## Open an Inspector window

Open Inspector when you want to start examining an object in the active Visual
Components layout. Opening the window does not require saving or changing the
layout.

![Inspector 3.5 ribbon group on the HOME tab, including the Inspector command](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/assets/captures/open-inspector-ribbon-group.png)

1. On the **HOME** tab, find the **Inspector** group.
2. Select **Inspector**.
3. Keep the new Inspector window open while you examine the active layout.

## Result

A new Inspector window opens. If an object was already selected when you opened
Inspector, the window begins by inspecting that selection.

## Related tasks

See [Object Inspector overview](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/docs/overview/inspector/) for the next steps in
an inspection. See [Start Copilot Chat](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/docs/copilot/start-copilot-chat/) to ask
questions about the active layout. See [Choose Inspector tools](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/docs/overview/safety/)
to decide whether a gadget, Search, or Search & Replace is appropriate. See
[Connect to the Inspector MCP server](https://inspector.4111778.xyz/docs/mcp/overview/) when an external MCP
client needs live layout data.