---
title: "Review automation status and activation"
description: "Understand Interlinked automation statuses, activation checks, pause and archive actions, and the permissions needed to manage a rule."
section: "Automations and campaigns"
url: https://interlinked-ai.com/en/resources/docs/automation-status-and-activation
lang: en
lastUpdated: 2026-08-13
reviewedAt: 2026-08-13
---

# Review automation status and activation

## Understand the statuses

The Automations table shows the rule name, status, channel, last run, and available actions.

| Status | What you can expect |
| --- | --- |
| **Draft** | The rule is saved but does not run. You can edit it and dry-test it. |
| **Active** | The rule can respond when its event and safety conditions match. |
| **Paused** | The rule is stopped temporarily. Its settings and history remain available. |
| **Needs attention** | A requirement failed or changed. Review the readiness message before trying again. |
| **Archived** | The rule is stopped and kept as historical record. |

## Who can do what

The panel uses workspace roles for automation control:

- A read-only user can review automations and broadcasts.
- A workspace member can create and edit drafts, run dry tests, and pause an active rule for safety.
- An owner or administrator controls activation and archiving.

If an action is not available, the panel’s access message is the current explanation. Do not copy a rule or change workspace ownership just to bypass a missing control.

## Activate a draft

Before activation, open the rule and review:

1. the selected agent and connected channel;
2. the trigger timing, keywords, or event scope;
3. the customer-facing response;
4. the safety limits; and
5. the **Activation readiness** message.

Select **Save and activate** when you are ready. The server performs a final readiness check. Common blockers include:

- the agent is not published or not enabled;
- the agent is not customer-facing;
- the channel is not assigned, active, or connected;
- required channel permissions or comment subscriptions are missing;
- an approved WhatsApp template is missing, unavailable, or the wrong category; or
- the automation has already been archived.

The wizard lists the exact fix. A message such as **Save as a draft to finish these requirements** means the rule can be stored for later but is not ready to activate.

## Pause or archive

Use **Pause** for a temporary stop. Pausing preserves the rule so you can activate it again after the situation is understood.

Use **Archive** when the rule should no longer run and you want to keep its historical executions visible. The confirmation explains that historical executions remain available. Archived rules cannot run again unless you create a new rule according to the options currently offered by the panel.

If an active rule must be changed, the panel may require you to pause it first. This protects the live behavior while you change its agent, channel, trigger, action, or safety settings.

## Resolve Needs attention

Open the rule and read the readiness message instead of guessing. Reconnect the channel, assign the correct agent, update the approved template, or adjust the rule to the supported trigger. Run a dry test after the correction, then activate again.

Automations are focused customer follow-ups. Keep the agent’s normal workflow and the automation’s action aligned, and use [manual control](/en/resources/docs/switch-between-ai-and-manual-control) when a teammate takes over a conversation.