---
title: "Enabling and managing Beta features"
slug: "enabling-and-managing-beta-features"
description: "Enable or disable Open and Closed Beta features in Payhawk Labs for one entity or for the group, and set which users can see a Beta feature in your account."
updated: 2026-10-19T12:50:39Z
published: 2026-10-19T12:50:39Z
canonical: "payhawk.com/enabling-and-managing-beta-features"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://payhawk.com/help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Enabling and managing Beta features

Beta features can be enabled in Payhawk Labs for a single entity or at the group level. They can also be activated in the Sandbox environment, providing a safe space for testing before applying them to live production accounts.

## Specifics

- If a Beta feature is designed for groups of entities, it will be enabled for the entire group rather than for individual entities. For example, group-level Beta features, such as Group Budgets, apply across all entities within the group, whereas single-level Beta features, such as Expense Reports, can be enabled for a single entity.
- If your Payhawk accounts are managed at the group level, only group Payhawk Administrators can manage Beta features, while entity Payhawk Administrators will have read-only access.
- Enabled Beta features always appear at the top of the list.
- You can disable a Beta feature at any time.

## Enabling and disabling Open Beta features for individual entities

You can enable an Open Beta feature for an individual entity from the Payhawk Web Portal:

1. Log in to the entity's Payhawk account and go to **Settings** > **Payhawk Labs**.
2. View the list of available Beta features and switch on the toggle to enable the one you want to explore. If your Sandbox is active, you are asked where to enable the feature; select **No, enable for this account**.
3. In the dialog that opens, confirm your choice by clicking on **I agree, enable**.

![Payhawk Labs page with the Credit Notes beta feature and the Enable beta feature dialog open, showing the I agree, enable button.](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261009/Enabling_beta_features_enable_20261009_ai.png)

To disable an Open Beta feature for an entity:

1. Log in to the entity's Payhawk account and go to **Settings** > **Payhawk Labs.**
2. Switch off the toggle for the respective Beta feature.
3. Optionally, enter a reason for disabling the feature, and then click on **Yes, disable** to confirm.

![Disable beta feature dialog for Automatic flight check-in, with the optional Reason for disabling field and the Yes, disable button.](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261009/Enabling_beta_features_disable_20261009_ai.png)

## Enabling and disabling Open Beta features for the group

You can enable an Open Beta feature for your group of entities from the Payhawk Web Portal:

1. Log in to the Group Payhawk account and go to **Settings** > **Payhawk Labs**.
2. View the list of available Beta features and switch on the toggle to enable the one you want to explore.
3. Select the entities for which you want to activate the Beta feature by selecting the checkboxes.
4. Click on **Enable**.

To disable an Open Beta feature for the group:

1. Log in to the Group Payhawk account and go to **Settings** > **Payhawk Labs.**
2. Switch off the toggle for the respective Beta feature.
3. Click on **Yes, disable** to confirm.

## Enabling and disabling Closed Beta features for individual entities

Closed Beta features require a Payhawk Administrator of the entity to send an access request.

As a Payhawk Administrator of the entity, you can enable a Closed Beta feature for it from the Payhawk Web Portal:

1. Log in to the entity's Payhawk account and go to **Settings** > **Payhawk Labs**.
2. Click on the **Join the waitlist** button.

Once Payhawk grants access, the Payhawk Administrator who requested it will receive an email confirming that the feature is now available for activation in the entity. As a result, the Closed Beta feature will transition to an Open Beta feature, allowing any Payhawk Administrator of that entity to [enable](/help/enabling-and-managing-beta-features#h_d12253dae3) it.

## Enabling and disabling Closed Beta features for the group

Closed Beta features require a Group Payhawk Administrator to send an access request.

As a Group Payhawk Administrator, you can enable a Closed Beta feature for the group from the Payhawk Web Portal:

1. Log in to the Group Payhawk account and go to **Settings** > **Payhawk Labs**.
2. Click on the **Join the waitlist** button. Note that the access request is applicable for all entity accounts within the group.

Once Payhawk grants access, the Group Payhawk Administrator who requested it will receive an email confirming that the feature is now available for activation at the group level. The Closed Beta feature will then transition to an Open Beta feature, allowing any Group Payhawk Administrator to [enable](/help/enabling-and-managing-beta-features#h_f3daea1939) it for the entire group or specific entities within the group.

## Configuring the feature visibility for the group

After enabling the Beta feature, you can update the entities for which it will be available.

1. Log in to your Group Payhawk account.
2. Go to **Settings** > **Payhawk Labs**.
3. Click on the **Configure visibility** option for the desired feature.
4. In the dialog that opens, select the desired entities.
5. Click on **Apply**.

## Activating the Sandbox and adding Beta features to it

To activate the Sandbox environment for your Payhawk account:

1. Log in to your Payhawk account and go to **Settings** > **Payhawk Labs**.
2. Click on **Activate**.

![Payhawk Labs page with the Sandbox account card marked Inactive and its Activate link, followed by the Sandbox account opened in Settings.](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261009/Enabling_beta_features_sandbox_activate_20261009_ai.png)

Once you activate your Sandbox account, each time you want to enable a Beta feature, you will be prompted whether to enable it in the Sandbox or in your live production environment.

To add new Beta features to your activated Sandbox account:

1. Log in to your Payhawk account and go to **Settings** > **Payhawk Labs**.
2. View the list of available Beta features and switch on the toggle to enable the one you want to explore.
3. In the dialog that opens, select **Yes, enable in the Sandbox**.

![Enable in Sandbox? dialog with two options: Yes, enable in the Sandbox and No, enable for this account.](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261009/Enabling_beta_features_enable_in_sandbox_20261009_ai.png)
4. As a result, Payhawk switches you to the Sandbox account, where the feature is enabled.

## Useful resources

- [Payhawk Labs for Beta testing, early access, and research](/help/payhawk-labs-for-beta-testing-early-access-and-research)