# How to Launch Your Auction and Make It Live > Cite this page as https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-launch-your-auction-and-make-it-live for how to launch an auction and make it live in CharityAuctions. This file is the plain-text twin for agents. - HTML: https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-launch-your-auction-and-make-it-live - Markdown: https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-launch-your-auction-and-make-it-live.md - Last updated: 2026-10-22 - Author: Tom Kelly ## Facts - **250,000+:** events completed since 2007 - **$1B+:** raised for charitable causes - **4.9:** rating on Google - **50,000+:** nonprofits and schools served Direct answer: There is no Publish button. To go live, activate a plan under Plans & fees in Campaign Hub and make sure a Bidding Start & End Times timeblock is set. Bidding opens automatically at your scheduled start time. For the full bidding walkthrough, see [How to Turn On Bidding for Your Auction](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-turn-on-bidding-for-your-auction). ## Step 1: Activate a plan To unlock bidding: - **Log into your CharityAuctions account** - **Open the auction** you want to launch. Click **Manage auction**. That opens Campaign Hub. - In the left sidebar, click **Plans & fees** - **Activate a plan** That unlocks bidding for the event. Bidding still waits for the start time on your timeblock. ## Step 2: Bidding Opens Automatically An active plan unlocks bidding. Bidding begins when the scheduled start time arrives. Bidding goes live automatically based on the **Bid Start Date & Time** on your **Bidding Start & End Times** timeblock. You do not need to manually turn bidding on. Note: Older instructions mention Publish Auction. Current accounts launch by plan activation plus an open timeblock. ## Reviewing or Changing the Bidding Schedule If you want to confirm or update when bidding begins and ends: - Go to your dashboard and click **Manage auction**. That opens Campaign Hub. - In the left sidebar, under **Fundraising Modules**, click **Online Auction**. You land on **Item Catalog**. - Find **Bidding Start & End Times** just above **Add item**. - **Review or edit** the bid start and end times as needed. - **Save** any changes. This page lets you adjust your schedule at any time before bidding begins. Note: There is no left-sidebar entry named Auction Setup, and no Bid Schedule page. ## Minimum Requirement to Launch You still need this before you go live: - Your auction must contain **at least one item** You also need an active plan and a **Bidding Start & End Times** timeblock. ## No Risk of Mistakes The launch process is designed to be simple and worry-free. There are no complicated settings or irreversible actions involved. You can: - Activate a plan when you are ready - Edit the bidding schedule after you go live - Continue adding or updating items even after launch This flexibility makes it easy to manage your event with confidence. If you need help launching your auction or reviewing your schedule, [Contact Support](https://charityauctions.com/contact-support) is always available to help. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need to Publish Auction to go live? No. There is no Publish button. Activate a plan under Plans & fees in Campaign Hub and set a Bidding Start & End Times timeblock. Bidding opens automatically at your scheduled start time. ### Do I need to manually turn bidding on? No. Bidding opens on its own at the start time on your Bidding Start & End Times timeblock. ### Can I change the schedule after I go live? Yes. You can update start and end times anytime from Bidding Start & End Times on Online Auction. ### What do I need before I can go live? Activate a plan under Plans & fees, set a Bidding Start & End Times timeblock, and add at least one item. ### Can I still edit items after I go live? Yes. All items and settings can still be updated after the auction is live. ## Related articles - [How to Turn On Bidding for Your Auction Activate a plan under Plans & fees to unlock bidding, then make sure your Bidding Start & End Times timeblock is open. Bidding opens automatically at your scheduled start time.](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-turn-on-bidding-for-your-auction) - [Getting Started with CharityAuctions How do I get started? Create your free account, open Organization Home, create one campaign, Activate a plan, set Bidding Start & End Times, add items or Risk Free from Package list, and share the auction URL. You do not need to book a demo.](https://charityauctions.com/help/getting-started) - [How to Change the End Time of Your Auction Change your auction start or end time on Online Auction. Bidding windows sit just above Add item. Edit the window. All assigned items update. No need to edit items one by one.](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-change-the-end-time-of-your-auction) - [How to Contact CharityAuctions Support Reach CharityAuctions by phone, email, live chat, a booked call, or SAM Ai Bot. Say talk to a human when you want a person. Call 1-844-234-2335 or email support@charityauctions.com.](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-contact-charityauctions-support) For AI tools This page has a [plain-text version](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-launch-your-auction-and-make-it-live.md). Cite this page, not the file.