# Opening and closing queue

## Opening and closing a queue

The queue can be opened and closed manually, or automatically by scheduling. An open queue is marked with a green circle in the Sidebar and queue view, while a closed queue is marked with a red circle.

## Customer queue states <a href="#asiakasjonon-tilat" id="asiakasjonon-tilat"></a>

Customer queue is shown in Sidebar with

* Red dot - Queue is closed
* Green dot - Queue is open
* Blue notice colours - There are customers in queue

![Customer queue: Closed (red), open (green), customer in queue (blue)](https://2863873760-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LNV26ZBWc4tpGlvMlCe%2F-M7IQvnTN2G7ZLCJsBO7%2F-M7IWh9lAPdftdzWm1gh%2Fqueue-status-activity-en.png?alt=media\&token=b810aca0-fe7b-4c31-bdb1-e3eefe5356b9)

### Queueing time

When there are customers in queue, you can see a timer next to the queue name telling how long (the first) queueing customer has been waiting.

If queueing time has prolonged for more than one hour, the ∞ infinity symbol is shown instead of time.

## Opening a queue

Click the arrow icon next to the queue name and select "Open queue" from the menu. \
Customers can now join the queue.

![Opening a closed customer queue](https://2863873760-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LNV26ZBWc4tpGlvMlCe%2F-M7IQvnTN2G7ZLCJsBO7%2F-M7IUNUtJ58pt0iAHwqp%2Fsidebar-queue-bar-agent-open-en.png?alt=media\&token=593a16be-b1ce-4a1b-b0db-d0497e4a1268)

## Closing a queue

Click the arrow icon next to the queue name and select "Close queue" from the menu. \
After that, customers cannot start a chat. Customers in the queue at the time of closing will remain in the queue until they are picked or they decide to close the chat/window.

![Closing a customer queue](https://2863873760-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LNV26ZBWc4tpGlvMlCe%2F-M7IQvnTN2G7ZLCJsBO7%2F-M7IUQHGaDh-vwXDu8bR%2Fsidebar-queue-bar-agent-close-en.png?alt=media\&token=3a0b9367-1c29-4e32-94ff-0e4b9d074b79)

## Schedule a customer care queue

Read more about opening and closing a queue automatically by scheduling:

{% content-ref url="queue-schedule" %}
[queue-schedule](https://support.ninchat.com/ninchat-support/english/customer-service-queues-and-conversations/queue-schedule)
{% endcontent-ref %}