---
title: "Store on vacation: pause purchases"
description: "Restrict access to your store for a set period, pause purchases while you restock and warn your customers about longer lead times."
url: https://docs.vivlab.com/en/sections/vacations
---

# Store on vacation

This page lets you **restrict access to your store** for a defined period, for example during holidays, a temporary closure or a wide-spread stockout. Come here whenever you go on holiday, when you need to suspend purchases while you restock, or when you want to warn your customers of extended delays.

Vacation mode automatically activates and deactivates on the dates you've planned, with no action on your part.

The dashboard is shown in French, with English captions.

<DocsVideo
  video-id="walkthrough-vacations"
  src="https://docs.vivlab.com/videos/vacations/vacations.mp4"
  poster="/videos/vacations/poster.webp"
  captions="/videos/vacations"
  label="Tutorial: schedule a vacation period"
  locale="en"
  :duration="19.65"
/>

::: details Read the video steps

1. <VideoTimecode video-id="walkthrough-vacations" :seconds="0" label="Play at" /> — Choose how your store should work during your vacation.
2. <VideoTimecode video-id="walkthrough-vacations" :seconds="3" label="Play at" /> — Here, the store stays open with extended delivery times.
3. <VideoTimecode video-id="walkthrough-vacations" :seconds="4.5" label="Play at" /> — Update the start date.
4. <VideoTimecode video-id="walkthrough-vacations" :seconds="7.1" label="Play at" /> — Then choose the end date.
5. <VideoTimecode video-id="walkthrough-vacations" :seconds="9.4" label="Play at" /> — Customize the message shown to your customers.
6. <VideoTimecode video-id="walkthrough-vacations" :seconds="13.15" label="Play at" /> — Click “Save”.
7. <VideoTimecode video-id="walkthrough-vacations" :seconds="15.65" label="Play at" /> — The mode and dates are saved. The store will return to normal automatically.

:::

## Vacation mode

Vacation mode lets you extend delivery times or pause your store for a period you've defined. Start by activating **Select the vacation mode**, then choose between three levels, depending on the impact you want on your visitors:

| Mode                  | Store visible | Purchases possible  | Message displayed | When to use it                       |
| --------------------- | ------------- | ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| **Extend delays**     | Yes           | Yes (longer delays) | Payment page      | You keep shipping, but more slowly   |
| **Disable purchases** | Yes           | No                  | Product pages     | Short absence, catalog kept          |
| **Disable the store** | No            | No                  | None              | Full closure, no e-commerce features |

<DocsScreenshot name="vacations-modes" alt="The three vacation modes and their effect on purchases." :width="988" :height="368" />

## Dates and message

Plan your store vacation with peace of mind. Vacation mode automatically activates on the start date and deactivates on the end date, with no action on your part.

- **Start date**: set the start date of vacation mode. From that moment, the selected mode applies on your site.
- **End date**: set the end date of vacation mode. Tick the box to set it; once reached, the store resumes normal operation. Mandatory for **Extend delays** mode, since the message announces to customers when normal service will resume.
- **Automatic message**: customize the text shown when vacation mode is active, for example: "We're taking a summer break from August 4 to 21. See you back on August 22 for your orders!"

<DocsScreenshot name="vacations-schedule" alt="A break from September 16 to 22, with reopening on September 23 and a customer message." :width="989" :height="356" />

Don't forget to click **Save** to schedule the period.