# Workflows

On this page you can learn how to start an existing workflow through the API, and what the prerequisites are.

## How to start a workflow

Starting a workflow through the API takes a few steps. Most of them happen in Askpilot, before you send a single request.

1. **Create the workflow in Askpilot.** The API can only start a workflow that already exists. If you do not have one yet, create it in Askpilot first, then come back here.
2. **Give it an API trigger.** A workflow can only be started from the API when **its trigger is set to API and it is switched on**. Without that trigger, a start request is refused. You can add the trigger in Workflows → Your workflow → Settings.
3. **Check its settings.** A start does not change anything about the workflow. It runs with the settings it already has in Askpilot: for the person who has access to it, with the sources selected for it, and with auto-run if enabled. You can see and change all of this in Workflows → Your workflow → Settings.
4. **Get its ID.** Before you start a workflow you need to get its ID. Call [List Workflows](https://public-api.askpilot.com/docs#/Workflows/list_workflows_v1_workflows_get) in the API reference: it returns the workflows in your organization with their IDs, and you can search by name. If you already know the ID, [Get Workflow](https://public-api.askpilot.com/docs#/Workflows/get_workflow_v1_workflows__workflow_id__get) returns that one workflow with its details: its trigger, sources, who has access and other settings. Both calls need a key with the `workflows:read` scope.
5. **Start it through the API.** Call [Start Workflow](https://public-api.askpilot.com/docs#/Workflows/start_workflow_v1_workflows__workflow_id__start_post) in the API reference with the workflow's ID. Askpilot opens a new session for the person with access and runs the workflow in it. The response includes the ID of that session.
6. **Start another workflow in the same session, if you need to.** With that session ID you can start another workflow in the same session instead of opening a new one. Keep in mind that the new workflow brings its own settings: its selected sources, its auto-run setting and everything else replace those of the workflow that started the session.

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This is the Markdown version of https://askpilot.com/docs/developers/workflows.html. The whole documentation as one file: https://askpilot.com/docs/llms-full.txt