Automation statuses
Every automation you build carries a status that tells you, at a glance, whether it is running, waiting, or finished. Use this reference to interpret the status shown in your automation list and to know what action (if any) each one calls for. Exact wording may vary slightly in your account — (confirm the exact labels in your account).
Reference
| Status | What it means | Subscribers still moving? | Typical next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draft | Being built; not yet activated. No subscribers have entered. | No | Finish the flow and activate it. |
| Scheduled | Activated and set to begin at a future date/time. | No (until start) | Wait, or edit the start time. |
| Active | Live and running. Subscribers enter and progress through the steps. | Yes | Monitor performance; no action needed. |
| Paused | Temporarily stopped by an Author. Subscribers mid-flow are held in place. | No (held) | Resume to continue, or edit while paused. |
| Stopping | Winding down after a stop request; finishing in-flight actions. | Draining | Wait for it to reach Stopped. |
| Stopped | Ended manually. No new entries; held subscribers do not continue. | No | Duplicate to reuse, or archive. |
| Error | A step failed (for example, a missing Edition or invalid condition). | No | Open the automation, fix the flagged step, reactivate. |
| Complete | Every enrolled subscriber has finished all steps and no more can enter. | No | Review reporting; archive if done. |
| Archived | Retired and hidden from the active list for record-keeping. | No | Restore if you need it again. |
Notes
- Pause vs. Stop: Pausing holds subscribers where they are so you can resume later. Stopping ends the run — held subscribers will not continue even if you reactivate.
- Editing while live: Some changes require pausing first. Structural edits to a running automation can affect subscribers already partway through.
- Complete is not always final: An automation with no fixed end can sit as Active indefinitely; it only reads Complete once no further entries are possible.
- Error states: Fix the underlying issue (often a referenced Edition that was moved or a Broadcast that was not sent) before reactivating.
- Status names and available actions can differ by account configuration — (confirm the exact steps in your account).
Related
Canonical terms: Author, Edition, Folder (Project Folder), Broadcast. See the Glossary.