---
title: Create an automation
description: Start a new automation from a trigger in the picker or from a ready-made template in the catalogue, then open it in the editor.
sidebar:
  order: 2
area: flows
feature: automations
appPath: /flows/home
lastVerified: 2026-10-22
version: "2026-10-16"
audience: admin
related:
  - flows/automations/choose-a-trigger
  - flows/automations/set-the-audience
  - flows/automations/change-the-mode
  - flows/steps
intercom:
  - id: "11612966"
    title: How to create an Automation Flow (Pyn 2)
    url: https://intercom.help/pyn/en/articles/11612966-how-to-create-an-automation-flow-pyn-2
    note: replaces
  - id: "6024016"
    title: Configure Automations (Pyn 1)
    url: https://intercom.help/pyn/en/articles/6024016-configure-automations-pyn-1
    note: "Pyn 1 article, kept for reference"
---

You want a new automation in your workspace, either built from scratch around a trigger or copied from one of Pyn's templates so the trigger, timing and copy are already in place. Either way you end up in the editor with a draft you can shape and publish.

## Before you start

- You are a power user, admin or owner. Creating, duplicating, archiving and publishing automations need the admin or owner role; power users can edit and manually enrol.
- Know which moment the automation is for. The [Trigger catalogue](https://support.pynhq.com/flows/automations/trigger-catalogue/) maps moments to triggers.
- On the free plan, one automation can be active at a time. The banner above the table says so and offers an upgrade.

![Flows > Automations lists every automation in the workspace.](https://support.pynhq.com/media/flows/automations/flows-automations-table.png)

## Steps

1. In Pyn, open **Flows** in the left navigation, then select **Automations**.

2. To start from a trigger, select **Create New**. The **Select Trigger** dialog opens with its categories on the left: **Employee Lifecycle**, **Dates and Schedules**, **Team and Org Changes**, **Form Submission**, **Employee Properties**, **Leave Based**, **Sales Enablement**, **Support Enablement** and **Other**.

![Select Trigger lists the categories on the left and each category's triggers with a one-line description.](https://support.pynhq.com/media/flows/automations/flows-automations-select-trigger.png)

3. Select a trigger. Pyn creates the automation in **Manual** mode (a Form Submission trigger starts in **Verification**) and opens the editor with the trigger drawer showing.

4. To start from a template instead, select the arrow beside **Create New**, then **Add from Template**. The **Add from Template** dialog lists automation and campaign templates grouped by journey category. Select one and Pyn copies it into your workspace, attached to its moment, and opens it.

![Add from Template copies a ready-made automation into your workspace.](https://support.pynhq.com/media/flows/automations/flows-automations-add-from-template.png)

5. In the editor, select the title field, which reads **(Untitled)**, at the top left and type a name. Titles save as you type.

6. Work through the trigger drawer tabs **Configure**, **Audience** and **Advanced**, then select **Add a step** to build the sequence. Each step opens its own drawer; the [Steps and messages](https://support.pynhq.com/flows/steps/) pages cover recipients, senders and schedules.

7. Select **Publish** when the draft is ready. Then open the mode button beside it and use **Change Mode** to move the automation to **Verification** or **Automated**.

[Video: Create an automation and schedule its first step.](https://support.pynhq.com/media/flows/automations/flows-automations-create.mp4)

> **Note:** A template added from the catalogue arrives **Inactive** with every step already published. Its mode button reads **Use This**; select it to pick the mode you want.

## What you should see

The automation appears in the **Automations** table with your title, a **Status** chip showing its mode and an **Enrollments** count of 0. The **Publish** column reads **Required** while the draft has changes you have not published.

## Related

- [Choose a trigger](https://support.pynhq.com/flows/automations/choose-a-trigger/) to pick the right family for the moment.
- [Set the audience for an automation](https://support.pynhq.com/flows/automations/set-the-audience/) to limit who is enrolled.
- [Change the mode of an automation](https://support.pynhq.com/flows/automations/change-the-mode/) to turn it on.
- [Steps and messages](https://support.pynhq.com/flows/steps/) for everything inside a step.

## Related Intercom articles

- [How to create an Automation Flow (Pyn 2)](https://intercom.help/pyn/en/articles/11612966-how-to-create-an-automation-flow-pyn-2) — replaces
- [Configure Automations (Pyn 1)](https://intercom.help/pyn/en/articles/6024016-configure-automations-pyn-1) — Pyn 1 article, kept for reference