Running a manual scan
Click Run Visibility Scan on your dashboard. This runs the same full pipeline as an automatic scan — every active prompt, across the platforms and countries each prompt is set to run in (all five platforms by default) — described in What happens in a scan. It typically finishes in 5–10 minutes; you can leave the page and it keeps running in the background, with a banner letting you know it’s still in flight. The button is disabled while a scan is already running for the active brand, and if the brand has zero active prompts (there’s nothing to scan yet — add some in Setting up prompts first).Your brand’s very first scan is different — see your free baseline scan. It doesn’t use your manual allowance at all, regardless of plan.
Monthly allowances per plan
Every paid plan includes a monthly allowance of manual scans, separate from your automatic cadence:
The Run Visibility Scan button shows how many you have left (for example, “Run Visibility Scan · 1 left”), and a tooltip confirms the cost before you click. Your allowance resets on the 1st of each month. When you’re out, the button locks and tells you when it refills — or you can upgrade your plan for a larger allowance. Current plan details live on Plans & limits and surfais.com/pricing.
When a manual scan is worth it
Automatic scans on your plan’s cadence (see Scan schedule & cadence) keep your dashboard current without any action from you — for most day-to-day tracking, that’s all you need. Reach for a manual scan when you want a fresh read sooner than the next scheduled day, typically after:- Adding or removing a competitor
- Editing your prompt library
- Fixing something on your site you expect to change how AI platforms describe you
- Wanting a current number ahead of a meeting or report
Related pages
What happens in a scan
The pipeline every scan runs, automatic or manual.
Scan schedule & cadence
When automatic scans run on your plan, and the free baseline scan.
Usage
Track your allowance usage across scans, audits, and add-ons.