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

# Setup

> Configure your text agent settings, including messaging channels, timing, and availability.

## Setting Up a Text Agent

Text agent setup defines how your agent sends and receives messages and when messages are delivered. Proper configuration ensures it runs smoothly.

## Creating a New Text Agent

1. Navigate to your Callers dashboard.
2. Click the **New Agent** button.
3. Select **Text** as the agent type.
4. Enter a **Agent Name**.

## General Settings

### Agent Details

* **Agent Name**: A descriptive name for internal reference.
* **Agent Direction**: Agents are **Outbound** (you initiate) by default. Switch to **Inbound** (contacts initiate), or set the agent to handle both.
* **AI Instructions**: Provide general guidelines for the AI agent's behavior and tone across all conversations.

<Info>
  For channel setup details, see the integration guides for [Twilio SMS](/documentation/text-agents/twilio-sms), [Telnyx SMS](/documentation/text-agents/telnyx-sms), or [WhatsApp](/documentation/text-agents/whatsapp).
</Info>

## Availability

Configure when your text agent is active and how follow-ups are handled. Open the **Availability** modal from your agent settings.

### Time Zone

Select the time zone for message scheduling (e.g., `(GMT-05:00) America/New_York`).

### Sending Days and Hours

* **Sending Days**: Click the day buttons to toggle which days of the week messages can be sent (e.g., Monday through Friday).
* **Sending Hours**: Define the daily time window for sending messages (e.g., 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM).

### Attempts

* **Total Follow Up Attempts**: Set the number of follow-up messages the AI agent will send if a contact does not respond.
* **Min Wait Time Between Follow Up Attempts**: Set the minimum wait time between follow-ups, in minutes or hours.

### Custom Follow-Up Prompt

Follow-ups are auto-rephrased by the AI. Add custom instructions to adjust the content and tone of follow-up messages.

<Info>
  Follow-up messages will only be sent during your configured availability hours. If a follow-up is scheduled outside of those hours, it will be held and sent at the start of the next available window.
</Info>

<Frame caption="Availability Settings">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/voxiaai/yRFIhqzMWGdbem86/images/text-availability-modal.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=yRFIhqzMWGdbem86&q=85&s=e86f76d9cc6a3eb3e58b0ace8370ac73" alt="Text agent availability settings" style={{borderRadius: '10px'}} width="1548" height="1232" data-path="images/text-availability-modal.png" />
</Frame>

## Saving and Launching

1. Click **Save Changes** to save your agent configuration.
2. Review all settings before launching.
3. When ready, click **Launch Agent** to start sending messages.

<Warning>
  Once an agent is launched, certain settings (channel, phone numbers, working hours, and follow-ups) cannot be changed without pausing the agent. Review everything carefully before launching.
</Warning>

## Next Steps

* [Upload contacts](/documentation/using-callers/uploading-contacts) to your agent.
* Review [Analytics & Insights](/documentation/using-callers/analytics) for monitoring agent performance.