⚡ In short
- Go to Settings → Opening hours, switch on Use opening hours and pick your time zone.
- Set the hours for each day, or mark a day as Closed.
- Outside these hours the chat shows you as away and asks visitors for their email or phone number.
- The AI Agent keeps answering at any hour.
Opening hours tell visitors when a person can reply. Without them, the chat shows you as available whenever someone on your team is logged in, which can leave late-night visitors waiting for a reply that never comes. With hours set, they see an honest away message and can leave their details instead.
Before you start
You need a LiveChatBot account and the chat on your website. If it isn’t there yet, follow the install guide first. Only account owners can change these settings.
Step 1: Open the hours settings
In your dashboard, open Settings in the top bar. In the left menu under Chat bubble, choose Opening hours. Each website has its own hours, so first check the website switcher at the top right shows the right one.
Step 2: Turn on opening hours and pick a time zone
Switch on Use opening hours. Then choose your Time zone, for example Asia/Kolkata for India. The hours are always read in this time zone, so a visitor in London sees you as away when it is night in India.
Step 3: Set each day
For every day of the week, set when your team starts and stops. Tick Closed for days nobody works, such as Sunday. Press Save.
| Day | Example |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 10:00 to 19:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 to 14:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
What visitors see after hours
Outside your hours the chat bubble still shows, but the chat says your team is away. When a visitor writes, they get your away message and a small form for their email or phone number. Their message lands in your inbox, and if they leave details it is also saved as a help desk ticket so nobody is forgotten. You can change the away message under AI Agent → Pass to a person.
Keep answering at night with the AI Agent
Opening hours only apply to people. If the AI Agent is switched on, it answers repeat questions such as prices, delivery and timings at any hour, and passes the rest to your team for the morning.
Tips
- Match the hours to when someone really watches the inbox, not your office timings.
- Install the Android app so whoever is on duty hears new chats.
- Turn on Email me about chats while nobody is online under Settings → Notifications.
FAQ
Does the chat disappear after hours?
No. The bubble stays, but visitors see that you are away and can leave their email or phone number.
Can each website have different hours?
Yes. Opening hours are saved per website. Switch website at the top right and set them again.
What if someone on my team is online outside the hours?
The chat still shows you as away outside your hours. Widen the hours if you want to take chats then.
Does the AI Agent follow the opening hours?
No. It answers whenever it is switched on, day or night.