# Hold window explained | Propel

Source: https://runpropel.com/glossary/hold-window

Glossary

# What is a hold window?

A hold window is the set time a piece of work waits, ready to go, before it goes out on its own. You can stop it any time before then. In Propel it is the step called "It posts unless you stop it".

## Why wait at all?

Asking for a yes every time is safe but slow. Sending at once is fast but leaves no room to catch a mistake. A hold window sits between: the work goes ahead by default, and you still see it first if you look.

## How long should it be?

Long enough to notice, short enough to keep the work timely. A social post can wait less time than an email to a stranger, and a page change can wait longer still.

## What does Propel use?

A channel reaches this step only after it has earned it. Social posts in your name wait 30 minutes, cold email waits an hour, and articles for your site wait 24 hours. Until then, you can stop it. See [Approvals and limits](https://runpropel.com/approvals).

Where Propel does this

[Approvals and limits →](https://runpropel.com/approvals)

Related terms

- [Earned autonomy](https://runpropel.com/glossary/earned-autonomy)
- [Human in the loop (HITL)](https://runpropel.com/glossary/human-in-the-loop)
- [Cold email](https://runpropel.com/glossary/cold-email)
- [All terms](https://runpropel.com/glossary)