> ## Knowledge Base Index
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> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
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# How to Make a Pathway Step Required

# How to Make a Pathway Step Required

**In this article:**
* Overview
* Make a step required
* Things to keep in mind
* FAQs
* Who can do this

## Overview
Marking a step as **Required** means a learner must complete it before the Pathway itself counts as complete. Steps are required by default; switching **Required** off makes a step optional, so learners can finish the Pathway without doing it.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/superpath-help-centre/how-to-make-a-pathway-step-required/01-required-toggle-tooltip_aa505a2b.png)

## Make a step required
1. Open your Pathway in the builder and hover over the step in the left steps panel.
2. Click the **cog** icon to open the step's settings panel.
3. At the top of the panel, toggle **Required** on (or off to make the step optional).

Your change saves automatically. An optional step shows an **Optional** badge in the steps list.

> **Good to know:** The **Required** toggle also appears in a section's settings, where it applies to that section.

## Things to keep in mind
* Steps are required by default, so you only need to change this when you want a step to be optional.
* *"If required, the assignee must complete this learning step in order to complete this pathway."*
* Changing a step's settings returns a published Pathway to a draft (unpublished) state, so publish again once you're done.

## FAQs
**What happens if a step is optional?**
Learners can complete the Pathway without finishing that step — it no longer blocks overall completion.

**Can I make a whole section optional?**
Yes. Open the section's settings and switch **Required** off.

**Do optional steps still appear for learners?**
Yes. Optional steps are shown to learners with an **Optional** badge; they're just not needed for Pathway completion.

## Who can do this
**Owners**, **Admins**, **Managers**, **Content Managers** and **Instructors** can change a step's Required setting. **People Managers**, **Employees**, **Members**, **Volunteers** and **Restricted** users have read-only access to Pathways and cannot.