# Delay

> Delay node for pausing a run for a duration or until a scheduled datetime.

Pauses the workflow for a set duration or until a specified date and time. Use it to introduce a wait between steps — for example, to give an external system time to process before polling it, or to schedule a downstream action for a specific moment.

## Configuration

| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| **Mode** | Yes | `duration` — wait for a fixed amount of time. `datetime` — wait until a specific date and time. |
| **Duration** | Yes (if mode = duration) | How long to wait. Specify as a duration string in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 8601 format — for example, `PT30S` = 30 seconds, `PT5M` = 5 minutes, `PT1H` = 1 hour. |
| **Until** | Yes (if mode = datetime) | The date and time to wait until. Accepts an ISO 8601 datetime string or an expression that resolves to one. |

## Output

The Delay node does not produce output. Downstream nodes receive the same variables that were in scope before the Delay.

## Examples

**Wait 30 seconds before retrying a request:**

A Delay node with mode `duration` and value `PT30S` placed between an HTTP Request node and a retry branch pauses the run for 30 seconds before the retry.

**Wait until a scheduled time:**

A Delay node with mode `datetime` and its value set to an expression that resolves to a datetime — such as `$vars.scheduledAt` — pauses the run until that moment.

## Common issues

| Issue | Resolution |
|---|---|
| The workflow times out before the Delay completes | A run must finish within 24 hours. For a delay of many hours or days, use a Scheduled Trigger to start the workflow at the right time instead. |
| ISO 8601 duration format error | Duration values must follow ISO 8601 format. `PT30S` = 30 seconds, `PT5M` = 5 minutes, `PT1H30M` = 1 hour 30 minutes. Plain numbers are not accepted. |

## Next steps

- [Wait for event](wait-for-event-nodes.md): the other nodes that pause a workflow.
- [Limits and fair use](limits-and-fair-use.md): a run must finish within 24 hours, including any delay.
- [Community](community.md): ask questions and share workflows with other builders on the UiPath Forum.