Contacts to Include When Starting Flows

When you manually start a flow, the Flow Start dialog includes contact inclusion options that help you target the right audience. You can limit starts to recently active contacts, exclude contacts already in another Messaging flow, and avoid restarting contacts who entered the same flow recently. These filters can be combined, and the contact counter updates instantly to show how many contacts will actually be started.

Quick setup checklist

Use inclusion options in the Flow Start dialog to target the right contacts and avoid interruptions or repeats.

  1. Open the Flow Start dialog
  2. Include only active contacts (recent users)
  3. Exclude contacts currently in another Messaging flow
  4. Exclude contacts who started this flow recently
  5. Combine options and review the contact counter
1
Open the Flow Start dialog

Contact inclusion options are available every time you manually start a flow.

  1. Open a flow from the Flows tab
  2. Click Start in the top-right corner of the flow editor
  3. Review the contact inclusion checkboxes in the dialog

[CAPTURE: Show the Flow Start dialog with the contact inclusion options visible.]

2
Include only active contacts

Active Contacts includes only contacts who have sent you a message within a selected timeframe.

You can choose:

  • Last 90 days
  • Last 180 days
  • Last 365 days

Contacts outside the selected period are excluded.

Tip: Use this option to improve response rates and avoid messaging inactive numbers.

3
Exclude contacts currently in another flow

Contacts Not Currently in Another Flow excludes contacts who are already active in a Messaging flow.

Important: A contact can only be active in one Messaging flow at a time. Enabling this option prevents unintended interruptions.

Note: If you need to run logic without interrupting contacts, consider using Background flows.

4
Exclude contacts who started this flow recently

Contacts Not Started in This Flow Recently excludes contacts who have already been in the same flow within the last 90 days.

This helps:

  • Prevent repeated messages
  • Avoid restarting recent participants
  • Improve the contact experience
5
Combine options and review the contact counter

Inclusion options can be combined to refine who starts the flow.

  • All selected options are applied at the same time
  • Only contacts who meet all enabled criteria will start the flow
  • The contact counter updates automatically to reflect your selections

[CAPTURE: Show the contact counter updating as options are toggled.]

Common Issues

The contact counter is lower than expected

Cause: One or more inclusion options is excluding contacts (inactive, already in another flow, or recently started in the same flow).

Fix: Toggle options one at a time to see which filter is reducing the count, then adjust based on your targeting needs.

Some contacts are skipped because they are in another flow

Cause: A contact can only be active in one Messaging flow at a time.

Fix: Disable the “not in another flow” option (if you truly want to interrupt) or keep it enabled to avoid disruptions. Consider Background flows for non-interrupting logic.

Contacts received the same flow again

Cause: The “not started in this flow recently” option was not enabled, or the flow was started again after the 90-day window.

Fix: Enable the recent-start exclusion option when launching repeat sends.