> This page is part of the [Customer.io documentation](https://docs.customer.io). For the complete index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.customer.io/llms.txt).
> Last updated: July 10, 2026

# Connect an email to an automation

[BetaThis feature is new and we're actively working on it.](/accounts/settings/beta-experimental-features/#beta-features)

While you can [create a Design Studio email as a part of your campaign, broadcast, or transactional message](/messaging/design-studio/file-manager/#create-from-an-automation), you can also [create the email first](/messaging/design-studio/emails/visual-editor/overview/) then connect it to an automation later, as described in this article.

 You can only connect a Design Studio message to one automation.

You can connect an email made in Design Studio to any campaign, broadcast, or transactional message, but only one. If you’d like to connect the same email to multiple automations, you can [duplicate the email](/messaging/design-studio/file-manager/#duplicate-files).

## Connect your message

How you connect your Design Studio message depends on the type of automation you’re working with.

### Campaigns and API-triggered broadcasts

1.  Open your campaign or API-triggered broadcast.
2.  Drag an **Email** block into your workflow.
3.  Click **Add Content** in the email block.
4.  Under **Use a Design Studio Email**, hover over your email and click **Use email**. Your messages are displayed in order of how recently you edited them. (If you don’t see this option, click **Try it out!** in the top right to switch to Design Studio.)

 You can connect emails, not templates.

You can’t connect templates to automations, but you can [create an email from a template](/messaging/design-studio/file-manager/#create-files). If you need to make a new email, click **Create in Design Studio** to get started.

### Newsletters and transactional messages

1.  Open your newsletter and go to the **Content** step.
2.  Choose **Email** as the message channel.
3.  Click the content block.
4.  Under **Use a Design Studio Email**, hover over your email and click **Use email**. Your messages are displayed in order of how recently you edited them. (If you don’t see this option, click **Try it out!** in the top right to switch to Design Studio.)

 You can connect emails, not templates.

You can’t connect templates to automations, but you can [create an email from a template](/messaging/design-studio/file-manager/#create-files). If you need to make a new email, click **Create in Design Studio** to get started.

## Define the envelope

If you didn’t [fill out the envelope (From, To, etc)](/messaging/design-studio/emails/visual-editor/overview/#define-the-envelope) when creating the email, you can do so after you connect the email too.

## Preview your message

Make sure you preview your liquid and test out your email with different accessibility settings:

*   Learn more about [adding and previewing liquid](/messaging/design-studio/emails/visual-editor/liquid-visual-editor/).
*   Learn more about [checking responsiveness, dark mode, and accessibility](/messaging/design-studio/emails/preview-email-in-design-studio/).
*   Learn more about [validating your code with our Developer Tools](/messaging/design-studio/emails/code-editor/developer-tools/) (you’ll have to switch to the code editor).

## A/B test your Design Studio message

You can A/B test your Design Studio message in a [campaign](/messaging/send/workflows/a-b-test-campaigns/) or [newsletter](/messaging/send/broadcasts/newsletters/#testing-newsletter-broadcasts).

Each variation is a duplicate of the message you connected to your automation. Back in your Design Studio dashboard, all variations are grouped together under the original file name.

[![Close up of three files in the Design Studio dashboard table. The top header is the name of a file with a flask icon. Indented under this header are two variants A and B.](https://docs.customer.io/images/design-studio-a-b-test.png)](#c08f31ee588d6ccdaf409f5df5526117-lightbox)

The winning variant will have a trophy icon next to it.

*   *   [Connect your message](#connect-your-message)
        *   [Campaigns and API-triggered broadcasts](#campaigns-and-api-triggered-broadcasts)
        *   [Newsletters and transactional messages](#newsletters-and-transactional-messages)
    *   [Define the envelope](#define-the-envelope)
    *   [Preview your message](#preview-your-message)
    *   [A/B test your Design Studio message](#ab-test-your-design-studio-message)

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