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

# Activate or deactivate an AI agent

> Learn when and how to activate or deactivate a BluBash AI agent, understand what happens to live conversations, and manage multiple agents effectively.

After creating, training, and testing your AI agent, you can activate it to start serving customers automatically. You can also deactivate it at any time — for maintenance, updates, or improvements — without losing any of your training or configuration.

## When to activate an agent

Activate your agent when:

* You have completed the essential training
* You have configured the necessary skills
* Testing has produced satisfactory results
* You have validated the agent's behavior and tone

## When to deactivate an agent

Deactivate your agent when:

* You need to make adjustments or improvements
* You are performing maintenance or updates
* You have identified issues in the agent's live behavior
* You want to run temporary A/B tests with different configurations

## How to activate an agent

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open AI Agents">
    In the left sidebar, click **AI Agents**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select your agent">
    Click on the agent you want to activate.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable the Active toggle">
    On the agent detail page, find the **Active** toggle and turn it on.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Make sure the agent has been thoroughly trained and tested before activating it. A poorly configured agent can negatively affect the customer experience.
</Info>

## How to deactivate an agent

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open AI Agents">
    In the left sidebar, click **AI Agents**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select your agent">
    Click on the agent you want to deactivate.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Disable the Active toggle">
    On the agent detail page, find the **Active** toggle and turn it off.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm deactivation">
    The agent will immediately stop taking new conversations.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  When you deactivate an agent:

  * The agent stops handling **new** conversations immediately.
  * Conversations already in progress with the agent **are not affected**.
  * The agent can be reactivated at any time.
  * All training and configuration **is preserved**.
</Warning>

## How an active agent handles conversations

### Automatic assignment

When an agent is active, new conversations can be automatically routed to it based on your team's routing configuration. The agent starts responding immediately once assigned.

### Manual handoff

A human agent can transfer any conversation to the AI agent at any time. This is useful when the agent identifies that the AI can resolve the customer's request more efficiently.

## Visual indicators

When an AI agent is actively handling a conversation, the interface shows:

* **AI icon** — Visible in the conversation header
* **Agent name** — Identifies which agent is responding
* **Active status** — Confirms the agent is live in that conversation

## Managing multiple agents

If you have more than one agent, you can:

* **Activate multiple agents at once** — Each handles its own specialty.
* **Deactivate temporarily** — Pause an agent without losing its configuration.
* **Switch between agents** — Activate and deactivate as your operational needs change.
* **Test in parallel** — Compare the performance of different agents before committing to one.

## Best practices

1. **Activate gradually** — Start with one agent at a time. Monitor its performance before activating others.
2. **Monitor after activation** — Follow the first conversations closely, verify responses are accurate, and be ready to intervene if needed.
3. **Keep human backup** — Always have human agents available. Configure skill-based handoffs for complex cases and avoid relying entirely on AI in the early stages.
4. **Deactivate for maintenance** — When making significant changes, deactivate the agent first, test your changes, and reactivate only after validating them.
5. **Document changes** — Keep a record of when the agent was activated or deactivated, and note the reasons for any changes.

## Important notes

* Inactive agents do not appear as options when initiating a handoff.
* You can have multiple agents active simultaneously.
* Activation and deactivation take effect instantly.
* There is no limit on how many times you can activate or deactivate an agent.
* Deactivated agents retain all training, skills, and settings.

<Tip>
  Consider activating your agent initially only during off-peak hours or for specific conversation types. This lets you validate its performance in a controlled way before a full rollout.
</Tip>