## What it's for

You don't have to let the AI answer all the time. You can decide **when** it takes over, according to your hours. The AI knows the time and whether your inbox is open or closed. This setting is in the agent's **Settings** tab, under **Availability (scheduling)**.

## Prerequisite: set up your business hours

For scheduling to work, the agent must know your hours. You define them on the inbox.

1. Go to **Settings → Inboxes**.
2. Select the relevant inbox.
3. Open **Business hours** and fill in your open time slots.
4. Save.

## The 3 availability modes

### Always active (24/7)

The AI answers at all times, day and night, weekends included.

### Only outside business hours

The AI covers **evenings and weekends**, when your team is not around. During your business hours, it lets your human agents answer. Ideal to never leave a customer without a reply while keeping humans in charge during the day.

### Only during business hours

The AI answers only when you are open. Outside those hours, it steps back.

## How to choose the mode

1. Open your agent in **AI Agents**.
2. Go to the **Settings** tab.
3. Under **Availability (scheduling)**, choose the mode you want.
4. Save.

> 💡 **Tip** — Combine availability with a guardrail. For example, in "outside business hours" mode, add a guardrail: "Outside hours, only say that we are closed and give our opening hours." Your customers are reassured without the AI committing on your behalf.