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

# Create an IVR

> Build an IVR using the visual node editor — set extension, greeting, menu options, and publish.

Creating an IVR takes about 5 minutes. You'll use the visual node editor to design the menu, then publish it to the live dialplan.

## Prerequisites

* Your organization is active in the Astradial dashboard.
* You have at least one extension, queue, or external number you want the IVR to route to.

## Step 1 — Open the IVR section

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to IVR">
    Click **IVR** (the route icon) in the sidebar, under the **Configure** section.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click New IVR">
    Top-right of the IVR list. Opens the visual builder.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Step 2 — Set the basics

In the **Settings** panel on the right:

| Field                     | What to enter                                                                                                        |
| ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name**                  | Human-readable label, e.g. "Main Menu"                                                                               |
| **Extension**             | 4-digit internal number, e.g. `7001`. Must be unique within your org.                                                |
| **Description**           | Optional short note                                                                                                  |
| **Timeout (s)**           | How many seconds to wait for a digit after the greeting plays (default 10). Set to 0 for wait-forever.               |
| **Max retries**           | Dropdown: 1 / 2 / 3 attempts. Greeting repeats on no-response, hangs up after N.                                     |
| **Direct extension dial** | If enabled, callers can dial any 4-digit extension directly from inside the IVR without going through a menu option. |

Click **Save settings**.

## Step 3 — Generate the greeting

Select the **Greeting** node in the visual builder.

1. Pick a **Language** (English India, English US, Hindi, etc.).
2. Pick a **Voice** (Wavenet D is a good default).
3. Type the greeting text, e.g.:
   > Welcome to Acme. Press 1 for sales, 2 for support, 3 for billing. To repeat this menu, press star.
4. Click **Preview** to hear the TTS output in your browser.
5. When you're happy, click **Generate greeting**. The audio is saved as a `.wav` file on the server and stored on the IVR record.

<Note>
  You can regenerate the greeting any time — the new audio replaces the old one. Previewing the voice does not overwrite the saved greeting.
</Note>

## Step 4 — Add menu options

For each digit (1-9, 0, `*`, `#`):

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click +Add option on the Menu node">
    A new option row appears.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick the digit">
    1 through 9, or `*` / `#` / `0`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose action type">
    Extension, Queue, IVR, Voicemail, Hangup, Callback, or AI Agent.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick the destination">
    Dropdown shows only valid targets for the selected action type. E.g. picking "Queue" shows your org's queues by number and name.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a description">
    Optional — shows up in call logs so you can tell which menu option a caller chose.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Repeat for every digit you want to route.

## Step 5 — Publish

Click **Publish** (top-right).

This regenerates your organization's dialplan and tells the PBX about the new IVR. Until you publish, the IVR is only a draft — calls to any phone number routed to it will hear "number not in service".

<Tip>
  Watch for the "Configuration deployed" toast. If it doesn't appear, the publish failed — check the Settings page's server logs or contact support.
</Tip>

## Step 6 — Point a phone number at the IVR

Go to **Phone Numbers** in the sidebar, open your DID's routing settings, set:

* **Routing type**: IVR
* **Destination**: pick your new IVR from the dropdown (shows as `<extension> — <name>`)

Save. The next call to that DID will hit your IVR.

## Troubleshooting

### The call connects but no greeting plays

Most common cause: the greeting wasn't actually generated. Open the IVR, confirm a `.wav` file URL is set on the greeting node. If not, click **Generate greeting**.

Second most common cause: the IVR was saved but not published. Click **Publish** and retry the call.

### Digit presses don't route

Make sure you clicked **Save** on each menu option AND **Publish** after adding them. The visual builder shows unsaved changes with an unsaved indicator.

### "Number not in service" when calling the DID

The DID's routing is set but the IVR isn't published. Publish the IVR, then try again.

### The IVR hangs up immediately

Check your **Timeout** setting — if it's set to 0 the call waits forever (correct), but if it's set to something tiny (1-2s) callers don't have time to press.

## What's next

* [Add greetings with TTS](/ivr/greetings) — customize voice and language.
* [Design menu routing](/ivr/menu-routing) — best practices for digit assignment.
* [IVR API reference](/api-reference/ivrs) — build IVRs via API.