> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.instantcampaign.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Previews and test sends

> Preview a template on desktop and mobile, as a real contact, in your inbox, and check it for common deliverability and compatibility problems before you send.

Before a template goes to your contacts, check it four ways: preview it in the builder, preview it as a real contact, send yourself a test, and run the built-in checks.

## Preview in the builder

Click **Preview** in the builder toolbar.

* **Desktop** and **Mobile** switch the preview width.
* **Split View (Desktop + Mobile)** shows both side by side on wide screens. The two panes scroll together.

The plain preview shows merge tags and Liquid as written, such as `{{first_name}}`. To see real values, preview as a contact.

## Preview as a contact

Click **Preview as…** (the person icon) in the toolbar and choose **Me**, **A contact**, **A list** or **A segment**. The **Preview** tab then shows the email exactly as that person would get it, including the rendered subject line and any sample data. For lists and segments, step through members with the arrows.

The panel also lists every variable the template reads and flags the ones that are **missing**. See [Personalization and template data](/guides/email-and-templates/personalization#preview-as-a-contact).

## Send a test email

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the dialog">
    Click **Send Test Email** in the toolbar, or press ⌘K and choose it from the Command Palette.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the sender">
    Pick a sender under **Send from**, or leave the **Default sender**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add recipients">
    Enter up to 10 addresses under **Recipient emails**, separated by commas.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send">
    Click **Send**. The subject line starts with `Test:`.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Plain test or test with a preview context

* **Plain test:** the email is rendered for a placeholder contact named "Test Recipient", with the template's saved sample data as `data`. Merge tags and Liquid are filled in, in the body and the subject line. The unsubscribe links in the footer don't work.
* **With a preview context:** if you've set up **Preview as…**, tick **Send test with this preview context** (or click it at the bottom of the Preview as… panel). The test uses the same contact, sample data and rendered subject you see in the preview, so Liquid, loops and `data.*` values are filled in.

<Note>
  A plain test sends the last saved version of the template. Wait until the toolbar shows **Saved** before you send it.
</Note>

Each plan includes a number of test sends per month. The dialog shows how many of this month's test sends you've used. When they run out, you'll need to upgrade to send more.

## Quick Check

**Quick Check** runs automatically as you edit. The badge in the toolbar shows how many checks pass; the full list is in the **Styles** tab.

It checks that:

* the email has a call-to-action button,
* it isn't image-only, and has a healthy text-to-image ratio,
* it doesn't contain common spam trigger words,
* every image has alt text.

It also lists **Email Client Compatibility** issues: styles that break or degrade in popular email apps.

## Deliverability Score

For a deeper review, click **Deliverability Score** in the toolbar, then **Run Full Audit**. An AI audit looks at spam triggers, HTML quality, compliance and more, and returns a score out of 100:

| Score band                           | Meaning                                |
| ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------- |
| **Great deliverability**             | No significant issues found            |
| **Good, some improvements possible** | Minor fixes suggested                  |
| **Needs attention**                  | Fix the flagged issues before sending  |
| **Critical issues found**            | Likely to land in spam or render badly |

The audit takes up to 30 seconds. Click **Re-run Audit** after you make changes.

## Dark mode previews

The builder preview always shows the light version. To see how a library template looks in dark mode, open it from the **Library** tab and switch between **Light**, **Dark (Gmail)** and **Dark (Apple Mail)**. These are simulations; each email app handles dark mode a little differently, so send a test to the apps your audience uses.

## Share a preview

To show a template to someone outside your workspace, use **Export** → **Share Link**. It creates a read-only link that works without logging in; the template isn't listed on the Marketplace. Click **Revoke Link** to turn it off. In a team workspace, the template must be approved first.

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="A {{ data.… }} value is empty in the test email">
    A plain test uses the sample data saved on the template. Open **Preview as…**, add the sample data and click **Save**, or send with **Send test with this preview context** to use what's in the panel without saving it.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The test email doesn't include my latest change">
    Plain tests use the saved template. Click **Save** (or wait for **Saved**) and send again.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I've reached the test email limit">
    Test sends are counted per month. Wait until next month or upgrade your plan.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Quick Check says 'CTA button missing' but I have a button">
    Quick Check recognizes Button blocks, and links styled as buttons (with a background or padding) inside HTML and Rich Text blocks. A linked image or a plain text link isn't counted. Add a Button block, or ignore the warning if that's intentional.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>