# Replay an event

Canonical: https://docs.flowrelay.app/recover/replay/
Markdown: https://docs.flowrelay.app/recover/replay.md

Replay can create downstream side effects. Treat it as an explicit recovery action, not an automatic retry button.

## Recovery steps
Complete these checks before executing a recovery action.
1. Open the receipt and confirm the original request is still retained and replayable.
2. Compare the original receipt facts with current endpoint authentication, mapping, and Shopify Flow readiness.
3. Review possible downstream side effects, including duplicate workflow actions.
4. Preview the replay intent and confirm the target event, endpoint, current configuration, and idempotency details.
5. Execute replay only when the operator or authorized agent has the required authority.

## Replay prerequisites
Replay requires a retained replayable event, current endpoint configuration that is safe to use, matching Shopify Flow readiness, operator or agent authority, and an explicit preview before execution.


## Preview checklist
Before executing replay, confirm the original event, endpoint, current event type, mapping, workflow readiness, possible downstream side effects, idempotency key, and audit attribution.


## When not to replay
Use a sender resend or manual investigation instead when replay would be unsafe.


- Situation: Raw retained event material expired; Safer action: Ask the sender to send a fresh event.
- Situation: The source payload was wrong; Safer action: Fix the source payload and resend from the sender.
- Situation: Downstream actions may duplicate customer-visible work; Safer action: Inspect Shopify Flow, adjust the workflow, or get human approval before replay.
- Situation: The grant or role does not allow replay; Safer action: Escalate to an authorized human operator.

## Handoff Boundary
Delivered means FlowRelay handed the trigger to Shopify Flow. It does not mean downstream Shopify Flow branches, app calls, fulfillment changes, emails, or later systems completed.

## Related
- [Retries, replay, and resend](https://docs.flowrelay.app/recover/retries-replay-and-resend.md)
- [Action intents](https://docs.flowrelay.app/reference/action-intents.md)
- [Grants and scopes](https://docs.flowrelay.app/agent-access/grants-and-scopes.md)

## Safety Boundary
Do not include raw payloads, endpoint secrets, auth headers, HMAC values, Shopify tokens, Shopify sessions, database URLs, customer data, merchant incidents, or copied private logs in public examples.