Automation Not Triggering
Fix automations that aren't firing
Automation Not Triggering
If your automation is not firing when you expect it to, there are several configuration and system factors to check. This guide helps you systematically diagnose why contacts are not entering your automation flow.
1. Verify the Automation Is Active
The most common oversight is that the automation is still in draft or paused state. Navigate to Automations, find your automation, and confirm the status toggle is set to Active. If the toggle is disabled, check whether you have a verified sending domain — automations cannot be activated without one.
2. Check the Trigger Configuration
Open the automation and review the trigger node. Each trigger type has specific requirements:
- Contact added to list — Verify the correct list is selected. The trigger only fires when a contact is added after the automation was activated. Contacts already on the list are not retroactively enrolled.
- Tag applied — Confirm the exact tag name matches. Tags are case-sensitive.
- Form submitted — Ensure the form is published and the submission endpoint is correct.
- Site event — Verify site tracking is active and events are being received. Check Domains > Tracking for recent events.
- Date-based — Confirm the date field exists on the contact record and is populated with valid dates.
3. Review Trigger Filters
If your trigger has additional filter conditions, verify they are not too restrictive. For example, a "Contact added to list" trigger with a filter requiring a specific tag will only fire for contacts that have both the list membership and the tag at the time of the trigger event.
4. Check Re-entry Settings
By default, a contact can only be in an automation once. If a contact has already completed or is currently in the automation, the trigger will not fire again for them. Check the automation's re-entry settings if you expect contacts to go through the flow multiple times.
5. Look for Errors in the Automation Log
Each automation maintains a run log showing all trigger evaluations, including those that did not result in enrollment. Navigate to the automation's Activity tab to see recent trigger events and any error messages. Common errors include missing required contact fields and invalid filter conditions.
6. Test the Trigger Manually
Create a test contact and manually perform the trigger action — add them to the list, apply the tag, or submit the form. Then check the automation log within a few minutes to see if the trigger was detected. If the test contact enters the automation, the issue may be specific to the original trigger conditions.
7. Check for Stalled Runs
In rare cases, automation runs can become stuck in a processing state. Mailnaptic automatically recovers stalled runs every 10 minutes, but if you suspect a systemic issue, contact support for investigation.