---
title: "Stop-on-reply & automatic opt-out handling | FirstSales"
description: "Stop a sequence the moment a contact replies, and let FirstSales classify opt-out language as an unsubscribe so those contacts drop out automatically."
canonical: "https://firstsales.io/tutorial/stop-on-reply-and-optout/"
---

[Home](/)/[Tutorials](/tutorial/)/Stop-on-reply & automatic opt-out handling

Inbox & Replies

# Stop-on-reply & automatic opt-out handling

Stop a sequence the moment a contact replies, and let FirstSales classify opt-out language as an unsubscribe so those contacts drop out automatically.

5 min read·Beginner·6 steps

1. 1  
## Open Reply Handling  
In a Template-mode campaign, go to **Settings → Reply Handling**.
2. 2  
## Turn on stop-on-reply  
Tick **Stop sending when a reply is received** so a contact's sequence pauses the moment they reply to any email.  
![Turn on stop-on-reply](/tutorials/ooo-01-reply-handling.webp)
3. 3  
## Know the universal brakes  
“Goal, reply, and unsubscribe brakes apply to every channel.” A contact who trips one stops receiving further steps.
4. 4  
## Rely on opt-out classification  
Replies like “stop”, “do not follow up”, or “not interested” are automatically classified as an unsubscribe and halt future steps for that contact.
5. 5  
## See opt-outs in the Inbox  
Unsubscribed contacts show a **Completed · Unsubscribed** pill on their thread row and an **Unsubscribed** journey card in the conversation.
6. 6  
## Confirm they're excluded  
Once unsubscribed, a contact's journey has ended and no further emails send to them.

## Pro tips

Hard-won shortcuts that keep warm-up on track.

1

### Leave stop-on-reply on by default

Following up after someone already replied is the fastest way to sound like a bot.

2

### You don't need to manually mark opt-outs

Negative replies are classified as unsubscribes automatically, but scan the Unsubscribed view periodically to catch edge-case phrasing.

3

### Brakes are channel-wide

A reply or unsubscribe stops every remaining step for that contact, not just the current email.

4

### Pair with out-of-office detection

So real replies stop the sequence while vacation auto-replies only pause it — the two settings live side by side.

## Frequently asked questions

Where is stop-on-reply?

Campaign **Settings → Reply Handling** in a Template-mode campaign.

What does it do?

Pauses a contact's sequence as soon as they reply to any email in it.

How are opt-outs detected?

FirstSales classifies replies like “stop”, “do not follow up”, or “not interested” as an unsubscribe and stops future steps for that contact.

What are the 'universal brakes'?

Goal, reply, and unsubscribe conditions that stop a contact's sequence across every channel.

How do I see who opted out?

Unsubscribed contacts show a **Completed · Unsubscribed** pill in the Inbox and an Unsubscribed journey card in the conversation.

Is there a custom unsubscribe page or suppression list?

Not today — opt-out is handled by reply classification and the unsubscribe journey status, which stops further sends automatically.

## Ready to put this into practice?

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[Start for $1](https://app.firstsales.io)

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