Launch a chatbot flow manually
A manual launch lets you start a flow yourself instead of waiting for a trigger. You choose who gets the flow and, in some places, the block the flow starts from.
With manual launch, you can:
- start a flow for subscribers you select in your audience;
- restart a flow for subscribers who reached a specific element or clicked a button;
- start a flow from a specific block instead of the first one.
Here's how businesses can use manual launch:
- A support agent sends the order status flow to a customer who asks about a delivery.
- A sales manager starts the booking flow from the deal card of a customer in the CRM system.
- A store selects subscribers with a specific tag in the audience and sends them a flow with early access to a sale.
- A beauty salon restarts the booking flow from the time selection block for clients who chose a time that is no longer available.
- A marketer sends a special offer flow to subscribers who clicked a specific button in a flow.
Let's talk about how to launch a flow manually.
Please note that for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp chatbots, manual launches work only within the 24-hour support window. The window resets every time a subscriber sends you a message.
Launch a flow from Audience
Go to the Audience tab, and select subscribers. Click Start flow, and choose a flow from the drop-down list.
Read more: Manage chatbot subscribers.
By default, a flow starts from its first element. To launch a flow straight to a specific branch, click Start the flow from a specific block and enter your Block ID.
To get a block ID, open the flow in the flow builder, and select the block. In the settings header, click ID to copy the block ID. The ID button is available only after you save the flow.
Launch a flow for element recipients
To launch a flow for subscribers who reached a specific element, go to the Bot structure tab, and in the flow preview, click the number under the element. Click the three dots icon, and select Start flow.
The flow will be sent to all recipients in the list. To segment recipients, click Filter and enter a subscriber name or select a date.
By default, a flow starts from its first element. To launch a flow straight to a specific branch, click Start the flow from a specific block and enter your Block ID.
Launch a flow from Chats
To launch a flow during a conversation, go to Chats, open a chat with a subscriber, and select a flow in the Start flow section.
Read more: Manage automated replies.
Last Updated: 03.10.2026
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