---
title: "Managing Builder Sessions"
canonical: "https://help.cartinuum.com/space/WC/4538335281/Managing%20Builder%20Sessions"
format: markdown
---
Managed Experience Builder uses on-demand builder sessions to provide a dedicated Experience Builder environment for your organisation.

Builder sessions are started when needed and can be stopped when no longer required.

### What is a Builder Session?

A builder session is a running Experience Builder environment that allows authorised users to create and edit applications.

When a session is active, users can:

- Sign in to Experience Builder
- Create and edit applications
- Publish applications
- Work with custom widgets

Deployed applications continue to operate independently of builder sessions.

### Starting a Session

To start a builder session:

1. Open the Managed Experience Builder control page.
2. Select **Start session**.

Managed Experience Builder will prepare your builder environment and make it available for use.

Startup typically takes a few minutes.

Once the session is ready, the Launch button will become available.

### Session Duration

Builder sessions run for a limited period of time.

By default, sessions remain active for 2 hours.

The remaining session time is displayed on the control page.

### Extending a Session

If you require additional time, you can extend the session before it expires.

Select **Extend session** on the control page.

The session expiry time will be updated and your builder environment will remain available.

### Stopping a Session

When you have finished working, you can stop the session manually.

To stop a session:

1. Open the Managed Experience Builder control page.
2. Select **Stop session**.

The builder environment will be shut down and platform resources released.

Stopping a session does not:

- Delete applications
- Remove custom widgets
- Affect deployed applications
- Remove configuration

All saved changes remain available the next time a session is started.

### Session Expiry

If a session reaches its expiry time, it will automatically stop.

You can start a new session at any time from the control page.

If your session has expired, it is important you do not close your Experience Builder tab. Start a new session and then save your work as normal.

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### Frequently Asked Questions

#### Will my deployed applications stop working when the session stops?

No.

Builder sessions and deployed applications operate independently. Deployed applications remain available even when no builder session is running.

#### Will I lose my work if the session expires?

No.

If your session has expired, it is important you do not close your Experience Builder tab. Start a new session and then save your work as normal.

#### Can multiple users use the same builder session?

Yes.

Authorised users accessing the same Managed Experience Builder environment share the same builder session.

#### Why does starting a session take a few minutes?

Builder sessions are created on demand. During startup, Managed Experience Builder prepares the Experience Builder environment, loads applications and widgets, and connects to your registered ArcGIS portal.