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

# Operating Hours

> Control when outbound messages go out, how off-hours sends are scheduled, and how daily and hourly limits protect deliverability.

Operating hours control when outbound SMS and automated outreach are actually sent. Messages
composed outside these hours are automatically held and scheduled for the next open window, so
agents never get texts at odd hours.

<Note>
  **Related settings:** Operating Hours and Limits live under
  [Advanced Settings > Communication](/settings/advanced-settings/communication).
</Note>

## Where to find it

Go to [Advanced Settings > Communication > Operating Hours](/settings/advanced-settings/communication).
You'll see the weekly schedule (Monday-Sunday) with each day's window or **Closed**, plus your
organization's timezone. The schedule is read-only and managed at the platform level; your
timezone can be changed under
[Advanced Settings > Organization](/settings/advanced-settings/organization).

## How sending works

* Outreach sent during operating hours goes out immediately.
* Outside hours, the SMS send button becomes **Queue Send**, which schedules the text for the
  next open window in one click.
* If you want a specific time instead, the **Schedule send** dialog lets you pick **Today** or
  **Next business day** and a time within the allowed window, in 15-minute increments. The
  dialog shows your organization's timezone and current time so there is no guesswork.
* Bulk SMS sent outside hours is automatically scheduled into the next window and staggered
  about 5 minutes apart per message.
* Active conversations are exempt - if the agent has already engaged, you can reply right away
  at any hour.

Scheduled texts appear in the thread with their planned send time and can be canceled before
they go out. Conversations with a pending text show under the **Scheduled SMS** status filter
in [Messages](/features/messages).

## Daily and hourly limits

Alongside hours, your organization has sending limits, shown read-only under
[Advanced Settings > Communication > Limits](/settings/advanced-settings/communication):

| Limit                 | What it counts                                                                      |
| --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Daily SMS limit**   | New conversations started by outbound SMS per day                                   |
| **Hourly SMS limit**  | New conversations started by outbound SMS per hour                                  |
| **Cooldown duration** | Wait time before repeated follow-up texts to the same agent about the same property |

* Limits count new conversations started, not every individual message - replying inside
  existing threads is not throttled by them.
* If you hit the hourly limit, the SMS is scheduled for the next hour automatically and you are
  told the exact time.
* The cooldown kicks in after two outbound texts with no reply: further texts to that agent
  about that property wait until the agent replies or the cooldown passes. Emails, calls, and
  manual logs do not trigger the SMS cooldown.

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I edit the hours myself?">
    No - the schedule is read-only and managed at the platform level to protect deliverability.
    You can change your organization's timezone in
    [Advanced Settings > Organization](/settings/advanced-settings/organization), which shifts
    the window to your local time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is the difference between Queue Send and Schedule?">
    **Queue Send** schedules the text for the next allowed window with one click. The
    **Schedule send** dialog lets you choose the exact day and time yourself, limited to times
    inside the operating window.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why did my message send immediately even though it is after hours?">
    The conversation is active - the agent has already engaged, so replies are allowed at any
    time. Only initial outreach is held for the window.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why was my SMS scheduled for the next hour during business hours?">
    You reached your hourly new-conversation limit. ProPilot scheduled the text into the next
    hour automatically rather than dropping it.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do operating hours affect sequences?">
    Yes - automated outreach from [Sequences](/features/sequences) respects the same windows and
    limits as manual sends.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>