---
title: Preview content
slug: cms-12/docs/preview-content
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-08-10T15:55:55.000Z
---

In Optimizely Content Management System (CMS), you can preview content while editing to view content as visitors will see it when published. **Preview** hides the surrounding on-page editing frames and panels; you can go through your website.

The preview option can display different things depending on how you are working with CMS:

- **You are not using projects, or you are using projects through the projects gadget.** The preview option displays the published version of each page or, if there is a newer draft, the primary draft version. You may have a draft version in a project that is not set to primary draft, in which case the preview does not display the project version. Use the **View settings** > **Projects** option (see [table below](docId\:pO-RgWF9TZy1f8nMOqAWF) for details) to view your website as if the items included in a project were published.
- **You are using the projects feature.** The preview option displays the active project. If no project is set as active, it displays the published version of each page, or if there is a newer draft, the primary draft version.

  ![select a channel](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/SymbQGsmwuauThp2pi9Z_-20260720-145542.png)

Click **View**  to preview content with the following options:

- **Languages** – Select a [language](docId:89lPr8Ur8RZ1ywZGIr-6K) to view the content, as visitors using this language will see it.
- **Audiences** – View the content as the selected [audiences](docId\:LobkK1ZzP8EBsvztqwifN) will see it.
- **Channel** – Select a channel or a resolution to see the content, as it will appear with the selected settings. The options are customized for your website.
- **Projects** – Navigate and view the contents of a [project](https://support.optimizely.com/hc/en-us/articles/4413192328333) to verify the display before publishing.

  :::hint{type="info"}
  **Note**

  This option is not available if [the projects feature](https://support.optimizely.com/hc/en-us/articles/4413200672653) is enabled. In that case, the preview button displays the active project. To preview another project, you need to change the active project.
  :::

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**

You can combine previewing with the view setting options to display French content (for example) as visitors using a mobile device and with German as preferred language will see it.
:::

![preview options](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/L9oT0ZYDUNF6Yzah8aa6G-20260720-145542.png)