--- title: "Steer Ultimate: Always-On Auto Replies" description: Always On Auto Replies handling routine conversations automatically and passes anything else to your team. --- [Skip to content](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate-always-on-auto-replies#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [![Steer_AutoOps_Brand_Marks-all-white](https://help.steercrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Steer_AutoOps_Brand_Marks-all-white.png?width=100&height=34&name=Steer_AutoOps_Brand_Marks-all-white.png)](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge?hsLang=en) - Events & Webinars Show submenu for Events & Webinars - [2026 July Town Hall](https://steer.io/events/july-town-hall-2026) - [All Recorded Events](https://steer.io/events) - Campaign Templates Show submenu for Campaign Templates - [Email Templates](https://steer.io/email-templates) - [Post Card Templates](https://steer.io/direct-mail-postcards) - [Letter Templates](https://steer.io/direct-mail-letters) - Video Tutorials Show submenu for Video Tutorials - AutoOps Tutorials - Steer Tutorials - Steer Phones Tutorials - Login Show submenu for Login - [AutoOps Dashboard](https://dashboard.autoops.com) - [Steer Dashboard](https://app.steercrm.com) - [Steer Phones Dashboard](https://phones.steerphones.com) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Events & Webinars Show submenu for Events & Webinars - [2026 July Town Hall](https://steer.io/events/july-town-hall-2026) - [All Recorded Events](https://steer.io/events) - Campaign Templates Show submenu for Campaign Templates - [Email Templates](https://steer.io/email-templates) - [Post Card Templates](https://steer.io/direct-mail-postcards) - [Letter Templates](https://steer.io/direct-mail-letters) - Video Tutorials Show submenu for Video Tutorials - AutoOps Tutorials - Steer Tutorials - Steer Phones Tutorials - Login Show submenu for Login - [AutoOps Dashboard](https://dashboard.autoops.com) - [Steer Dashboard](https://app.steercrm.com) - [Steer Phones Dashboard](https://phones.steerphones.com) - English Show submenu for translations - [Support](mailto:help@steer.io) [Support](mailto:help@steer.io) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [Steer Ultimate](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate?hsLang=en) 3. [Auto-Reply](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate?hsLang=en#auto-reply) June 22, 2026 # Steer Ultimate: Always-On Auto Replies **⚙️✅ Access:** Always-On Auto Replies is part of **Steer** **Ultimate**. Upgrade now to get access, [click here.](https://app.steercrm.com/digital-glovebox) ![Cover Image](https://help.steercrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Cover%20Image.png?width=670&height=197&name=Cover%20Image.png) --- **Always-On Auto Replies** is different than Steer Ultimate's After-Hours/Custom Hours Auto Replies. **Always-On** stays active during working hours, acting like a text receptionist that can help decide whether a message can be handled automatically or needs a human touch.  **Jump to: ** [How to Enable Always-On Auto Replies](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate-always-on-auto-replies#enable-always-on-replies) [How to Customize Always-On Intent Behaviors and Responses](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate-always-on-auto-replies#customize-always-on) [How Always-On Messages Appear in the Steer Inbox](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate-always-on-auto-replies#always-on-in-inbox) ℹ️ **Note:** For information on Always-On Auto Replies' built-in guardrails to prevent customer attempts to override the tool with malicious prompts, [Click Here](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate-always-on-auto-replies#always-on-disclaimer).  --- ### How to Enable Always-On Auto Replies In Steer,  1. Go to **Settings → Communications → Auto-replies ** 2. Selectthe **Always-On Option** 3. Select your AI Reply style 4. Customize your Intents  1. To learn more about customizing Always-On Intents, [Click Here](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate-always-on-auto-replies#customize-always-on) 5. Click **Save.** **Note:** Right now, you **cannot** use after-hours/custom and always-on at the same time, you must choose one mode or the other. --- ### How to Customize Always-On Intent Behaviors and Responses While in the Always-On Auto Replies settings area, you can customize the intents that control how the AI responds to your customers. There are **20 total intents** you can customize.  ![Screenshot 2026-06-05 at 10.04.56 AM](https://help.steercrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%2010.04.56%20AM.png?width=617&height=198&name=Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%2010.04.56%20AM.png) **To customize intents: ** 1. **Click** the **intent** to expand the settings menu. 2. Customize the example reply. 3. **Action Needed:** Choose whether the AI should escalate the message to a human or handle the message itself. 1. Path A: Action Needed 1. The message is flagged for a service advisor to review. 2. Alerts are sent via in-app, SMS, and email. 3. The conversation is marked Action Needed in the Steer Inbox 2. Path B: No Action Needed 1. If the intent is allowed to be handled automatically, the AI responds on its own. 2. The AI can also send links such as: booking and review links.  4. Prioritize intents by using drag and drop.  1. The intent list is **priority-based.** Higher items in the list take precedence over lower ones. For example**,** if **cancel appointment** is above **service done elsewhere**, the cancel intent wins when both could apply. This helps the AI choose the most important behavior when a message matches multiple intents. 5. Save your changes.  **Note:** Toggle OFF any intents you do not want to utilize for Always-On Auto Replies, this will prevent the AI from using the intent to handle messages.  --- ### How Always-On Messages Appear in the Steer Inbox All replies sent by the Always-On AI Agent will show in your Steer Inbox; whether they require action or not. You can filter messages to see only "Action Needed" conversations to prioritize for your team. ![Always-On Inbox](https://help.steercrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Always-On%20Inbox.png?width=629&height=217&name=Always-On%20Inbox.png)   Opening a message where the thread is marked as "Action Needed" shows: - the AI’s reply - a short summary of what the advisor should do next - **Example:** the system identifies a wrong number and tells the advisor to determine the correct contact information. ![Always On Pause Use](https://help.steercrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Always%20On%20Pause%20Use.png?width=423&height=447&name=Always%20On%20Pause%20Use.png) If a service advisor wants to take over personally, they can pause auto-replies for that thread. Pause options include: - 30 minutes - 3 hours - 1 day - 1 week - Forever **Note:** After the pause expires, the AI resumes automatically on the next new message unless paused forever. --- ### How Always-On Auto Replies Handles Malicious Prompting Always-On Auto Replies has built-in guardrails designed to strictly follow system instructions and ignore attempts to override the system by injecting malicious prompts. This means, the tool should not disclose sensitive shop information, internal instructions, or other restricted details due to someone trying to trick it into doing so. If a prompt looks suspicious, or tries to steer the Auto Reply agent away from its intended behavior, the system is designed to keep following the approved instructions instead of the injected request. The tool is built to stay on task, protect restricted information, and avoid acting on malicious prompt attempts. Overall, Always-On Auto Reply is designed to be resilient against injected manipulation and to keep responses aligned with the intended shop-safe behavior. - [Booking](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/booking?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Steer x AutoOps](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/booking?hsLang=en#steer-x-autoops) - [Lead Management & Marketing Tracking](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/booking?hsLang=en#lead-management-marketing-tracking) - [Availability & Capacity Management](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/booking?hsLang=en#availability-capacity-management) - [Issue Tree Management](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/booking?hsLang=en#issue-tree-management) - [Steer Scheduling Tool (Retiring Soon)](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/booking?hsLang=en#steer-scheduling-tool-retiring-soon) - [AutoOps Websites](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/autoops-websites?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Tutorials & Videos](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/autoops-websites?hsLang=en#tutorials-videos) - [Website Editor Guides](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/autoops-websites?hsLang=en#website-editor-guides) - [AutoOps Pro Features](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/autoops-pro-features?hsLang=en#main-content) - [AutoOps Website Chat](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/autoops-pro-features?hsLang=en#autoops-website-chat) - [Phones](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/phones?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Step-By-Step Guides](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/phones?hsLang=en#step-by-step-guides) - [Understanding Steer Phones](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/phones?hsLang=en#understanding-steer-phones) - [Marketing](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/marketing?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Outreach Planning](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/marketing?hsLang=en#outreach-planning) - [Campaign Creation & Management](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/marketing?hsLang=en#campaign-creation-management) - [Follow-Up Campaigns](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/marketing?hsLang=en#follow-up-campaigns) - [Outreach Campaigns](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/marketing?hsLang=en#outreach-campaigns) - [Maintenance Reminder Campaigns](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/marketing?hsLang=en#maintenance-reminder-campaigns) - [Deferred Service Campaigns](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/marketing?hsLang=en#deferred-service-campaigns) - [Steer Reviews & Surveys](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-reviews-surveys?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Reputation Management](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-reviews-surveys?hsLang=en#reputation-management) - [Steer Surveys](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-reviews-surveys?hsLang=en#steer-surveys) - [Steer Dashboard Analytics](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-dashboard-analytics?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Steer Data & Analytics](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-dashboard-analytics?hsLang=en#steer-data-analytics) - [Steer Dashboard Management](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-dashboard-analytics?hsLang=en#steer-dashboard-management) - [Steer Customer & Vehicle Profiles](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-dashboard-analytics?hsLang=en#steer-customer-vehicle-profiles) - [Steer Ultimate](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Auto-Reply](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate?hsLang=en#auto-reply) - [Call Intelligence/CallerID+](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate?hsLang=en#call-intelligence-callerid) - [Digital Glovebox](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate?hsLang=en#digital-glovebox) - [Opportunity Hub/Today's Call List](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/steer-ultimate?hsLang=en#opportunity-hub-todays-call-list) - [Mobil 1™ Performance+](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/mobil-1-performance?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Mobil 1 AutoOps Menu](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/mobil-1-performance?hsLang=en#mobil-1-autoops-menu) - [Mobil 1 Dashboard & Rebates](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/mobil-1-performance?hsLang=en#mobil-1-dashboard-rebates) - [Mobil 1 Maintenance Reminders](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/mobil-1-performance?hsLang=en#mobil-1-maintenance-reminders) - [Admin & Settings](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/admin-settings?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Steer General Settings](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/admin-settings?hsLang=en#steer-general-settings) - [Integrations](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/admin-settings?hsLang=en#integrations) - [Texting Compliance](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/admin-settings?hsLang=en#texting-compliance) - [User Permission & Notifications Settings](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/admin-settings?hsLang=en#user-permission-notifications-settings) - [What's New?](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/whats-new?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Steer Updates: 2026](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/whats-new?hsLang=en#steer-updates-2026) - [2025 & Older Releases](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge/whats-new?hsLang=en#2025-older-releases) [![Steer_AutoOps_Logo_Cobranded_White](https://help.steercrm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Steer_AutoOps_Logo_Cobranded_White.png?width=186&height=24&name=Steer_AutoOps_Logo_Cobranded_White.png "Steer_AutoOps_Logo_Cobranded_White")](https://help.steercrm.com/knowledge?hsLang=en) [Book a Demo](https://steer.io/book-a-demo) Copyright © 2025, Steer