# Turn off automatic runs

> Stop the preview from rebuilding after every change with Live reload, make it wait longer with Live view delay, or keep a project from running when it opens.
> Source: https://playcode.io/docs/classic/turn-off-auto-run - last reviewed 2026-10-09.

The preview rebuilds after every change you make. Turn off **Live reload** to run the code only when you ask, or raise **Live view delay** to make the preview wait longer after you type.

## Do it yourself

### Turn off live reload

1. In the project, open the project menu and choose **Settings…**. Settings opens on the project's **General** page.
2. Under **Behavior**, turn off **Live reload**: "Re-run the preview as you type."
3. Run the code when you want with the **Reload** button in the preview's toolbar, or press Ctrl+R (Control+R on a Mac).

### Make the preview wait longer

1. In the same place, under **Behavior**, set **Live view delay**: "Seconds to wait after typing before the preview re-runs."
2. Choose a value from 0 to 5 seconds, in steps of 0.1. The default is 0.1 seconds.

### Keep a project from running when it opens

1. In **Settings**, under **You**, choose **Editor**.
2. Under **Preview**, turn off **Run on opening**: "Build the preview as soon as the project opens."
3. When you want the code to run, choose the **Start Preview** button in the preview's toolbar.

## If it doesn't work

### Live reload is on again

**Live reload** lasts until you reload the page or open the editor again: each time the editor loads, it is on. Turn it off again.

### Settings… is not in the project menu

Settings needs an account. Sign in first.

### The browser tab freezes as soon as the project opens

The code runs a loop that never ends. See [The preview does not load](/docs/help/preview-does-not-load) for how to open the project without running it.

## Limits

- **Live reload** is not saved: it is on again after you reload the page.
- **Live view delay** and **Run on opening** are kept in this browser. **Live view delay** sits in the project's settings, but it applies to every project you open in this browser.
- These settings are for the preview of a static site. A Cloud app has none of them.