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Your agent stopped replying

Five reasons an agent goes quiet, in the order to check them.

2 min readLast checked October 20, 2026

This guide is also in Archie: press Resources in the sidebar, then Guides. Where a step says this computer, it means the computer running Archie.

On this page

1. The computer is off or asleep#

Your agent pauses when Archie closes or the computer sleeps. Nothing is lost, but a 7:30am briefing needs the computer awake then, or, after a routine was missed while it slept, the Wake this computer button on that routine's row, which wakes it before each routine from then on.

Only the computer has to stay awake; the screen can go dark. Change this once:

  • On a Mac: plug it in, open System Settings, then Battery, then Options, and turn on "Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off".
  • On Windows: plug it in, open Settings, then System, then Power & battery. Set the screen to turn off after a few minutes, and sleep to Never while plugged in.

Closing a laptop lid sleeps it by default, which is a separate setting:

  • On Windows: open Control Panel, then Power Options, then "Choose what closing the lid does", and set "When I close the lid" to "Do nothing" for Plugged in.
  • On a Mac: a closed lid sleeps it unless it is plugged in with an external display connected (clamshell mode). Otherwise macOS has no supported way to keep it awake shut, so leave the lid open.
  • Either way, leave it where it can shed heat, not in a drawer or under a cushion.

If this computer goes everywhere with you, the guide "Give your agent a computer that stays home" shows how to move your agent to one that doesn't.

2. The agent is switched off#

Agents you left running come back with Archie, but one you stopped stays stopped and hears nothing. Check the button at the top of its page: it reads Switch on while the agent is off.

3. Your AI credit ran out#

Your agent says the account is out of credit. Top up where you made the key; your AI account’s guide has the billing link.

4. Nobody has claimed the agent#

A new agent replies only by asking for the six-digit claim code shown in Archie. Send that code in the chat and it’s yours.

5. Two agents share one bot#

Archie won’t switch on a second agent on the same bot, since they would split the conversation. If Switch on fails with a message that mentions another agent, this is why.

A step that no longer matches your screen? The other company may have changed its site since we last checked. Tell us which step and we will fix the guide in Archie and here.