---
title: Working with blueprints
---

For an overview of what blueprints are, how they're executed, and where they are stored, see the [Blueprints overview](./index.mdx) documentation.

To export configurations (including custom flows) to create a blueprint, read our [Export](./export.mdx) documentation.

The docs below cover applying, creating, editing, and managing blueprints.

## Apply a blueprint

To _apply_ a blueprint is to have authentik read and execute the contents of a blueprint file. authentik provides many out-of-the-box blueprints, which can be applied either as a [blueprint instance](./index.mdx#blueprint-instance) or as an [imported flow](./index.mdx#imported-flow).

### Add and apply a new blueprint instance

1. Log in to authentik as an administrator and open the Admin interface.
2. Navigate to **Customization** > **Blueprints**.
3. Click **Create** and define the new blueprint instance.
    - **Name**: provide a descriptive name.
    - **Enabled**: toggle on or off. Disabled blueprints cannot be applied.
    - **Blueprint**: select the source for this instance. You can choose a file from a **Local path**, an **OCI registry**, or **Internal** (paste file contents directly, stored in database).
    - **Additional Settings**:
        - **Context**: add any [`key:value` context variable](./index.mdx#blueprint-execution) used in the blueprint instance.
4. Click **Create** to save the new blueprint instance. This file is read and applied regularly by authentik.

### Apply a new flow

You can apply a new flow from either the **Flows** page or the **Blueprints** page.

#### Flows page

1. Log in to authentik as an administrator and open the Admin interface.
2. Navigate to **Flows and Stages > Flows**, then click **Import**.
3. Under **Flow**, select the YAML file to import. Typically this is a file you [exported](./export.mdx) and saved to your local file system.

#### Blueprints page

1. Log in to authentik as an administrator and open the Admin interface.
2. Navigate to **Customization > Blueprints**.
3. Select the blueprint, and, under **Actions**, click the **Apply** icon.

:::info Download example flows
You can download our [example flows](../../add-secure-apps/flows-stages/flow/examples/flows.md) and import them into your authentik instance.
:::

## Edit a blueprint instance or flow

- To edit a blueprint instance, navigate to **Customization** > **Blueprints** in the Admin interface and click the **Edit** icon of the instance. Alternatively, edit the YAML file directly.

- To edit a flow, navigate to **Flows and Stages > Flows** in the Admin interface and click **Edit** next to the flow you want to modify.

## Delete a blueprint instance or flow

- To delete a blueprint instance, go to **Customization** > **Blueprints**, select the checkbox next to the instance, and click **Delete**. You can recreate and apply it by creating a new blueprint instance and selecting the file in the **Create** page, under **Path**.

- To delete a flow, navigate to **Flows and Stages** > **Flows**, select the checkbox next to the flow, and click **Delete**. You can re-import the flow later by repeating the import steps in the previous section.
