# Test Mode

> Use a test token to validate events and destination mappings before going live.

Source: https://docs.oursprivacy.com/docs/test-mode

Use Test Mode when you want to check your event setup without sending data to configured destinations.

## Send Test Events

1. Open your source in the Ours Privacy dashboard and copy its test token.
2. Use that token in your test implementation.
3. Open **Recent Events**, select **Send debug events**, and open your site in debug mode. For API requests, use the example in the **REST API** tab with your test token.
4. Perform the action you want to test, then select the event marked **Test Event**.
5. Check its properties and destination mappings. The destination payloads are recorded for inspection without being delivered.

![Source settings with Test Mode enabled in the Ours Privacy dashboard](https://docs.oursprivacy.com/img/test-mode/test-mode-img-1.jpg)

![A Recent Events detail for an appointment_requested event marked Test Event, with each destination dispatch recorded and the message that a test token was used so no dispatch was performed](https://docs.oursprivacy.com/img/tracking-and-debugging-events/tracking-and-debugging-events-img-3.jpg)

## Choose the Right Tool

* **Test Mode** prevents events from being delivered to configured destinations.
* **Event debugging** makes your events easy to find in Recent Events. You can use it with a test token or a live token.
* **Tag Manager preview** runs unpublished tags in your preview tab. It does not enable Test Mode or event debugging.

For automated checks, the [Test Events API](https://docs.oursprivacy.com/docs/platform-api/test-events) sends test events and lets you verify destination routing.

## Finish Testing

Choose **Stop debugging** in the Recent Events launcher when you finish. When you are ready to send real events to destinations, replace your test token with the live token.

## Next Steps

* [Tracking and Debugging Events](https://docs.oursprivacy.com/docs/tracking-and-debugging-events): inspect website and API events.
* [Test Events API](https://docs.oursprivacy.com/docs/platform-api/test-events): automate routing checks.