# Availability

Octoo's calendar-based availability system lets providers manage their availability directly from the [Calendar](/providers/calendar.md). Partners can also view and manage a provider's availability from the provider's profile. This replaced the legacy [Availability](/providers/availability.md) features of **Away** and **Weekly Availability**.

## How availability works

Octoo uses availability information to contact providers at the right time with the right opportunities. When a new request comes in, the system checks each provider's availability before sending broadcast notifications:

* **Not available** — The provider will not be emailed for any [Opportunities](/providers/opportunities.md) that overlap with the blocked time. However, these opportunities will still appear in the provider's **still available** list, so the provider can still express interest if their plans change.
* **Remote only** — The provider will not be emailed for on-site jobs during the blocked time but will still receive email broadcasts for remote opportunities.

Setting availability only affects automated email broadcasts. Partners can still manually assign a provider to a job during blocked times, and providers can still browse and express interest in opportunities from the [Opportunities](/providers/opportunities.md) page.

## How it looks on the calendar

Both Away periods and Weekly Availability blockers appear as **"Not Available"** events on the calendar. Weekly blockers show as recurring time-based events, while Away periods show as all-day events.

<figure><img src="/files/l4wTzK6SsRnovYOx323K" alt="Calendar week view showing availability blocks: Tuesday and Thursday 12-8pm weekly blockers and an all-day away on Saturday"><figcaption><p>The calendar showing migrated availability: weekly blockers on Tuesday and Thursday (12pm–8pm) and an all-day Away period on Saturday.</p></figcaption></figure>

Availability events can be toggled on or off using the **Availability** filter in the sidebar.

## Adding availability

There are two ways to add availability from the calendar:

### Using the button

Click the **add availability** button in the top-right corner of the calendar to open the Create Availability modal.

<figure><img src="/files/JlkdnmRARO5fApid7jrf" alt="Create Availability modal with fields for type, date, time, recurrence, and optional details"><figcaption><p>The Create Availability modal lets the provider set the type, date, time range, and recurrence pattern.</p></figcaption></figure>

The modal includes the following fields:

* **Availability Type** — Choose between **Not available** (the provider cannot work during this time) or **Remote only** (the provider is available but only for remote jobs).
* **Event Duration** — Set the date, start time, and end time. Check **All day** to block off an entire day. Use **Change timezone** to enter times in a different timezone.
* **Recurrence** — Set the event to repeat on a schedule:
  * Does not repeat (one-time event)
  * Daily
  * Weekly on a specific day
  * Monthly on a specific date
  * Every weekday (Monday to Friday)
  * Custom (for more advanced patterns)
* **Add more details** — Optionally add a note about why the provider is unavailable.

Click **Save** to add the availability event to the calendar.

### Dragging on the calendar

Availability can also be added by clicking and dragging directly on the calendar grid to select a time range. This opens the Create Availability modal with the date and time pre-filled based on the selection.

<figure><img src="/files/icsozixcNHO9mEYY9Img" alt="Animated gif showing the drag-and-drop functionality on the calendar"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Legacy settings

{% hint style="warning" %}
The following settings were deprecated on March 24, 2026 and have been migrated to the calendar.
{% endhint %}

The legacy availability settings were previously configured from the provider's profile under **Settings > Availability**:

### Away (legacy)

Away periods allowed a provider to block off specific date ranges when they were completely unavailable.

<figure><img src="/files/p44lkbN8f0hGt4tP34LG" alt="Legacy Away settings showing an away period for March 21-22"><figcaption><p>The legacy Away settings page under Settings > Availability > Away.</p></figcaption></figure>

### Weekly Availability (legacy)

Weekly blockers allowed a provider to define recurring times each week when they were not available (e.g., every Tuesday and Thursday from 12pm to 8pm).

<figure><img src="/files/G0SkYLD7bVHVeQQRKZvR" alt="Legacy Weekly Availability settings showing blockers on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12pm to 8pm"><figcaption><p>The legacy Weekly Availability settings page under Settings > Availability > Weekly.</p></figcaption></figure>


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.octoo.com/providers/calendar/availability.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.