Resolve an unowned or stalled conversation
Find out why a WhatsApp conversation or handed-over caller is stuck, and who can move it on, checking each cause in order.
Purpose
A conversation can stall when the person holding it isn't there, when it was flagged but nobody picked it up, or when nobody is responsible for it. Open it in Inbox, work down the list in order and fix the first ✗ you find.
Checklist
- If you see: Whoever has control is around to reply. The banner shows [name] has control.Only they or the Owner can free it. The Owner selects Force hand back. Force hand back
- If you see: The banner names who has controlA colleague has control with no name: the holder may have left your team. The Owner selects Force hand back. Force hand back
- If you see: An Escalated conversation has someone handling itThe assistant flagged it for a person, for example after it couldn't confirm a booking. Take it over and reply. Take over
- If you see: An Escalated conversation you've dealt with has been closedEscalated clears only when the conversation is closed. Close the conversation
- If you see: Someone is assigned. It isn't under Unassigned.Assign it to a teammate. Choose a teammate
- If you see: A conversation marked waiting is getting a replyIf Assistant is replying… shows, wait. If not, take it over and reply. Take over
- If you see: A conversation you've finished no longer shows You're handling thisThe assistant stays paused until you hand back or close. Hand back
- If you see: No handed-over caller shows a red Waiting timeThey've waited over an hour. Call them back. Call them back
- If you see: Nobody leaving your team still holds or is assigned conversationsRemoving someone doesn't move their conversations. Hand over their conversations
- If you see: Inbox loads its conversationsCouldn't load conversations — retrying… that stays: check your connection. If it still stays, your role may not include Inbox. Ask your clinic Owner.
- Working: All of the aboveThe conversation is with the assistant or with someone who is around.
Good to know: Reconnecting… at the top of the list means live updates are paused. The list still refreshes, more slowly, until it reconnects.
Checked against the Keel product source and in the live product on 2026-10-10. The Unassigned tab and its count were observed. Held, escalated and waiting conversations, Force hand back, the hand-over Waiting pill and the error states were not exercised.