Set a breakpoint to pause a component in RPA Desktop Design Studio

task australia Updated Sep 10, 2026 1 min read set-breakpoint-rpa-studio.md

Set a breakpoint on a component in RPA Desktop Design Studio so that you can pause it for debugging purposes during an automation execution. You can set a breakpoint for any number of components.

Before you begin

Ensure that the component or components where you want to set a breakpoint in are a part of your automation.

Configure a component. For more information, see Use a component in RPA Desktop Design Studio.

Role required: none

Procedure

In the RPA Desktop Design Studio, on the Design surface, right-click the title bar of the component where you want to set the breakpoint and then select Breakpoint.

After a breakpoint is set on a component, you can see a red icon as shown in the following example.

[Omitted image "set-breakpoint-red.png"] Alt text: Red icon that appears after a breakpoint is set on a component.

During the automation execution, when the robot reaches a component that has a breakpoint, the execution pauses and the component is highlighted with a red border, as shown in the following example.

[Omitted image "set-breakoint-red-border.png"] Alt text: Red border that appears when the robot reaches a component that has a breakpoint.
Choose an option and complete the action.

Option	Action
To execute the component where the breakpoint is set	Click Move next under the Design tab or press the Ctrl+F8 keys.For a step-by-step execution of the workflow, continue clicking the Move next button.
To continue the execution of the remaining components	Click Run under the Design tab.
To find all the breakpoints in the automation	Click the down arrow button next to the Clear Breakpoints button under the Design tab and select Find all.A list of breakpoints appears in the Find All References section.
To remove a breakpoint	Right-click a desired component and select Breakpoint.
To remove all the breakpoints	Click Clear breakpoints under the Design tab.

**Parent Topic:**[Using automations](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/rpa-studio-use.md)

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---
title: Set a breakpoint to pause a component in RPA Desktop Design Studio
description: Set a breakpoint on a component in RPA Desktop Design Studio so that you can pause it for debugging purposes during an automation execution. You can set a breakpoint for any number of components.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/integrate-applications/set-breakpoint-rpa-studio.html
release: australia
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Use, RPA Desktop Design Studio, Robotic Process Automation \(RPA\) Hub, Workflow Data Fabric]
---

# Set a breakpoint to pause a component in RPA Desktop Design Studio

Set a breakpoint on a component in RPA Desktop Design Studio so that you can pause it for debugging purposes during an automation execution. You can set a breakpoint for any number of components.

## Before you begin

Ensure that the component or components where you want to set a breakpoint in are a part of your automation.

Configure a component. For more information, see [Use a component in RPA Desktop Design Studio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/configure-components.md).

Role required: none

## Procedure

1.  In the RPA Desktop Design Studio, on the Design surface, right-click the title bar of the component where you want to set the breakpoint and then select **Breakpoint**.

    After a breakpoint is set on a component, you can see a red icon as shown in the following example.

    \[Omitted image "set-breakpoint-red.png"\] Alt text: Red icon that appears after a breakpoint is set on a component.

    During the automation execution, when the robot reaches a component that has a breakpoint, the execution pauses and the component is highlighted with a red border, as shown in the following example.

    \[Omitted image "set-breakoint-red-border.png"\] Alt text: Red border that appears when the robot reaches a component that has a breakpoint.

2.  Choose an option and complete the action.

<table id="choicetable_otx_hcg_wrb"><thead><tr><th align="left" id="d648447e122">

Option

</th><th align="left" id="d648447e125">

Action

</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td id="d648447e131">

**To execute the component where the breakpoint is set**

</td><td>

Click **Move next** under the **Design** tab or press the **Ctrl+F8** keys.For a step-by-step execution of the workflow, continue clicking the **Move next** button.

</td></tr><tr><td id="d648447e155">

**To continue the execution of the remaining components**

</td><td>

Click **Run** under the **Design** tab.

</td></tr><tr><td id="d648447e170">

**To find all the breakpoints in the automation**

</td><td>

Click the down arrow button next to the **Clear Breakpoints** button under the **Design** tab and select **Find all**.A list of breakpoints appears in the Find All References section.

</td></tr><tr><td id="d648447e191">

**To remove a breakpoint**

</td><td>

Right-click a desired component and select **Breakpoint**.

</td></tr><tr><td id="d648447e204">

**To remove all the breakpoints**

</td><td>

Click **Clear breakpoints** under the **Design** tab.

</td></tr></tbody>
</table>
**Parent Topic:**[Using automations](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/rpa-studio-use.md)