser requirements
🚀 There is no limit to how long a Preview Session can last; the only limitations are that you can only watch the first minute of playback, you cannot download or export Preview Sessions, and they cannot be transcribed. If you should decide you want to keep this Preview Session as a full session, you can convert it as detailed above.