> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cura.so/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Setting an AI schedule (business hours)

> An AI schedule lets your AI reply only during the hours you choose.

An **AI schedule** lets your AI reply only during the hours you choose. Outside those hours, it stops automatically — so customers don't get AI replies at 3 a.m. unless you want them to, and your team picks up the rest.

By the end of this guide, your AI will work the hours you set, on the days you choose, in your timezone.

## Before you begin

* You'll need **Admin** or **Manager** access.
* An AI schedule is set **per inbox** (per connected channel), so decide which inbox you're scheduling.
* Make sure the [Master AI switch](/ai-agent/master-ai-switch) is on for that inbox — the schedule controls *when* the AI replies, but only while the AI is enabled.

***

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the inbox's AI settings">
    * Go to the inbox you want to schedule and open its **AI** settings.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/cura-2d9288ab/pPBYeI1qPGlrN2Ia/images/ai-agent/ai-schedule.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=pPBYeI1qPGlrN2Ia&q=85&s=65b8ad53c2edf498e500aaf688de1c72" alt="The AI schedule for a channel — set when Cura's AI is active" width="2880" height="1560" data-path="images/ai-agent/ai-schedule.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Turn the schedule on">
    * **Enable the schedule.** With it off, the AI follows the Master AI switch alone and replies at any hour.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose your days and hours">
    * **Days:** pick the days the AI should be active, e.g. Monday to Friday.
    * **Start time and end time:** set the daily window, e.g. **09:00** to **17:00**.
    * **Timezone:** choose your local timezone, e.g. **Asia/Bangkok**, so the schedule matches your real opening hours.

    <Check>Your AI now replies only during the hours you set on this inbox.</Check>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Decide what happens after hours">
    Outside the scheduled window, the AI won't reply. Plan for that:

    * Make sure a team member checks the inbox, or
    * Set up an after-hours Saved reply so customers know when you'll respond.

    <Tip>
      Match the schedule to your actual front-desk hours. If your team is around to catch overflow during the day, you might run the AI a little wider to cover your busiest messaging times.
    </Tip>

    <Note>
      The schedule is set per inbox, so each channel can have its own hours. A walk-in-heavy LINE channel and a quieter Instagram channel can run different schedules.
    </Note>
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Troubleshooting

* **The AI replies outside my hours.** Confirm the schedule is **enabled** and that the timezone is correct — a wrong timezone shifts the whole window.
* **The AI never replies, even during hours.** Check the [Master AI switch](/ai-agent/master-ai-switch) is on for the inbox; the schedule can't enable an AI that's switched off.

***

### Related articles

* [The Master AI switch and per-conversation control](/ai-agent/master-ai-switch)
* [How your AI agent works](/ai-agent/how-your-ai-agent-works)
* [Escalation: when the AI hands off to a human](/ai-agent/escalation-handoff)