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HomeHelp & DocsAutomations › The Pause block: delay a workflow step
Automations

The Pause block: delay a workflow step

The Pause block introduces a time delay between two steps in an automation. Use it to send a follow-up message 24 hours after the first, wait 3 days before a re-engagement message, or space out a drip campaign over weeks.

Add a Pause block to your workflow

1
Open your automation in the Automation Builder.
2
Click the + between two blocks where you want to add the delay.
3
From the block menu, select Automation Apps → Pause.
4
Set the delay duration: minutes, hours, or days.
5
Click Save. The block appears in your flow as a clock icon.
How it works

When the workflow reaches the Pause block, it waits for exactly the duration you set before running the next step. The automation is held in memory during the pause — no action is needed from you or the customer.

Common use cases

Pause vs Smart Wait (in Bot Builder)

The Pause block is for fixed time delays — it always waits exactly the duration you set, regardless of what the customer does.

The Smart Wait block (in the Bot Builder) waits for a customer reply or a specific event before continuing. Use Smart Wait when you need to wait for a response; use Pause when you just need a time gap.

Maximum pause duration

The Pause block supports delays up to 30 days. For longer campaigns, chain multiple Pause blocks, or use the Datastore to save state and trigger a new automation.

Editing a running automation

Warning: paused contacts

If you edit or delete a Pause block in an active automation, contacts that are currently waiting in that pause may be affected. Test changes in a duplicate automation before modifying a live one.

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