# How to create a block in a chatbot to wait for a customer response

# How do I create a block in a chatbot to wait for a customer response?

This article explains how to **pause your chatbot until a customer answers**. Follow these steps to keep the assistant waiting at a specific step. This ensures your conversation moves forward only when a response arrives.

### In this article, you will learn how to

- **Add a Wait block** to your chatbot.
- Hold the conversation path effectively.
- Fix issues with stuck chat sessions.

## Before you start

Before creating a block in a chatbot to wait for a customer response make sure you have:
- An **existing chatbot** to **add a Wait block**.
- A next step or action that is to follow after the wait.

## How to create a block in a chatbot to wait for a customer response

1. Log in to your Flownally workspace.
2. Go to the **Chatbots** tab.

![](/help-center/04-chatbots/02-01-paused-chatbots-list.png)

3. Click an existing chatbot to edit it, or[create a new one](/chatbots/create-chatbot) to open the editor automatically.

![](/help-center/04-chatbots/07-chatbot-blocks/01-01-opened-paused-chatbot.png)

4. Click on **+** icon to add a new block.
5. Choose the **Wait for reply** block.

![](/help-center/04-chatbots/07-chatbot-blocks/04-01-select-wait-for-reply-block.png)

6. The block will stop the chatbot from working until the customer sends a message.

![](/help-center/04-chatbots/07-chatbot-blocks/04-02-wait-for-reply-block.png)

## What happens after creating a block in a chatbot to wait for a customer response?

After creating a block in a chatbot to wait for a customer response, the assistant pauses the conversation automatically when a customer reach this step. It monitors the chat session and resumes the workflow as soon as the user sends an answer.

## Troubleshooting

### Chatbot stays paused forever

This may be because you haven't added another block after the **Wait for reply** block. In this case, you need to add a block after the **Wait for reply block** in the chatbot editor.

### Chatbot remains paused forever, even if a block is added after it

The main reason may be the lack of customer response. An agent must manually take over the conversation in the inbox.

## Related articles

- [How to create a block in a chatbot to send messages](/chatbots/chatbot-blocks/send-message-block)
- [How to create a block in a chatbot to send interactive messages](/chatbots/chatbot-blocks/send-rich-message-block)
- [How to create a block in a chatbot to update tags](/chatbots/chatbot-blocks/update-tags-block)
- [How to create a block in a chatbot to detect customer's intent](/chatbots/chatbot-blocks/intent-detector-block)
- [How to create a block in a journey pause it](/journeys/journey-blocks/wait-block)