When the classification index is inactive, the Start Review button won’t appear.

Outline to guide the read:

• Quick hook: why that Start Review button can disappear in Relativity

• What the Start Review button does in simple terms

• The main culprit: Classification Index being inactive

• Why the other options aren’t the root cause

• How to diagnose and fix the issue with practical steps

• Quick takeaways and related topics that matter in everyday workflow

• Friendly wrap-up with a practical mindset for reviewers

Relativity and the Start Review button: what’s really going on

If you’ve spent any time with Relativity, you know the software is built to keep review workflows smooth and orderly. A reviewer needs a visible Start Review button to kick off the evaluation of documents. It’s not just a convenience; it’s part of a controlled process that ensures the right people handle the right data at the right time. When that button doesn’t show up, it isn’t simply annoying—it signals something in the configuration is off.

Here’s the thing about the Start Review button: its visibility is tied to how the project’s indexing and classification systems are set up. Think of it as traffic rules for data. If the road isn’t properly designated, cars just don’t move. In practice, that means real functionality can hinge on a single setting being active or inactive.

The single root cause that can hide the Start Review button

From a practical standpoint, the most direct reason the Start Review button might not appear is this: the Classification Index is Inactive. If the system isn’t recognizing or using the classification framework that guides what gets reviewed and how, the option to start a review isn’t presented to the reviewer. In plain language: when the classification index isn’t operating, Relativity doesn’t expose the Start Review action because the workflow it supports relies on that index being active.

This is a case where a single configuration knob governs a chunk of the user experience. It highlights a broader truth in project management systems: the visibility of key actions often travels with the health of core components. If the classification layer is asleep, the UI behaves as if it’s missing a block on the workflow.

Why the other options don’t inherently cause the button to vanish

• B. Start Review is unselected on the Project Home Tab

This setting matters for how the workflow is laid out in the user interface. If the option is unchecked, you might not be guided to start a review, and you could lose momentum or see a different default path. But on its own, unselecting Start Review on the Project Home Tab doesn’t automatically hide the button. The button can still be visible if the underlying workflow is allowed to proceed and the classification index is active.

• C. Reviewer does not have proper permissions

Permissions are about what you can do, not necessarily what you can see. In some configurations, a user without certain permissions might see a disabled button or be blocked from starting a review after clicking it. In others, the button could still appear but would warn you that you lack the rights to proceed. So, permissions can gate actions, but they don’t automatically erase the Start Review button from the screen in every setup.

• D. Conceptual Index is Active

Having a Conceptual Index active is a good thing—it supports another facet of the workflow by enabling content to be classified in a different way. It does not inherently prevent the Start Review button from appearing. In fact, enabling multiple indexing mechanisms often helps keep workflows flexible. If the Classification Index is the one that governs the Start Review step, keeping a Conceptual Index active is typically complementary, not obstructive.

In short: the other options influence how you work or what happens after you start, but they don’t alone cause the Start Review button to disappear the way an inactive Classification Index does.

How to verify and fix this in practice (a simple, reliable checklist)

• Check the Classification Index status

• Look for a quick status indicator in the project administration or indexing dashboard.

• If it’s inactive, you’ll want to restart or reconfigure it so it’s actively managing classification rules.

• Confirm data and classification mappings

• Ensure the classifications you expect to drive the review workflow are defined and mapped to the documents in scope.

• If classifications are missing or misconfigured, the system may suppress the Start Review action to prevent proceeding with unclear routing.

• Validate the Project Home Tab settings

• Make sure the Start Review option isn’t accidentally unchecked in the tab configuration.

• If it’s unchecked, re-check it and test whether the button reappears after enabling the index.

• Review user permissions with care

• Confirm the reviewer’s role includes the necessary permissions for starting a review.

• If the button remains visible but disabled, that’s a signal permissions or policy gating is at play—address that with your admin team.

• Test with a small sandbox sample

• Use a limited dataset to walk through the workflow once you’ve adjusted the index and tab settings.

• A quick trial run helps catch any other missing pieces (like additional classifications or routing rules) that might block progress.

A bit of context that helps the whole picture

Indexing is more than a tech term; it’s the backbone of how Relativity knows what to do with the content it stores. Classification indices, conceptual indices, and other indexing layers work together to categorize data, route it to the right reviewers, and drive the user interface that guides day-to-day tasks. When one layer isn’t doing its job, the impact can show up as a missing button, a stalled workflow, or confusing prompts that lead you in circles.

If you’ve ever had a mismatch between what you expect to see and what the system shows, you’re not alone. The same thing happens in many workflows across different platforms: an index goes quiet, a workflow rule fails to fire, and suddenly a simple button seems to vanish. The good news is that, with a methodical check, you can identify where the snag is and bring the flow back to life.

Relativity-savvy tips you can apply in real projects

• Keep clear governance around indexing

• Document which indexes are active, what they control, and who has the authority to flip them on or off.

• Regular audits help prevent delightfully confusing surprises when reviewers log in.

• Align classifications with business questions

• Classifications should reflect how your team wants documents to be treated during the review. When classifications are well-aligned, action buttons and routes feel natural and predictable.

• Build a lightweight change-notice habit

• When you adjust an index or a tab setting, note what happened and why. It saves headaches later and helps teammates understand changes without chasing in circles.

• Train with speed, not fluff

• Short, practical run-throughs for reviewers on how the indexing pieces affect what they see can dramatically reduce friction. It’s not about memorizing a script; it’s about understanding the workflow you’re stepping into.

A few tangents that feel relevant (yet stay on point)

Let’s wander a moment into the broader world of document review workflows. Many teams gravitate toward a fixed sequence: classify, route, review, approve. But the real power comes from flexibility—being able to adapt when a classification map needs adjustment, or when a new type of document should follow a different review path. That’s where the Project Management Specialist role shines: you’re not just keeping things running; you’re shaping how information flows.

When the system behaves well, you’ll notice a quiet confidence in your daily work. The Start Review button appears when you expect it, the routing feels intuitive, and the taxonomy makes sense across teams. When it doesn’t, a calm, structured check—start with the Classification Index—often reveals the cause and a straightforward path to fix it.

Bringing it together: what this means for everyday use

If you’re helping a team navigate the Relativity environment, remember this: the Start Review button is a signal. It tells you whether the foundation—particularly the Classification Index—is in good standing. Other settings and permissions matter, but they usually influence what happens after you start, not whether the button exists in the first place.

Keeping a steady eye on indexing health and configuration will pay off in smoother reviews, faster onboarding for new reviewers, and fewer moments of uncertainty when someone asks, “Why isn’t the Start Review button showing up for this user?”

Final thoughts

In the end, the core lesson is simple enough: ensure the Classification Index is active to keep the Start Review button visible for reviewers. Treat the other options as optional guards or enhancers that shape how the workflow plays out, rather than as the sole reason a button might disappear. With that mindset, you’ll build resilient processes that stay reliable even as the data and teams evolve.

If you’re curious about how indexing principles translate into real-world workflows, a few quick experiments on a copy of your project can be incredibly revealing. Try toggling the Classification Index, observe the button’s behavior, and map out how each change shifts the reviewer’s path. It’s a small exercise, but it often yields big clarity—the kind that makes everyday project work feel a whole lot smoother.