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

# After-Hours Settings

> Control what happens when customers call outside your business hours.

## What After-Hours Mode Does

When a call comes in outside your business hours, your AI receptionist can behave differently from daytime calls. You can set a custom message, forward to a personal number, or let the AI handle it normally.

## Setting Your Business Hours

After-hours mode uses the business hours from your **My Business** page. Make sure your hours are correct:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to My Business">
    Click **My Business** in the left sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set your hours">
    Enter your opening and closing times for each day of the week. Mark days you are closed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save**. Your AI now knows when you are open and closed.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  If you have not set business hours, after-hours mode will not activate. The AI will treat every call the same regardless of time.
</Info>

## Enabling After-Hours Mode

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Receptionist Settings">
    Click **Receptionist Settings** in the left sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find After Hours">
    Scroll to the **After Hours** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Toggle it on">
    Switch the after-hours toggle to enabled.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set your after-hours message">
    Write a custom message that callers will hear when they call outside business hours. For example:

    > "Thanks for calling! We're currently closed. Our hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. I can still help you book an appointment or take a message."
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set a forwarding number (optional)">
    If you want after-hours calls forwarded to a personal mobile or on-call number, enter it here. The AI will transfer the call after delivering the after-hours message.

    Leave this blank if you want the AI to handle the call itself.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save**. After-hours mode is now active.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## How It Works With Routing Modes

After-hours interacts with your chosen routing mode:

| Routing Mode          | During Hours                               | After Hours                                            |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| **AI Answers**        | AI answers immediately                     | AI plays after-hours message, then handles the call    |
| **Rings You First**   | Rings your phone, AI picks up if no answer | AI answers directly with after-hours message (no ring) |
| **Based on Schedule** | Follows your schedule grid                 | AI answers directly with after-hours message           |

<Tip>
  If you use "Rings You First" during the day but want the AI to handle everything at night, after-hours mode does exactly that. No need to change your routing mode manually each evening.
</Tip>

## Forwarding After Hours

If you set an after-hours forwarding number:

1. The AI answers and plays your after-hours message
2. It asks the caller if they would like to be transferred
3. If yes, the call is forwarded to your specified number
4. If no answer on the forwarding number, the AI takes over again

<Warning>
  After-hours forwarding uses your plan minutes for both the AI portion and the forwarded portion of the call. Keep this in mind if you have a limited minutes plan.
</Warning>

<Snippet file="snippets/footer.mdx" />