---
title: Dashboard control settings
description: Reference for all available dashboard control settings in Kibana, including options list, range slider, variable, and time slider controls.
url: https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/5664/explore-analyze/visualize/dashboard-control-settings
products:
  - Kibana
applies_to:
  - Elastic Cloud Serverless: Generally available
  - Elastic Stack: Generally available
---

# Dashboard control settings
The settings available depend on the [control type](/elastic/docs-content/pull/5664/explore-analyze/visualize/dashboard-controls#control-types).

## Options list and range slider settings

Options lists and range sliders share most settings. A few are specific to one type: **Selections**, **Searching**, and **Ignore timeout for results** apply only to options lists, and **Step size** applies only to range sliders.

### Control settings

Set these in the control's editor: when you add the control, or later by hovering over the control and selecting **Edit**.
<definitions>
  <definition term="Label">
    Overwrite the default field name with a clearer label.
  </definition>
  <definition term="Selections">
    Options list only. Let viewers select multiple values (default), or restrict them to a single value where a new selection replaces the previous one.
  </definition>
  <definition term="Searching">
    Options list only. For text and IP address fields, how the search matches values: **Contains** (default for text, and text only), **Prefix** (default for IP address), or **Exact**. Searches aren't case sensitive.
  </definition>
  <definition term="Step size">
    Range slider only. Set the slider's step granularity. The smaller the step size, the more steps the slider has.
  </definition>
  <definition term="Use global filters">
    Whether the control's available options honor the dashboard's global filters, query, and time range, including the selections in other controls ([chaining](/elastic/docs-content/pull/5664/explore-analyze/visualize/dashboard-controls#controls-chaining)). Turn it off to always offer all values, independent of the rest of the dashboard. On by default.
    <applies-to>Elastic Stack: Generally available from 9.0 to 9.3</applies-to> In these versions, this behavior is set once for the whole dashboard, not per control, as three separate toggles: **Chain controls**, **Apply global filters to controls**, and **Apply global time range to controls**. Open the control settings dialog with **Add** → **Controls** → **Settings**. In 9.0 and 9.1, select **Controls** → **Settings** instead.
  </definition>
  <definition term="Validate user selections">
    Flag a selected value that returns no data once the dashboard's other filters and control selections are applied, so viewers can tell the selection is empty. On by default.
    <applies-to>Elastic Stack: Generally available from 9.0 to 9.3</applies-to> In these versions, this is set once for the whole dashboard in the same control settings dialog, applying to all controls.
  </definition>
  <definition term="Ignore timeout for results">
    Options list only. Wait to display results until the list is complete. Useful for large data sets, but the results might take longer to populate.
  </definition>
</definitions>


### Display settings

Display settings apply to pinned controls: hover over the control and select `gear` **Display settings**. Resize an unpinned control by dragging it, like any other panel.
<definitions>
  <definition term="Width">
    Set a minimum width, and whether the control expands to fill the available horizontal space.
    <applies-to>Elastic Stack: Generally available from 9.0 to 9.3</applies-to> In these versions, set the minimum width and expand option in the control's own settings.
  </definition>
</definitions>


### Dashboard settings

In **Edit** mode, select **Settings** in the application menu, then find the **Control panels** section.
<definitions>
  <definition term="Auto apply filters or Apply selections automatically">
    Choose whether the dashboard updates as soon as a selection is made, or only when you select **Apply**. Applies to all controls. Updates automatically by default.
    <applies-to>Elastic Stack: Generally available from 9.0 to 9.3</applies-to> In these versions, this is set in the control settings dialog, opened with **Add** → **Controls** → **Settings**. In 9.0 and 9.1, select **Controls** → **Settings** instead.
  </definition>
</definitions>


## Variable control settings

<applies-to>
  - Elastic Cloud Serverless: Preview
  - Elastic Stack: Preview since 9.0
</applies-to>

[Variable controls](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/5664/explore-analyze/visualize/add-variable-controls) get their values, variable name, and type when you create them. After that, these settings are available.

### Control settings

Set these in the control's editor: when you add the control, or later by hovering over the control and selecting **Edit**.
<definitions>
  <definition term="Label">
    Overwrite the default variable name with a clearer label.
  </definition>
  <definition term="Selections">
    Let viewers select a single value.
    <applies-to>Elastic Cloud Serverless: Preview</applies-to> <applies-to>Elastic Stack: Preview since 9.3</applies-to> You can also allow multiple values.
  </definition>
</definitions>


### Display settings

Display settings apply to pinned controls: hover over the control and select `gear` **Display settings**. Resize an unpinned control by dragging it, like any other panel.
<definitions>
  <definition term="Width">
    Set a minimum width, and whether the control expands to fill the available horizontal space.
    <applies-to>Elastic Stack: Preview from 9.0 to 9.3</applies-to> In these versions, set the minimum width and expand option in the control's own settings.
  </definition>
</definitions>

Variable controls chain by referencing another control's variable in their ES|QL query, not through a setting. For details, refer to [Chain variable controls](/elastic/docs-content/pull/5664/explore-analyze/visualize/add-variable-controls#chain-variable-controls).

## Time slider settings

A [time slider](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/5664/explore-analyze/visualize/add-time-slider-controls) has no field or value settings to configure. Its range comes from the dashboard's [global time range](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/5664/explore-analyze/query-filter/filtering), and you can pin the start of the range so it stays fixed while the end extends. For details, refer to [Add a time slider control](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/5664/explore-analyze/visualize/add-time-slider-controls).