> ## Knowledge Base Index > Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.crisp.chat/sitemap.xml > Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further. > Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash). # Getting started with the Auto-Responder plugin *Learn how to use the Auto-Responder plugin to reply automatically when specific message conditions match.* The Auto-Responder plugin lets you build response flows for recurring messages, offline situations, and internal handoffs. It works with Intents, which define the conditions to match and the automated actions to execute. | The Auto-Responder plugin is available on the Crisp Essentials and Plus plans. To configure it, open [Crisp](https://app.crisp.chat), then go to **Plugins → Auto-Responder**. || We strongly recommend using [Hugo](/en/article/getting-started-with-hugo-ai-agent-w6gbux/) & [Workflows](/en/article/getting-started-with-workflows-hrmysb/) instead of the Auto-Responder, which are more modern and powerful ways to setup automations. --- # ${color}[#0080dd](Watch the video tutorial) ${youtube}[Video tutorial on Auto-Responder](2ckFuDGCpwc) --- # ${color}[#0080dd](What the Auto-Responder does) [Auto-Responder](https://crisp.chat/en/shared-inbox/autoresponder/) helps your team save time by automatically responding to specific kinds of customer messages. __Common use cases include:__ * **Offline replies** → send a placeholder response when your team is unavailable * **Frequent questions** → answer repeated questions without making operators rewrite the same response * **Team handoffs** → mention a specific team or operator when a message matches their area of responsibility * **Named requests** → notify an operator when a customer asks for them directly --- # ${color}[#0080dd](How Intents work) An **Intent** contains the conditions that must match and the response flow that should run when those conditions are met. If several conditions are configured inside the same Intent, all of them must match for the response flow to start. #### ${color}[#445055](Intent conditions) __Available Intent conditions:__ * **Message pattern** → the user message matches at least one configured pattern; matching is case-insensitive * **Message origins** → the message comes from a specific origin, such as chat, email, or Messenger * **If operators offline since** → all operators have been offline for a defined number of minutes, up to 2 days * **If operators did not read** → no operator read the message within the expected delay ![Intent action configured with a message pattern](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/87ae2703583ac800/cleanshot-2024-10-28-at-095345_74h4ap.png =1000xauto) #### ${color}[#445055](Response flow items) __Available response flow items:__ * **Send Message** → sends a text message from the Auto-Responder identity * **Send Compose** → shows a typing event for a defined number of seconds * **Mention** → mentions an operator through an internal private note * **Note** → adds a private note that is only visible to your team * **Wait** → pauses the flow for a defined number of seconds If multiple response items are configured, they run one after another in the order you define. ![Intent response flow in the Auto-Responder plugin](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/87ae2703583ac800/cleanshot-2024-10-28-at-095401_eq77w6.png =1000xauto) --- # ${color}[#0080dd](Combine Intent conditions) Intent conditions can be combined to keep automated replies precise. __Examples of useful combinations:__ * **Message pattern** → reply when a customer says something like `I have a bug` * **Message pattern + message origin** → reply only when a matching message comes from email * **Operators offline since** → send a response after your team has been offline for a defined duration | If multiple Intent conditions are set, all of them must match before the response flow runs. --- # ${color}[#0080dd](Write message patterns) Message patterns are used to match parts of user messages. A simple pattern such as `question` can match a message like `Hi! I have a question.`. You can use `*` as a wildcard to fuzzy-match parts of messages. || Some languages, such as Chinese or Thai, do not separate words with spaces. In those cases, use the double wildcard `**`, which is not space-aware. #### ${color}[#445055](Matching examples) __These messages match their patterns:__ * **`Hello, I need help.`** → matches `*help*` * **`Hi! I have a question.`** → matches `hi*question` * **`My MacBook is broken. Is there some warranty?`** → matches `macbook is broken.*warranty` #### ${color}[#445055](Non-matching examples) __These messages do not match their patterns:__ * **`Okay that sounds good.`** → does not match `help*me` * **`Can I speak to Baptiste?`** → does not match `can*speak*to*valerian` --- # ${color}[#0080dd](Pause an Intent) You can pause an Intent by disabling it from its sidebar settings. This keeps the configuration saved, so you can re-enable it later without rebuilding the Intent. --- # ${color}[#0080dd](Troubleshoot Intents) If an Intent does not run as expected, test it in a clean session and review how the conditions are ordered. __Common reasons an Intent does not run:__ * **Recent changes** → configuration changes can take a few seconds to apply; wait up to 30 seconds before testing again * **Cooldown** → each Intent can fire only once every 30 minutes for each user session * **Multiple matches** → if several Intents match the same message, only the first matching Intent runs | Use an incognito browser session when testing, so Crisp treats you as a new visitor. --- # ${color}[#0080dd](Build a Facebook Messenger Auto-Responder) ${youtube}[How to build a Facebook Autoresponder](Reer_WKlJnA)