# Tracking file status
Every workspace file has a status dot next to its name. Five values cover a typical motion review cycle. The dot is visible to anyone with workspace access, including teammates browsing in the LottieFiles web app. Change status the same way you change a sticky note color — one click in the plugin header, no comments required.

## How to access this

1. Open the LottieFiles plugin in After Effects.
2. Click **Workspace** in the top tab bar.
3. Navigate to a file's detail view.
4. Click the status dot next to the file's breadcrumb to open the status menu.

## The five statuses

| Label            | Dot color    | When to set                                                    |
| ---------------- | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **No status**    | gray outline | New file, not yet in a review flow. Default for fresh uploads. |
| **In progress**  | purple       | Actively iterating; not asking for review yet.                 |
| **Needs review** | orange       | Anyone tracking the share link should look.                    |
| **Approved**     | green        | Reviewers signed off; ready to ship but not yet released.      |
| **Shipped**      | blue         | Animation is live in a production product or release.          |

The status dot is visible:

- In the plugin's Workspace browse views (folder grids, search results).
- In the LottieFiles web app for the same workspace.
- Anywhere a workspace file is referenced in the LottieFiles platform.

## Change status from the plugin

1. Open the file in the Workspace tab.
2. Click the status dot next to the file's name in the header.
3. Pick a new status from the dropdown.
4. The change saves immediately — no Confirm step.

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## Tips for motion/product designers

- **Use Needs review as your only "ping me" trigger.** Agree with the team that any file in Needs review is waiting on someone specific. Don't leave files in Needs review long-term — once reviewers respond, move it.
- **Shipped means live in production.** Reserve **Approved** for "ready to ship but not yet released" — keeps the signal clean for teammates triaging what's actually out the door.
- **Pair status with concise comments on the share link** when reviewers need context ("v2 — fixed the bounce timing"). Status says "look now"; the comment says "look for what".

## Troubleshooting

- **Status dropdown is greyed out / shows upgrade prompt** — workspace plan doesn't include status changes. See plan gating above.
- **Status appears different in plugin vs LottieFiles web** — refresh both surfaces. The change is server-side; both eventually reflect, but caching delays can show briefly different states.
- **No one notices status changes** — status is a passive signal. Pair with active outreach (Slack message, Linear comment) for time-sensitive items.

## Related

- [Updating a version](/en/integrations/after-effects/10_workspace/updating-a-version) — the change that usually triggers a status bump.
- [Sharing an animation](/en/integrations/after-effects/10_workspace/sharing-an-animation) — the surface where status becomes visible to outsiders.