> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ownchat.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ownchat.app/settings/general/inbox-settings/auto-close.md).

# Auto Close

Learn about Ownchat's Auto Close feature, which automatically closes inactive chats after a set duration, alerts customers, and notify Ownchat users to ensure chat management efficiently .

The Auto Close option is a valuable feature to customer chats are appropriately managed and bots can be triggered even if a team member forgets to close the chat manually.

**Auto Close Feature:**

* **Purpose:** Automatically closes chats that remain open beyond a specified period to enable bot engagement.
* **Configuration:** Set the closing hours for auto close duration (e.g., 12 hours) after which an inactive chat will be automatically closed.

**Monitoring Inactivity:**

* **Inactivity Period:** The system monitors the chat from the last customer message received.
* **Automatic Closure:** If the chat remains inactive for the set duration (e.g., 12 hours), it will be automatically closed. Once the chat is closed, the bot can be triggered to re-engage the customer.mm

**Customer Alert:**

* **Alert Message:** If the customer does not interact with Ownchat users, a message is sent to the customer stating, "Your conversation chat will be closed in 1 hour."
* **Alert Time Setting:** This alert message and the time (e.g., 1 hour before closure) can be configured in the "Alert Customer Before" setting.

**User Notification:**

* **Push Notification:** If a user has not responded to customer queries, a push notification is sent to the user, admin, and owner before the chat is auto-closed.
* **Notification Message and Time:** These notifications and the time before closure can be configured in the settings.

**Final Alert and Auto Close:**

* **System Alert:** If neither the user nor the admin interacts with the chat, the system sends a final alert or notification. The system will automatically closes the chat, allowing the bot to take over.

**Implementation Steps in Ownchat:**

1. **Navigate to Settings:** Go to the **inbox settings** in Ownchat.
2. **Enable Auto Close:** **Turn on** the **auto-close** feature.
3. **Set Duration:** Define the **auto-close duration** (e.g., 12 hours).
4. **Configure Alerts:** Set the "**Alert Customer Before**" time and "**Alert User Before**" time.
5. **Set Notifications to Ownchat Users:** Configure the notification message for users, admin, and owner.
6. **Set Message for Customer**: The customer alert message is an essential feature that informs customers about the impending closure of their chat. **Click on** the update customer alert message, provide the text message in bot like "Your chat will be closed in 1 hour. Please solve the query quickly".  
7. **Save Settings:** After fill in all the details, **Save** the configuration to activate the auto-close feature.

By implementing the Auto Close option, Ownchat ensures that customer chats are managed efficiently, providing a seamless experience by engaging bots when necessary and keeping customers informed about chat status.