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

# How do I publish or schedule a membership?

> Take a draft membership live now, or schedule it to open on a future date.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * **Publishing runs full validation.** Any required field left blank stops the publish and tells you what to fix — so a draft that saved fine can still fail to publish.
  * A membership goes **Active** immediately, or **Scheduled** if you set an **Available From** date in the future.
  * Publishing a membership live (**Active**) creates its **first billing cycle** from the start date right away; a **Scheduled** membership gets its first cycle when it activates on its Available From date.
</Note>

A draft is never on sale. Publishing is what turns it into a product your families can buy.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the membership's menu">
    On the **Memberships** page, click the **⋯** menu on the membership's row (or open the draft and use its **Publish** button).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Publish">
    Choose **Publish**. Uplifter checks the fields it needs — a price, a valid start date, an end date that's after the start (if you set one), and a value for each restriction you switched on. If something's missing, you'll see exactly what to fix, and the membership stays a draft.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm where it lands">
    * With no **Available From** date (or a date that's already here), the membership goes **Active** and is on sale immediately.
    * With an **Available From** date in the future, it goes **Scheduled** and opens for purchase on its own when that date arrives.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**Bringing a scheduled membership forward or back:** open the **⋯** menu on a Scheduled membership and choose **Activate now** to put it on sale immediately, or **Unschedule** to send it back to Draft so you can keep editing.

Publishing a membership straight to **Active** also generates its first billing cycle from the **Start Date** anchor, so it starts tracking coverage and renewals the moment it's live — you don't build any periods yourself. A **Scheduled** membership isn't on sale yet, so its first cycle isn't created until its Available From date arrives (or you choose **Activate now**).

**Related:** [What is the membership lifecycle?](/club/memberships/membership-lifecycle-states) · [How do I set a membership's purchase window?](/club/memberships/how-do-i-set-a-membership-purchase-window) · [How do I edit a membership that has members?](/club/memberships/how-do-i-edit-a-membership-with-active-members)