If your assistant appears stuck, isn't responding, can't access a connected service, or can't complete a task, start here.
Most issues can be traced to one of a few common causes: the task needs more information or approval, the assistant wasn't correctly addressed, a required connection or permission is missing, the request doesn't contain enough information, or your account has run out of credits.
Start here
Before creating a new task or trying again, check the following:
Open the task. Look for the request in your in-progress or completed work.
Check the latest activity. Your assistant may be waiting for clarification, approval, or access to a connected service.
Make sure your assistant received the request. Confirm that you used the correct email address, mentioned it in Slack, or messaged its verified phone number.
Check connections and permissions. Make sure the services required for the task are connected and authorized.
Check your credits. If multiple tasks have stopped working, review your current credit usage and plan status.
If everything looks correct, try the request again with clearer or more specific instructions.
My task is stuck or waiting
A task may remain in progress while your assistant is working, waiting for information, or waiting for your approval.
Open the task and review its latest activity before creating another one. If your assistant has asked a question or requested approval, respond there so it can continue.
If the request needs to be retried, make sure you've included:
The outcome you want
The people, files, or services involved
Relevant dates or time windows
Important constraints
The desired output
Where you want the result delivered
For example, instead of:
Research Acme.
Try:
Research Acme Corp.'s business model, leadership, recent funding, and competitors. Give me a one-page summary and a table of key facts. Flag anything you can't verify.
If a recurring task is consistently producing the wrong result, update its instructions rather than correcting each individual run.
My assistant isn't responding to a message
Confirm that you used your assistant's correct email address.
Make sure your assistant was included on the email thread.
If the task requires access to other emails, confirm that inbox access has been granted.
Check the related task for questions or approval requests.
Check your assistant's Inbox for the conversation.
Slack
Confirm that OpenAssistant is installed in the correct Slack workspace.
Make sure OpenAssistant has been added to the channel.
In channels, explicitly mention @OpenAssistant when making a request.
If you're using a Slack Connect channel with external users, move the coordination to email instead.
You can also try sending OpenAssistant a direct message to determine whether the issue is specific to the channel.
SMS or WhatsApp
Confirm that your phone number has been connected and verified.
Check your assistant's profile to confirm you're messaging the correct number.
If a custom assistant does not have a phone number yet, request one from its profile.
Remember that SMS and WhatsApp are designed for direct, one-to-one conversations with your assistant, not group messages.
My assistant can't access something
OpenAssistant can only use services and data available through the connections and permissions you've granted.
If your assistant says it can't access your calendar, email, files, contacts, or another connected service:
Open your OpenAssistant connection settings.
Confirm that the correct service is connected.
Make sure the correct account is connected if you use multiple accounts with the same provider.
Check that the necessary permissions have been granted.
Reconnect the service if authorization has expired or the wrong account was selected.
Try a simple request before repeating the full task.
For example:
Check my connected work calendar and tell me whether I have any events tomorrow. Don't create or change anything.
Starting with a read-only request can help determine whether the connection is working before you try a more complex task.
Scheduling isn't working
If your assistant can't complete a scheduling request, check the following:
Your calendar is connected with read and write access.
The correct calendars are selected for checking conflicts.
The participants are clearly identified.
You've provided a meeting duration.
You've provided a useful date or time window.
Your availability and scheduling preferences are current.
Your instructions for the specific meeting don't conflict with one another.
Instructions you give your assistant for a specific scheduling request can override your normal scheduling preferences.
For example:
Schedule 30 minutes with Sarah sometime Tuesday through Thursday next week. I'm normally unavailable after 4 PM, but for this meeting you can offer times until 5 PM.
For scheduling with external participants, your assistant can coordinate availability over email.
My assistant isn't using Zoom
If Zoom is connected but your assistant isn't adding Zoom links to meetings, check that:
Your Zoom account is connected.
Refresh your Zoom connection even if it's showing as connected.
Zoom is selected as your preferred video conferencing option in your calendar preferences.
Then try creating a new meeting to confirm the connection is working.
Tasks stopped because of credits
Tasks and recurring workflows use credits. Recurring workflows that run frequently can use credits more quickly than occasional tasks.
If multiple unrelated tasks have stopped working:
Review your current credit usage.
Check your plan status.
Pause or disable recurring workflows you no longer need.
Reduce the frequency of workflows that don't need to run as often.
Review the current credit and plan options in your billing settings.
When to contact support
If you've checked the task status, connections, permissions, instructions, and credits and the problem continues, contact OpenAssistant support.
To help us investigate, include:
The account or assistant involved
A short description of what you asked it to do
The relevant task, email thread, or channel
What you expected to happen
What actually happened
The approximate time the issue occurred
Screenshots or other relevant details, if available
The more specific the information you provide, the easier it will be for us to identify what happened.