> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://filla.io/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Wait (delay) action

> Pause an automation for a set duration before running the next action.

## What the Wait action does

The Wait action pauses the automation for a specified amount of time before continuing to the next action. Actions after the Wait do not run until the delay period has elapsed.

## Configuring a Wait action

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add a Wait action">
    In the Automations tab, add an action and select **Wait**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the delay">
    Choose the duration in minutes, hours, or days.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How it fits in the automation flow

Automations run their actions sequentially. When the automation reaches a Wait action, it pauses for the configured duration and then continues with the next action in the list.

For example, an automation with this sequence:

1. Update Submitted Record (set Status to "Pending")
2. **Wait** 24 hours
3. Update Submitted Record (set Status to "Follow up needed")

The first update runs immediately on submission. Twenty-four hours later, the second update runs automatically.

## Use cases

* **Delayed follow-up emails**: Wait a day after submission, then trigger a webhook that sends a follow-up message.
* **Staged status updates**: Set an initial status on submit, then change it after a waiting period.
* **Cooling-off periods**: Wait before running an action to give the respondent time to update their submission.

## Combining Wait with conditional actions

You can place a Wait action inside an [If / Else](/docs/automations/conditional-actions) branch. The delay only applies to that branch's action sequence.

<Info>
  The Wait action pauses only the current automation's sequential execution. Other automations on the same form continue to run in parallel without waiting.
</Info>