Why a Feature Is Locked and What Read-Only Means

Summary

Overview: A control looks faded with a lock line under it when your plan doesn't include that feature, or when your workspace is read-only. This guide explains each lock and how to unlock it.

Prerequisites:

• None. To unlock a feature, you need the Admin role.

How Pippin Decides

1. If the workspace is read-only, Pippin sends nothing: no replies, quotes, booking links or follow-ups, on any channel.
2. If a feature isn't in your plan, Pippin doesn't use it. For example, on a plan without SMS, Pippin's SMS replies are paused.
3. If your saved automation level is Full auto but your plan no longer includes it, booking links wait for your approval until you upgrade.
4. Otherwise, Pippin works as your settings say.

Limits

• WhatsApp, SMS, Full auto and CRM connectors need the Growth plan and up.
• AI voice and Priority support need the Scale plan.
• Adding users can be locked by the Starter plan's user limit.
• Quotes always wait for approval, on every plan.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Read the lock line

1. A locked control is faded and can't be clicked. The line under it says why, followed by an Upgrade link:
   • "[Feature] is available on the [Plan] plan and up.": your plan doesn't include the feature.
   • "Your [Plan] plan includes [N] users.": all user seats are taken.
   • "Your subscription is inactive. Reactivate it under Settings > Billing.": the workspace is read-only.
2. A feature you already set up shows a paused line instead, and your setup stays saved. For example:
   • "Pippin's SMS replies are paused on your current plan. Your number stays connected."
   • "Pippin's WhatsApp replies are paused on your current plan. Your number stays connected."
   • "Inbound calls are declined on your current plan. Your voice settings stay saved."
   • "Lead sync to Bigin is paused on your current plan. Your connection stays saved." (Monday.com shows "Lead sync to Monday.com is paused on your current plan. Your connection stays saved.")
   • Under Automation level, Full auto is greyed out. If it was your saved setting, the line adds "Your saved setting will resume when you upgrade; booking links wait for approval until then."

Step 2: Unlock a plan feature

1. As the Admin, click Upgrade on the lock line. Settings › Billing opens.
2. Choose a plan that includes the feature. See How to Subscribe or Change Your Plan.
3. Your saved settings come back as they were. Nothing is deleted when a feature is locked.
4. If you aren't the Admin, ask your Admin to upgrade.

Step 3: Recognise a read-only workspace

A workspace becomes read-only when:

1. The free trial ends without a subscription: "Your free trial has ended. Pippin has stopped sending and this workspace is read-only until you subscribe."
2. A cancelled subscription reaches its end date: "Your subscription has ended. This workspace is read-only; your data stays exportable."
3. Payment can't be collected after Stripe's retries: "Your subscription is inactive. Payment could not be collected, so Pippin has stopped sending. Update your card to continue."

The red banner shows at the top of every page, for every role. The badge next to Billing shows Read-only.

Step 4: Know what still works when read-only

1. You can still open your leads, conversations and quotes, and export your data.
2. You can't send replies. The reply box shows "This workspace is inactive, so replies can't be sent." with Go to Billing for the Admin, or Ask your workspace admin to reactivate it. for other roles.
3. You can't send quotes or booking links, approve items that send, invite users or reactivate users. The Users page shows the notice "Your subscription is inactive. Reactivate it under Settings > Billing."
4. Follow-up sequences pause. Web chat visitors get no reply from Pippin.

Step 5: Leave read-only

1. As the Admin, click Subscribe (or Fix payment) on the banner, or open Settings › Billing.
2. Subscribe to a plan, or update your card if payment failed.
3. When the subscription is active, Pippin starts sending again. Resume any paused follow-up sequences from the Inbox.

Verify It Worked

Success criteria:

• The lock line disappears and the control can be used.
• After you subscribe, the red banner disappears and the badge shows Active.

Troubleshooting

Common errors

• "[Feature] is available on the [Plan] plan and up. Upgrade under Settings > Billing.": you tried to turn on a feature your plan doesn't include. Fix: upgrade, or leave the feature off.
• "Your Pippify subscription is inactive. Reactivate it under Settings > Billing to send messages, quotes and booking links.": you tried to send something while the workspace is read-only. Fix: subscribe or fix payment.
• "Billing is not set up for this workspace yet. Contact support.": the workspace has no billing set up. Fix: contact support.

Limitations & considerations

• After a cancellation ends, your data stays viewable and exportable for at least 30 days.
• A payment that failed but is still being retried doesn't make the workspace read-only. Pippin keeps working while you update your card.
• The trial outcome cap is not read-only: Pippin keeps answering but drafts no new quotes or booking links. See How the Free Trial Works.

Next Steps & Related Resources

• Next steps:
  • How to Subscribe or Change Your Plan
• Related articles:
  • What Plans Pippify Offers and What an Outcome Is
  • How the Free Trial Works
  • How to Update Your Card and Download Invoices
  • How to Choose Quotes or Meetings and the Automation Level
  • Why Is a Channel Greyed Out?
  • Why Didn't My Follow-Up Go Out?

Need more help? For more information and assistance, please send an email to support@pippify.ai.

Last Updated: 10/15/2026