> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.decodahealth.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Configuration
> Customize the patient dashboard layout and control which self-service actions patients can take.
**Where to find it:** Go to **Settings** > **Patient Portal**.
Two admin controls shape the patient portal experience for your clinic:
* **Layout** — which widgets appear on the patient dashboard, in what order, and how wide each one is.
* **Portal permissions** — which self-service actions patients can take after signing in.
## Customize the dashboard
The **Layout** tab is open by default. It shows a preview of the patient dashboard. Use it to arrange widgets:
Drag a widget by its header to move it. The grid reflows as you drag.
Use the size switch in each widget's header to set its width: **1/3**, **1/2**, **2/3**, or **Full**.
Click the eye icon in a widget's header. The widget moves into the **Hidden Widgets** section below the preview.
Find it in **Hidden Widgets** and click **Add**. It returns to the dashboard at the end of the visible list.
Click **Save** at the top of the page. The new layout applies to every patient the next time they sign in.
Click **Reset to defaults** to discard your changes and restore the standard layout.
The same layout is shared by every patient at your clinic. There is no per-patient layout. The exception is the **Quick Actions** widget, where each patient can pick their own shortcuts.
For the full list of widgets and what each shows, see the [Dashboard](/modules/patient-portal#dashboard) section.
## Portal permissions
Portal permissions control what patients can do online after they sign in. These settings apply to every patient at your clinic. Existing clinics keep the current portal behavior until an admin changes these permissions.
### Change portal permissions
Go to **Settings** > **Patient Portal** > **Configuration**, then find **Portal permissions**.
Use the switch beside a group to turn that whole group on or off. Use the switch beside one permission to change only that action.
Changes save automatically. Wait for saving to finish before leaving the page.
Click **Enable all** or **Disable all** in **All Permissions** to update every patient portal permission at once.
### Permission groups
| Group | Permission | What patients can do when it is on |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Scheduling** | **Book appointments** | Book appointments from the portal and the online scheduling page. |
| **Scheduling** | **Cancel appointments** | Cancel upcoming appointments online when the appointment is more than 24 hours away. |
| **Scheduling** | **Reschedule appointments** | Choose a new time for upcoming appointments when the appointment is more than 24 hours away. |
| **Memberships** | **View memberships** | See membership pages, membership links, and membership details in **Billing**. |
| **Memberships** | **Purchase memberships** | Enroll in available memberships online. |
| **Memberships** | **Cancel memberships** | Cancel active memberships online. |
| **Payment methods** | **Add payment methods** | Add a saved card or bank account from **Billing** or while enrolling in a membership. |
| **Payment methods** | **Remove payment methods** | Remove saved payment methods from **Billing**. |
| **Payment methods** | **Set default payment method** | Mark a saved payment method as default and change the card used for a membership. |
| **Profile** | **Edit profile** | Update editable profile details from the portal. |
### What patients see when a permission is off
| Permission turned off | Patient portal behavior |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Book appointments** | **+ Book Appointment**, **Book Appointment**, and **+ Book another appointment** are hidden. Empty appointment areas tell the patient to contact the clinic to schedule. |
| **Cancel appointments** | **Cancel** and **Cancel Appointment** are hidden. If the patient cannot change an appointment online, they see a note to contact the clinic. |
| **Reschedule appointments** | **Reschedule** is hidden. If the patient cannot change an appointment online, they see a note to contact the clinic. |
| **View memberships** | **Memberships** is hidden from the portal sidebar. The Memberships page shows **Memberships are not available online** if opened directly. Membership widgets and links are hidden or become read-only. |
| **Purchase memberships** | Patients can view membership plans, but enrollment controls are replaced with a note to contact the clinic. |
| **Cancel memberships** | **Cancel Membership** is hidden. Enrolled patients see instructions to contact the clinic. |
| **Add payment methods** | **+ Add Card**, **Add Payment Method**, and **+ Add a new payment method** are hidden. If the add-card page is opened directly, it shows **Payment methods cannot be added online**. |
| **Remove payment methods** | The remove action is hidden from saved payment methods. |
| **Set default payment method** | **Set as default** and **Change Card** are hidden. Patients cannot switch the payment method for a membership online. |
| **Edit profile** | **Edit** links are hidden on **Profile**. If the edit page is opened directly, it shows **Profile updates are not available online**. **Update Profile** is also hidden from **Quick Actions**. |
Appointment cancellation and rescheduling still follow the portal timing rule. Patients cannot cancel or reschedule online when the appointment is within 24 hours, even when the matching permission is on.