# Previewing prototypes
> Learn how to preview your Sketch prototypes with the help of our step-by-step guides and video tutorials.
**URL:** https://www.sketch.com/docs/prototyping/previewing-prototypes/ | **Last updated:** 2026-04-07
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Preview your prototypes in the Mac app, in the web app, or on your iOS device.
To start a preview in the Mac app, click the **Preview** button in the toolbar or press ⌘P. If you’ve set a [Start Point](/docs/prototyping/using-starting-points/), your prototype will start from there. If not, it’ll start from the currently selected frame.
*Prototype preview controls in the Mac app*
1. Click anywhere in the Preview window to see hints that show you where Links and Hotspots are on the current frame.
1. **The back button** takes you back a step to the previous frame in your prototype.
1. **The flag icon** ( ) sets the frame you’re currently viewing as a [Start Point](/docs/prototyping/using-starting-points/).
1. **The frame drop-down menu** gives you a quick way to jump between different frames.
1. **The View Frame in Canvas icon** opens the Mac app and takes you to the frame being previewed.
1. **Display Options** show you the different options to preview your prototype: Fit, Fill Width and Actual Size.
1. **The Share icon** allows you to copy a link to your prototype that you can share with others.
When you open a document in the web app, you can view any prototypes it contains by clicking the **Prototypes** link in the **About** tab of the sidebar. Click on a prototype’s thumbnail to open and preview it in your browser.
Hovering over the prototype’s thumbnail and clicking the gives you a couple of options for showing or hiding hints as you play your prototype.
Make sure you set a [Start Point](/docs/prototyping/using-starting-points/) in your prototype, otherwise it won’t appear in the web app.
*Prototype preview controls in the web app*
1. Click anywhere in the Preview window to see clickable targets (Links and Hotspots) on the current frame.
2. Click to close the prototype and return to the document overview.
3. **Restart Prototype** takes you back to the prototype’s [Start Point](/docs/prototyping/using-starting-points/).
4. The **Back** and **Forward** buttons will step through frames that you’ve linked.
5. **View options** adjust how frames will appear in the prototype player (see below).
6. Click **Copy Link** to share a link to the prototype, with options to show or hide navigational elements.
7. The **View Frame** button opens the frame being previewed in the web app.
8. The **Full Screen** button makes the window full screen. Press esc to exit full screen.
9. Click the **Comment** icon to view and add comments as you navigate the prototype.
**Changing how a prototype displays in a browser**
Use the **View options** to change how your prototype will display in the browser window.
**Fit** ⇧0: Resizes frames to fit your browser’s viewport, regardless of their size.
**Fill Width** ⇧1: Automatically resizes frames to fill the width of your browser window during playback. This helps avoid blank space around narrower frames and ensures your prototype stays responsive as you resize the window.
**Actual Size** z: Displays frames at their actual size, regardless of your browser’s window size.
The web app will use the same preview display setting until you change it.
When viewing a document, swipe up on the sheet at the bottom of the screen to see any prototypes below the frame thumbnails. Tap a prototype to open it in the prototype player.
As you test a prototype, tapping outside of hotspots and links on the screen will reveal hints.
To exit a prototype, tap and hold anywhere on the screen to return to the document view.
When you’re viewing a document, tap on the (play) button in the top-right corner of the screen to start playing its prototype. If there are multiple prototypes in the document, tap on the one you want to play from the list that appears.
As you test a prototype, tapping outside of hotspots and links on the screen will reveal hints.
To exit a prototype, tap and hold anywhere on the screen to return to the document view.
## Troubleshooting prototype previews
### Why isn’t my prototype showing in the web app?
If you saved your document in a Workspace but the prototype isn’t appearing, make sure you’ve set a [Start Point](/docs/prototyping/using-starting-points/) on at least one frame. Once you do, save the document again and reload your browser.
### How do I change how a prototype fills the screen?
Use the **View options** menu in the prototype player toolbar to switch between **Fit**, **Fill Width**, and **Actual Size**. You can also use these shortcuts at any time:
- ⇧0 for **Fit**
- ⇧1 for **Fill Width**
- Z for **Actual Size**
These shortcuts also work while the toolbar is hidden.
### Can I hide the toolbar or hotspots in prototype view?
Yes. When you share or preview a prototype, you can hide hotspots, toolbar controls, and navigation for a cleaner presentation. For the full steps across the Mac app, web app, and iPhone app, see [Sharing prototypes](/docs/prototyping/sharing-prototypes/#how-to-share-prototypes).
### Can I hide prototype links while editing a document?
Yes. Prototype links only appear on the Canvas when you’re working in the **Prototype** tab, or when you have an artboard selected while using the **Design** tab. If you want a cleaner editing view, deselect artboards or switch back to **Design** so Sketch only shows links for the selected artboard instead of every connection in the document.