---
id: cloud/features/smart-orchestration/spec-prioritization
title: Spec Prioritization
description: >-
  Run failed specs first to save time and reduce CI costs with Cypress Cloud's
  Spec Prioritization feature.
section: cloud
source_path: docs/cloud/features/smart-orchestration/spec-prioritization.mdx
version: 3cf5b86b3403f604bdf7f3e35025c3bc3865e02c
updated_at: '2026-05-07T17:44:31.931Z'
---
# Spec Prioritization

##### What you'll learn

*   How to enable Spec Prioritization in Cypress Cloud
*   How to save time by running failed specs first
*   How to reduce CI costs by using Spec Prioritization with Auto Cancellation

It is often helpful to be **aware of test failures earlier within a CI test run so that debugging and iterations can resume and progress much faster**. Being able to catch issues sooner within the CI process can save valuable time in troubleshooting failures and deploying fixes.

For example, consider you have a test suite consisting of several spec files that take **30 minutes** to execute, but failures start to occur within one spec at the **20 minute** marker. A subsequent code change aimed at resolving the issue will have to be validated after running the CI build and waiting **20 minutes**. This process and waiting continues until the issue is fixed.

By running failed specs first, the issues can be surfaced earlier and reduce that 20 minute wait to potentially a few minutes. **Considering that a test suite has multiple spec files, this orchestration strategy will always save time.**

### Activate Spec Prioritization in Cypress Cloud

**Spec Prioritization** is a _Smart Orchestration_ feature available to users with a [Business or Enterprise tier Cypress Cloud plan](https://cypress.io/pricing). Wondering if upgrading your Team tier subscription is worth it? Check out the [recommendations](/llm/markdown/cloud/features/recorded-runs.md#Recommendations) on the run overview page to see how much time we predict these features would save you.

Spec Prioritization is a _Smart Orchestration_ feature that is managed within a project's settings.

**To enable or disable this feature at the Project level (must be an admin user):**

1.  Select the desired project within Projects view to visit Cypress Cloud.
2.  Click "Project Settings" with the right-hand sidebar.
3.  Scroll to the Smart Orchestration section within Project Settings page.
4.  Toggle "Spec Prioritization".

**CI Tip: Reduce Costs**

Note that Spec Prioritization **alone** will not save time as it purely alters the order in which specs are run. However, when used in tandem with [Auto Cancellation](/llm/markdown/cloud/features/smart-orchestration/run-cancellation.md) it can result in shorter test runs due to cancellation being triggered earlier, leading to significantly reduced CI costs.