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

# Sequences

> Send a series of timed messages — a drip campaign — and enroll or remove contacts with three steps.

## What is this?

A **sequence** is an automation that sends messages **on a schedule**, like a drip campaign: "Day 1 welcome, Day 3 tips, Day 7 offer." Instead of you sending each message, contacts are **enrolled** in the sequence and the platform sends each message at the right time.

A sequence is a special kind of automation. Its trigger is **Trigger Sequence** — it only runs for contacts who have been enrolled — and its first step must be **Sequence Drip**.

\[SCREENSHOT: automation-steps-sequence-drip — A sequence automation with a Sequence Drip step and three timed branches]

## What can I do here?

| Step                                | Where it lives         | What it does                        |
| ----------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| [Sequence Drip](#sequence-drip)     | Inside the sequence    | Schedules up to 10 timed messages   |
| [Assign Sequence](#assign-sequence) | In a normal automation | Enrolls the contact in a sequence   |
| [Remove Sequence](#remove-sequence) | In a normal automation | Takes the contact out of a sequence |

## How to use it

### Build a sequence

1. Create a new automation and choose **Trigger Sequence** as its trigger. See [Create a Workflow](/workspace/automation/create-a-workflow).
2. Add a **Sequence Drip** step first.
3. Add a **branch** for each timed message, and connect each branch to its message step.
4. Save and activate it.

### Sequence Drip

**What it does:** schedules up to **10 branches**, each after a set delay.
**When to use it:** any timed series — onboarding, nurture, or reminders.

* **Drip Branches** — click **Add Branch**. Each has a **Delay Value** and **Unit** (**Minutes**, **Hours**, or **Days**). The minimum is 1 minute and the maximum is 1 year (365 days), with up to 10 branches.
* Each branch needs its own output connection to the step it should run.

<Warning>
  Every delay counts from **when the contact was enrolled**, not from the previous message. A branch set to 3 days runs 3 days after enrollment, even if an earlier branch was 1 day.
</Warning>

### Assign Sequence

**What it does:** enrolls the contact in a sequence. The sequence runs from the moment of enrollment.
**When to use it:** at the end of a signup flow — "add them to the welcome series."

* **Target Sequence** (required) — choose one of your sequence automations.

### Remove Sequence

**What it does:** cancels the sequence for this contact. They stop receiving its scheduled messages.
**When to use it:** when someone buys, replies, or unsubscribes, so they don't keep getting "buy now" messages.

* **Target Sequence** (required).

### Example

| Step                      | What happens                                                 |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Signup automation         | Ask Email → **Assign Sequence** "Welcome series"             |
| Sequence "Welcome series" | **Sequence Drip**: Day 1 template → Day 3 tips → Day 7 offer |
| Purchase automation       | **Remove Sequence** "Welcome series"                         |

## Troubleshooting / Technical Notes

* **"No sequence automations found."** Create an automation with the **Trigger Sequence** trigger first.
* **Messages sent too early or late.** Delays count from enrollment. Check each branch's value and unit.
* **A message outside 24 hours didn't send.** Use a **Send Template** step in the branch — see [Send Messages](/workspace/automation/steps/send-messages).
* **The sequence isn't sending.** Make sure it's **Active** and the contact was enrolled.

## Related docs

* [Builder Steps overview](/workspace/automation/steps/overview)
* [Logic & Timing](/workspace/automation/steps/logic-and-timing)
* [Select a Trigger](/workspace/automation/select-a-trigger)
* [Manage Live Flows](/workspace/automation/manage-live-flows)