inactivity time in the Agent block
How can I use inactivity time in the Agent block?
I want the Agent to respond, capture the customer’s reply, and decide the best path to follow based on the descriptions of each one. However, I also want to set this inactivity time. How can I combine this with the Agent block?
1 Reply
You can’t attach a timer directly to the Agent step itself – the timeout (“ no-reply ”) logic lives in the steps that are waiting for the user to speak/type next, or in the global agent settings. Here’s the usual pattern:
1. Agent speaks
• Place an Agent step (or a Message/Text step if you prefer) – this sends the LLM reply to the user.
2. Wait for the user’s answer
• Immediately after, drop a Capture / Interaction step. This is the step that actually “listens”.
3. Add the inactivity rule
• Inside that Capture/Interaction step open the “Add No Reply Response” panel and set the timeout value (default 10 s – change it to whatever you need).
• Define the “No Reply” path (e.g. reprompt, end the flow, etc.). 4. Route the normal reply • Still inside the Capture step add conditions/intents so the user’s answer can branch to the right part of the flow. What happens in runtime • If the user answers before the timer expires, the Capture step routes them down the matching path. • If the timer expires first, Voiceflow fires the no-reply trace and your flow follows the “No Reply” path you configured. Global option (voice-only) If you want the same timeout everywhere, go to Agent Settings → Behaviour → Voice → No Reply and set the global delay. This will fire at any point in the conversation when no input is detected, but it’s meant for voice agents – in chat experiences users often go idle for long periods. Doc link: https://docs.voiceflow.com
• Define the “No Reply” path (e.g. reprompt, end the flow, etc.). 4. Route the normal reply • Still inside the Capture step add conditions/intents so the user’s answer can branch to the right part of the flow. What happens in runtime • If the user answers before the timer expires, the Capture step routes them down the matching path. • If the timer expires first, Voiceflow fires the no-reply trace and your flow follows the “No Reply” path you configured. Global option (voice-only) If you want the same timeout everywhere, go to Agent Settings → Behaviour → Voice → No Reply and set the global delay. This will fire at any point in the conversation when no input is detected, but it’s meant for voice agents – in chat experiences users often go idle for long periods. Doc link: https://docs.voiceflow.com