# Set up session timeout events

{% hint style="info" %}
Supported on **WhatsApp** and **SMS**.
{% endhint %}

The **Session Timeout Event** sends a courtesy notification to end-users when their session is about to expire. 

The default **channel session length** is 10 minutes. This means the session will automatically end if there's no activity (i.e., no inbound messages from the end-user) within this timeframe. Whenever the end-user sends a message, the session timer resets and the countdown starts again.

You can configure the system to send a final “goodbye” message to the end-user at a specified time before the session expires, keeping them informed and engaged.

## Set up session timeout events

{% hint style="info" %}
Session Timeout Event configuration functions independently in the **Sandbox** and **Production** environments. This allows the flow-builder to activate the feature in Sandbox for testing proposes while it's deactivated in Production, or vice versa.   
{% endhint %}

1. Under *Configuration* on the left, select *Settings*.  
2. Select *Timeout Event.*
3. Use the toggle to enable/disable the timeout event. 
   * When enabled, the timeout event flow is triggered at the desired time (e.g., 70 seconds before session expiration). 
   * When disabled, no message will be sent before session expiration.
4. Select the duration from the drop-down.
   * This is how long before the channel session expires you want to trigger the timeout event flow.
5. Click *Open Flow* to open and customize the pre-built placeholder timeout.
   * This flow triggers automatically when the timeout duration (as set above) is reached.

<figure><img src="/files/g5046zgDyWHuzF509qHx" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://guides.clickatell.com/flow/configuration/set-up-session-timeout-events.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.