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# Timeouts

Timeout configurations allow you to control the lifespan of an EVI chat session by specifying time limits for user
inactivity and overall session duration. These settings help manage when a chat session should end based on your
integration requirements and work in concert with event messages.

When timeouts are triggered, the server sends corresponding messages to inform clients about the upcoming
disconnection or session termination. These configurations ensure that sessions remain active only as long as needed.

These settings can be combined with [event messages](/docs/speech-to-speech-evi/configuration/event-messages)
to provide users with notifications prior to disconnection. For example, an inactivity timeout can trigger a message
to "check in" with the user before ending the session.

#### [API Reference](/reference/speech-to-speech-evi/configs/create-config#response.body.timeouts)

See our API Reference for details on how to configure timeouts in your EVI configuration.

## Timeout options

### 1. Inactivity timeout

Specifies the duration (in seconds) of user inactivity after which the EVI WebSocket connection will be automatically
disconnected.

* **Default**: 120 seconds (2 minutes)
* **Minimum**: 30 seconds
* **Maximum**: 1,800 seconds (30 minutes)

### 2. Max duration timeout

Specifies the maximum allowed duration (in seconds) for an EVI WebSocket connection before it is automatically
disconnected.

* **Default**: 1,800 seconds (30 minutes)
* **Minimum**: 30 seconds
* **Maximum**: 1,800 seconds (30 minutes)

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