---
title: "Office hours and the closed screen"
url: "https://help.virtualfrontdesk.com/en/article/office-hours-and-the-closed-screen"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-10-12T23:14:11.140Z"
---

# Office hours and the closed screen

Choose when visitors can use a station. Outside those hours, the station shows a closed screen instead of its buttons.

Office hours let you choose when visitors can use a station. Outside those hours, the station hides its buttons and shows a closed screen, so visitors are not left calling when nobody is there to answer. Office hours are set for each station.

To change a station's settings, you need the Owner, Admin or Manager role. Office hours are available on all plans.

## What visitors see when the station is closed

-   A full-screen closed screen with your logo, a large clock and the message "We're currently closed", or your own message if you add one.
-   When the station opens again within the next 24 hours, the screen also says when, for example "We open again tomorrow at 08:00".
-   The station buttons are hidden, so visitors cannot start a call, sign in or open documents. They can still change the language.
-   The content moves slightly every minute to protect the screen.
-   Staff can still call the station from the dashboard while it is closed.
-   If the station has an AI agent, it does not greet visitors while the station is closed. A conversation that has already started can finish, and a visitor who is signing out can finish signing out.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/6a2ff7f4-03df-4072-9876-2f0e8ef425dc)

## Set office hours for a station

1.  In the main menu, click **Stations**.
2.  On the location card, click the three dots next to the station, then click **Edit**.
3.  On the **Settings** tab, find the **Office hours** card.
4.  Click the **Open** field. By default it says **Always open**.
5.  In the **Station office hours** window, choose a **Schedule type** and fill in the times.
6.  Click **Save schedule**, then save the station's settings.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/6a2e3245-09de-4e2e-936b-f252a941bb11)

*The Office hours card in the station's settings*

The schedule types are:

-   **Always open:** the station never closes. This is the default.
-   **Date range:** the station is open only between a start date and an end date.
-   **Daily hours:** the station is open between the same two times every day.
-   **Weekly schedule:** the station is open only on the days of the week you tick.
-   **Custom schedule:** combine a date range, daily hours and days of the week. For example, open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/ce885ece-8bcf-47a0-aa82-e8102cb9d1bd)

*A custom schedule*

Times follow the time zone shown under the Open field. To close on weekends, choose **Weekly schedule** or **Custom schedule**.

### Add your own closed message (optional)

Once office hours are set, you can enter a **Closed screen message**, for example "Please come back during our opening hours." It is shown under "We're currently closed". Leave it empty to show the standard text in the visitor's language.

## Close or open a station right now

You can override the schedule at any time from the same card, for example to close early for a holiday or to stay open for a late appointment. These buttons take effect right away and do not need the station's Save button.

-   **Close now:** the station shows the closed screen within a few seconds. You are asked to confirm first. It stays closed until your schedule next opens. If the station has no schedule, it stays closed until you open it again.
-   **Open now:** the station shows its buttons again. It stays open until your schedule next closes.
-   **Back to the schedule:** appears while a manual override is on. Click it to return to your normal office hours.

A notice in the card always tells you what is in effect.

## Office hours and button schedules

Each station button can also have its own schedule (see [Creating Stations](https://help.virtualfrontdesk.com/en/article/read-first-creating-stations)). A button schedule hides one button. Office hours close the whole station.

While a station is closed by its office hours, no offline alerts are sent for it. See [Station offline alerts](https://help.virtualfrontdesk.com/en/article/station-offline-alerts).