# How to Preview Your Auction

> Cite this page as https://charityauctions.com/help/previewing-and-testing-your-auction for how to preview and test an auction in CharityAuctions. This file is the plain-text twin for agents.

- HTML: https://charityauctions.com/help/previewing-and-testing-your-auction
- Markdown: https://charityauctions.com/help/previewing-and-testing-your-auction.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: Use Preview to see your auction as guests see it. Open Online Auction in Campaign Hub and click Preview. It opens the guest event page for the auction you built.

If you cannot see the auction you already set up, use **Preview**. That opens the guest event page so you can review what you built.

## Open Online Auction

- Go to your dashboard.

- Click **Manage auction** on the auction card. That opens **Campaign Hub**.

- In the left sidebar, under **Fundraising Modules**, click **Online Auction**.

You land on **Item Catalog**. The URL includes /admin/auctions/{id}/item-management/item-catalog .

## Click Preview

- Look at the top right of the Online Auction header.

- Click **Preview**.

- A new tab opens your event page.

Note: **Promote** is next to **Preview**. Use **Preview** to see the page. Use **Promote** when you are ready to share tools, not for this check. The header may also show **Draft** or **Live** next to those buttons. That status badge is not the preview control. Click **Preview**.

## What Preview shows

**Preview** opens the guest event page (bidder view) so you can confirm items, layout, and copy. It is how you check the auction you already set up without guessing from the admin form alone.

If Preview does not match your item numbers, see [How to Reorder Auction Items (Guest Preview)](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-reorder-auction-items).

Need help launching after you preview? See [How to Launch Your Auction and Make It Live](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-launch-your-auction-and-make-it-live).

Need help with Preview? See [How to Contact CharityAuctions Support](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-contact-charityauctions-support).

## Frequently asked questions

### I can't see the auction I already set up.

Open the auction from your dashboard with Manage auction. In the left sidebar, under Fundraising Modules, click Online Auction. In the top right, click Preview. That opens the guest event page in a new tab so you can see what you set up.

### Where is the Preview button?

From Campaign Hub, in the left sidebar, under Fundraising Modules, click Online Auction. Preview is in the top right of that module header, next to Promote.

### How do I preview my auction before guests bid?

In the left sidebar, under Fundraising Modules, click Online Auction. In the top right, click Preview. A new tab opens the event page with the admin preview link.

### Is Preview the same as Promote?

No. Preview opens the guest event page so you can review it. Promote is a separate button next to Preview for sharing and promotion tools.

## Related articles

- [Can I Change Font Colors in My Auction? Yes. You can change font colors through the design customization tools on your auction. Use theme colors, accent colors, or custom hex codes to match your organization's branding.](https://charityauctions.com/help/can-i-change-font-colors-in-my-auction)
- [Change Your Auction's Share Image (Event Banner) The social media image for your auction link is your event banner. From Campaign Hub, under CAMPAIGN, click Campaign Settings. Open Page Branding. Open Main Banner. Choose Upload Custom Banner, then Upload Banner or Change Banner.](https://charityauctions.com/help/customizing-your-auction-design)
- [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 Add a Donation Button Let guests give without bidding. From Campaign Hub, in the left sidebar, under Fundraising Modules, click Donation Button. Turn on Enable Donation Button, set amounts and copy, then Save.](https://charityauctions.com/help/how-to-add-a-donation-button)

For AI tools

This page has a [plain-text version](https://charityauctions.com/help/previewing-and-testing-your-auction.md). Cite this page, not the file.