> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.laposta.org/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.laposta.org/_mcp/server.

# Activating or pausing an automation

> Read how to turn on or pause an automation, how to activate changes and what the red, orange and green dots mean.

An automation does not start running on its own: you need to turn it on yourself. Any changes you make to a running automation also need to be activated separately. You can see the status from the dot in front of the name, at the top left of the editor:

| Dot    | Meaning                                                                |
| ------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Red    | The automation is not yet active                                       |
| Orange | The automation is paused and there are changes that are not yet active |
| Green  | The automation is active                                               |

## Activating an automation

Once you have finished setting up a new automation, go to the overview of automations and click ‘Activate’ next to that automation. If the automation is complete, the dot turns green and the automation is active.

If not everything is ready yet, you will receive a message. Click ‘Edit’ to see which blocks still need attention.

## Activating changes in a running automation

As soon as you change something in a running automation, the automation is paused automatically. The dot in front of the name then turns orange.

Once you have finished making your changes, you need to activate the automation again. To do so, click ‘Activate changes’ in the overview. If there are still errors in the automation, you will receive a message.

## Pausing an automation

Click ‘Pause’ in the overview to stop a running automation completely.

> **Note**
>
> This is different from the [Pause](/pauzeren) action. That makes a single subscriber wait for a specified time within the flow, while the automation itself continues to run.

## Related articles

#### [Creating your first automation](/hoe-maak-ik-een-automation)

Create an automation in the editor, choose a trigger and the actions, and activate your…

#### [Pausing an automation for a fixed time](/pauzeren)

With the Pause block, you can configure how many minutes, hours, days or weeks your…

#### [Why is your automation not working as expected?](/veelgestelde-vragen-over-automations)

Causes and solutions if your automation does not start, gives an error or does not…

#### [Making an automation wait for a condition](/wacht-tot)

Only let your automation proceed to the next step once a subscriber meets your condition.