# Placeholder values keep an imported app running

By Steven Van · 2026-09-07

Base44 fills missing startup variables on imported apps with encrypted placeholders you can later replace with real keys.

When an app imported into [Base44](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/tools/base44>) is missing a variable it needs to start, Base44 now [generates an encrypted placeholder](<https://docs.base44.com/changelog/product#september-7-2026>) so the app boots anyway. The placeholders sit in their own collapsed section with a Replace value action, ready for the real key to be dropped in once it's available.

[![](<https://docs.base44.com/images/base44-docs-og.png>)](<https://docs.base44.com/changelog/product#september-7-2026>)

![Base44](<https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=base44.com&sz=128>)

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Sources

[Original source](<https://docs.base44.com/changelog/product#september-7-2026>)

[Read Placeholder values keep an imported app running on Creators Toolbox](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/blog/base44-placeholder-values-keep-an-imported-app-running>)

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Canonical source: https://creatorstoolbox.com/blog/base44-placeholder-values-keep-an-imported-app-running