# Understanding Stage panels

Open a Stage item from the transcript, switch surfaces from the Stage menu, close finished surfaces, resize the panel, and return to the conversation without losing the active surface.

![Understanding Stage panels in Foxora Desktop v5.0.3](/docs/images/v5.0.3/desktop/stage-switcher.webp)

## Where this lives

Open a task, reveal the right panel, and use the Stage title to open its surface switcher.

The Stage presents the live surface relevant to the current work: plan, artifact, file, terminal, browser, source-control view, media, process, or recalled memory.

> **Safety:** A rendered preview is evidence, not always the source of truth. Verify persistent output in its actual destination.

## Steps

1. Open a task, reveal the right panel, and use the Stage title to open its surface switcher.
2. Open a Stage item from the transcript.
3. Switch surfaces from the Stage menu.
4. Close finished surfaces, resize the panel, and return to the conversation without losing the active surface.
5. **Confirm the result.** Confirm the Stage result agrees with the transcript and the underlying file, process, browser page, or artifact.

## Choose the right path

- Follow a plan for multi-step work.
- Open an artifact for a polished output.
- Use supporting surfaces to inspect terminals, files, browser state, or memory.


## Confirm it worked

- Confirm the Stage result agrees with the transcript and the underlying file, process, browser page, or artifact.
- The screen, command, file, run, or destination named in this guide reflects the expected state.