---
title: "[Create and Manage Releases NEW] - Deploy a Release"
description: Deploying a release performs the selected action (publish or unpublish) on the items of that release associated with a specific environment.
url: https://www.contentstack.com/docs/content-managers/create-and-manage-releases/deploy-a-release
product: Contentstack
doc_type: guide
audience:
  - content-managers
  - developers
version: NEW
last_updated: 2026-03-26
---

# [Create and Manage Releases NEW] - Deploy a Release

This page explains how to deploy a release in Contentstack, including choosing environments and scheduling deployment. It is intended for content managers (and developers using the API reference) who need to publish or unpublish multiple items in a release to a specific environment.

## Deploy a Release

Deploying a release performs the selected action (publish or unpublish) on the items of that release associated with a specific environment.

So, for instance, let’s assume that you have added five items to a release (3 for publishing and 2 for unpublishing). When you deploy this release, the three items added with the publish action will be published, and the two with the unpublish action will be unpublished, all at once.

To deploy a release, log in to your [Contentstack account](https://www.contentstack.com/login) and follow these steps:
- Go to your [stack](/docs/developers/set-up-stack/about-stack) and click the “Releases” icon in the left navigation panel. Or, press “alt + R” for Windows and “option + R” for Mac.
- Select the release you want to deploy in the left panel and click the **Deploy** button located at the top.**Note**: You can update the release items to their latest versions before you deploy the release. Refer to our [Update Release Items to their Latest Versions](/docs/content-managers/create-and-manage-releases/update-release-items-to-their-latest-versions) documentation for more information.
- In the **Deploy Release** window, you will get the following options:**Select Environment(s)**: Choose the environment(s) in which you want to deploy the release.
- **Deploy**: Select if you want to deploy the release **Now** or **Later**.If you select **Now**, Contentstack will immediately deploy all the added items in the specified environment.

If you select **Later**, you need to specify the **Date** and **Time** at which the release should be deployed, along with your time zone.

**Note**: The deployment date cannot extend beyond **12** months when scheduling a release.
- Finally, click **Deploy**.

**Note**: Once you deploy a release in an environment, all the items within are locked. You can [unlock the release](/docs/content-managers/create-and-manage-releases/unlock-a-release) and make the necessary changes.

## API Reference

To deploy the Release via API, refer to the [Deploy a Release](/docs/developers/apis/content-management-api#deploy-a-release) API request.

## Common questions

### What happens when I deploy a release that includes both publish and unpublish actions?
Deploying a release performs the selected action (publish or unpublish) on the items of that release associated with a specific environment, all at once.

### Can I schedule a release deployment for later?
Yes. In the **Deploy Release** window, select **Later** and specify the **Date** and **Time** at which the release should be deployed, along with your time zone.

### Is there a limit on how far in advance I can schedule a deployment?
Yes. The deployment date cannot extend beyond **12** months when scheduling a release.

### What happens to items in a release after deployment?
Once you deploy a release in an environment, all the items within are locked. You can [unlock the release](/docs/content-managers/create-and-manage-releases/unlock-a-release) and make the necessary changes.