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Best answer

How to place a "Return from a Sub-Zap" step after a Looping action?

  • April 25, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 348 views
S

Hi Zapier Community,

I'm trying to build a Sub-Zap using the "Looping by Zapier" action.

My goal is to place a "Return from a Sub-Zap" step at the very end of the Zap, **after** the entire loop finishes.

However, I'm stuck trying to add the "Return from Zap Run" step *outside* of the looping block in the Zap editor.

When I add the Return step, it always seems to land *inside* the loop as the last step. I've tried dragging and dropping it below the loop block, but it doesn't seem to work – it just snaps back inside.

Could someone please explain how to correctly add a step **after** a "Looping by Zapier" block? Is there a specific way to do this in the UI that I'm missing?

Any help or workaround would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, S.O

Best answer by DavidLGS

You have to create a path above your looping step. Both path conditions need to be set to “always run.”

 

Your existing actions will automatically shift to the left path.

 

In the right path, after the conditions, you’ll need to add a delay step for however long you think it will take to execute all of the loops on the left. I typically make it excessive, like 5+ minutes, unless timing of this sub-zap is absolutely critical. Then, after the delay, add your return from sub-zap step.

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4 replies

DavidLGS
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  • DavidLGSZapier Solution Partner
  • Zapier Solution Partner
  • Answer
  • April 25, 2025

You have to create a path above your looping step. Both path conditions need to be set to “always run.”

 

Your existing actions will automatically shift to the left path.

 

In the right path, after the conditions, you’ll need to add a delay step for however long you think it will take to execute all of the loops on the left. I typically make it excessive, like 5+ minutes, unless timing of this sub-zap is absolutely critical. Then, after the delay, add your return from sub-zap step.

Zapier's my jam
S
Troy Tessalone
Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
Forum|alt.badge.img+14
  • Troy TessaloneZapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
  • Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
  • April 25, 2025

Hi ​@S.O 

Help links for using Looping and Sub-Zaps:

 

Looping: You cannot use a loop step within a Sub-Zap.

Using loop actions with Sub-Zaps: Loop actions cannot be added before a Return from Sub-Zap step within a Sub-Zap.
When using looping Sub-Zaps, only the first Return from Sub-Zap step will run successfully.

⚡ Troy Tessalone - AutomationAce.com | Platinum Zapier Solution Partner | #1 Zapier Community Contributor
S
DavidLGS
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  • DavidLGSZapier Solution Partner
  • Zapier Solution Partner
  • April 25, 2025

​@Troy Tessalone, you can use looping in a sub-zap using the workaround I’ve already described above. 

Zapier's my jam
S
  • S.OBeginner
  • Author
  • Beginner
  • April 30, 2025

Hi ​@Troy Tessalone  and ​@DavidLGS ,

Thank you both very much for your input and insights on using loops and Return steps within Sub-Zaps! I really appreciate you taking the time to explain the limitations and potential workarounds.

I understand the point about the `Return from Sub-Zap` step needing to be placed at the very end, outside of any loops, and that only the first one encountered will execute (@Troy Tessalone, thanks for clarifying that rule).

I also appreciate the workaround suggestion (@DavidLGS). Realizing that implementing loops *within* a Sub-Zap (whether via standard actions or workarounds like the Path/Delay method) has its own set of challenges and limitations with Zapier's current structure.

I need to think a bit more about the best approach for my specific use case (processing a list of contacts in HubSpot within the Sub-Zap) considering these constraints.

Thanks again for your valuable help!

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