How to activate an automation

Last updated: August 26, 2025

Overview

New automations and automation nodes are inactive by default.

Read on to learn how to activate your automation nodes and automation.



Activate message nodes

Inactive message (email or SMS) nodes will be skipped in activated automations.

Note: Activating message nodes only affects contacts who enter the automation after activation. Contacts already in the automation will continue with the node status that was active when they entered.

To activate email nodes:

  1. Click the message node

  2. Click Activate

Activate an automation

Inactive automations will not let new contacts trigger the automation. To prevent new contacts from triggering an automation while allowing existing contacts to finish flowing through the automation, pause your automation.

Important: Activation changes are not retroactive. Only contacts who enter the automation after it's activated will be processed. Contacts already in the automation will continue based on the settings that were active when they entered.

To activate the automation:

  1. In the upper right corner, click the toggle to set it to Active

  2. Click Activate