Pausing Clara

Last updated August 18, 2026

Sometimes you want to pick up the phone yourself. Maybe you’re at the front desk for the next hour, expecting an important call, or just having a quiet afternoon. Pausing puts Clara on break for a set amount of time: while she’s paused, callers ring straight through to you, and she comes back automatically when the time is up.

How to pause Clara

There are two ways to get there. The quickest is from your inbox:

  1. Open the Clara app
  2. Tap the Live tag at the top of your inbox screen

You can also go through your settings:

  1. Open the Clara app
  2. Go to the Business tab (bottom right)
  3. Tap Status

The Business tab showing My Receptionist with the Status row set to Active

Choosing how long to pause

Pick one of the preset durations, or set your own:

The Pause Clara menu with duration options

Choose a duration and Clara pauses right away. There’s nothing else to set up: she comes back on her own when the time is up.

While Clara is paused

The Status row on the Business tab shows that Clara’s paused and exactly when she’ll be back, so you always know how long you’re on duty.

Clara's paused, showing the time she'll be back and the Turn Clara Back On button

While paused:

Turning Clara back on early

Changed your mind? Tap the Paused tag at the top of your inbox, or open Status on the Business tab, and tap Turn Clara Back On. She’s back on the phones immediately.

Still need help?

If pausing or resuming Clara isn’t working the way you expect, reach us at support@heyitsclara.com and someone from our team will help you out.

Frequently asked questions

Is pausing the same as canceling?

No. Pausing is temporary and your subscription is unaffected. Clara comes back automatically at the time you chose.

What happens to calls while Clara is paused?

They ring through to your phone like Clara isn't there, and you answer them yourself. Clara doesn't answer or take a message, so if you miss one it's a regular missed call. The call still appears in your Clara call history either way.

Where do I pause Clara?

Two places. Tap the Live tag at the top of your inbox screen, or go to the Business tab (bottom right) and tap Status.

Can I pause Clara on a recurring schedule?

No. Pausing is for one-off breaks, so you set it each time you need it. There's no way to have Clara pause automatically at the same times every week.

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