> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.contactship.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a voice agent

> Create an agent from scratch or a template, configure it, and prepare it for calls.

export const Availability = ({lang = 'es', plan, addon, permission, route, status}) => {
  const L = lang === 'en' ? {
    plan: 'Plan',
    addon: 'Add-on',
    permission: 'Permission',
    route: 'Where',
    status: 'Status',
    addonNote: 'enabled on request',
    allPlans: 'All plans',
    beta: 'Beta',
    nuevo: 'New',
    soon: 'Coming soon'
  } : {
    plan: 'Plan',
    addon: 'Add-on',
    permission: 'Permiso',
    route: 'Dónde',
    status: 'Estado',
    addonNote: 'se activa a pedido',
    allPlans: 'Todos los planes',
    beta: 'Beta',
    nuevo: 'Nuevo',
    soon: 'Próximamente'
  };
  const items = [];
  if (plan) items.push([L.plan, plan]);
  if (addon) items.push([L.addon, `${addon} · ${L.addonNote}`]);
  if (permission) items.push([L.permission, permission]);
  if (route) items.push([L.route, route]);
  if (status) items.push([L.status, L[status] || status]);
  return <div style={{
    display: 'flex',
    flexWrap: 'wrap',
    gap: '6px 22px',
    padding: '12px 16px',
    margin: '4px 0 24px',
    border: '1px solid rgba(2, 82, 255, 0.28)',
    borderLeft: '3px solid #0252ff',
    borderRadius: '8px',
    background: 'rgba(2, 82, 255, 0.05)',
    fontSize: '13.5px',
    lineHeight: '1.5'
  }}>
      {items.map(([k, v]) => <div key={k} style={{
    display: 'flex',
    gap: '6px',
    alignItems: 'baseline'
  }}>
          <span style={{
    fontSize: '10.5px',
    fontWeight: 600,
    letterSpacing: '0.07em',
    textTransform: 'uppercase',
    opacity: 0.65
  }}>{k}</span>
          <span style={{
    fontWeight: 500
  }}>{v}</span>
        </div>)}
    </div>;
};

<Availability lang="en" route="Agents → Voice → Create" permission="agents.read; agents.update to edit" />

A voice agent handles phone and browser calls using its configured voice, languages, instructions, and tools. Creating requires `agents.create`; viewing requires `agents.read`.

## Create your agent

1. Open **Agents** and choose **New agent**, or press `Shift+N`.
2. Select **Voice agent** when the type picker appears. Organizations without text agents skip this step.
3. Choose **Start from scratch** or search templates by name and category.
4. For a template, review its purpose, prompt, language, category, and voice preview before selecting **Create agent**.

An agent created from scratch starts with the internal name **New Agent**, Spanish (Latin America), a default voice, and empty instructions. Templates supply instructions and voice settings; review the in-call name, which may be `N/A`. Both flows automatically publish version 1. Configure and publish usable instructions before assigning real traffic.

Initial maximum duration is 30 minutes, reduced to your plan’s cap where necessary: Free 3, Starter 7, Pro 30, Growth 60, Enterprise 60 minutes.

## Use the editor

| Tab          | Configuration                                                                 |
| ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| General      | Internal and in-call names, languages, time zone, voice, background sound.    |
| Instructions | Objective, prompt, and opening behavior.                                      |
| Tools        | Transfers, agent handoffs, HTTP requests, knowledge retrieval, calendars.     |
| Advanced     | Voice controls, conversation timing, analysis, context, and agent guidelines. |
| Knowledge    | Organization knowledge bases connected to the agent.                          |

Most changes autosave to a draft. Calls keep using the published version until you select **Publish**. Some settings apply immediately, including the internal name, knowledge connections, calendars, board, tags, and evaluation assignments. Review the version guide before changing an active agent.

## Manage the list

Search matches the internal name. Sort by creation or update date and choose cards or table view. The list shows up to 50 agents per page. Cards provide **Test** and, with edit permission, **Edit**. Voice agents do not have a duplicate action; create another agent and copy the prompt and settings you need.

Delete an agent from **Advanced → Danger zone** with `agents.delete`. Confirmation permanently removes its draft and versions. Agent counts are limited by your plan; deleting an unused agent releases a slot.

## Frequently asked questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Why is the Text tab missing?">
    The organization may not have text agents enabled. The list then shows voice agents only.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is a new agent ready for customers?">
    It has a published version, but a blank agent has no instructions. Configure, publish, and test before assigning traffic.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I rename it later?">
    Yes. The internal name saves immediately. The in-call name belongs to the draft.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why can’t I edit?">
    Check the active organization and the agents.update permission.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## See also

* [General](/en/voice-agents/general)
* [Instructions](/en/voice-agents/instructions)
* [Versions and tests](/en/voice-agents/versions-and-testing)