> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.get2dial.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set DTMF timeouts and retries

> Control how long an IVR menu waits for a digit, how many times it retries, and where it sends the call after that.

Control how long a menu waits for a digit, how many times it re-prompts, and where the call
goes if the caller never presses anything valid.

## Before you start

* You need an existing [IVR menu](/inbound/ivr/build-a-menu).

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the menu">
    In the **IVR builder**, open the menu you want to adjust.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the timeout">
    Enter **Timeout (seconds)** — how long the menu waits after the greeting finishes before
    treating it as no input. Defaults to 5 seconds if left blank.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the retry count">
    Enter **Max retries** — how many times the menu re-prompts after silence or an unmapped
    digit before giving up. Defaults to 3.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the fallback destination">
    Set **Timeout action type** and **Timeout action target** — where the call goes once
    retries are exhausted: a **queue**, an **extension**, another **menu**, or **hang up**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Select **Save**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Verify

<Check>
  [Test the menu](/inbound/ivr/test-an-ivr) and let it time out without pressing anything — it
  reaches your fallback destination after the number of retries you set.
</Check>

## Common problems

* **The menu hangs up instead of falling back where you expected.** Confirm **Timeout action
  type** is set — an unset fallback hangs up rather than doing nothing.
* **Callers get re-prompted more or fewer times than expected.** Each invalid or silent
  attempt counts toward **Max retries**, not just silence.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Build an IVR menu" href="/inbound/ivr/build-a-menu" />

  <Card title="Nested and conditional menus" href="/inbound/ivr/nested-and-conditional-menus" />
</CardGroup>