# Delay

Using the delay action block, the chatbot will intensionally show a typing indicator for the specified duration before proceeding to the next step in the chatbot flow.

You can add delays from **1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s**.

{% embed url="<https://www.loom.com/share/be6dbbdfd8614478b12b9d4363eb58b1?sid=c91aa28c-d04d-4843-ae7c-bd3188065f5b>" %}
Setting up 'Delay' action block
{% endembed %}

Alternatively, if you want to generally add delays to all your chatbot messages you can goto Channel configuration -> Web -> General settings.&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://360969599-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FsrMxU8nO3RjusUiYuXBB%2Fuploads%2FaQjAn6MZgYpOFYgWjln1%2FCleanShot%202024-06-07%20at%2012.47.56.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7be220d0-ed3a-4774-8506-c7e67dc59539" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Delay (in outbound bots)

Adds an intentional delay period for which the contacts do not proceed forward in the execution flow.

You can add the following type of delay:

* **Relative** - for a relative time period i.e. 4 hours, 5 days etc.
* **Fixed** - exact date/time i.e. 21 Jun 2024 10 am America/New York

<figure><img src="https://360969599-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FsrMxU8nO3RjusUiYuXBB%2Fuploads%2F1lTQuCCaStPXvBwvIEBz%2FCleanShot%202024-06-20%20at%2019.46.28.png?alt=media&#x26;token=9d291659-6086-4d36-8a6d-dc20e0d7d77a" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

You can see the number of contacts in the wait queue until the contacts are delayed.

{% hint style="info" %}
Deleting the 'Delay' action block will allow the waiting contacts to proceed immediately to the next step of the flow.
{% endhint %}