---
title: When Runner Asks a Question
description: Respond when Runner needs a choice or missing information before it can continue.
---

**What this covers:** You will answer or intentionally skip Runner's questions without losing task context.

Runner asks a question when your decision can materially change the result. Questions can use a
single choice, multiple choices, or a free-form answer.

**Entry path:** Open a conversation whose task state is waiting for input → question card.

## Before you start

- Answer the newest active question; older cards can be read-only.
- Review the effect carefully when a choice involves access, money, publishing, customer data, or an external service.
- Use **Skip** only when Runner can safely choose without your preference.

## Question controls

| Control or state | What happens |
| --- | --- |
| A single-choice option | Selects one answer for that question. |
| Multiple-choice options | Lets you select more than one permitted answer. |
| **Other…** | Opens a field for an answer that is not listed. |
| Submit or continue action | Sends all completed answers and lets Runner continue automatically. |
| **Skip** | Tells Runner to proceed using its best judgment. |
| Disabled card | The task is busy, expired, stopped, or the question can no longer accept an answer. |

## Answer a question

1. Read the question and any explanation above the choices.
2. If several questions are grouped together, review every one before submitting.
3. Select the choice or choices that match your intent.
4. Choose **Other…** and enter a concise answer when none of the listed choices fit.
5. Review the selections for actions that could affect publishing, billing, data, or an external service.
6. Submit the response.
7. Confirm that Runner resumes the task and records your answer in the conversation.

## Skip when Runner can decide

1. Read what Runner is asking.
2. Choose **Skip** only when you are comfortable with Runner using its best judgment.
3. Watch the task resume.
4. Review the result closely, because you did not provide the missing preference.

Skipping is useful for low-risk presentation choices. Give an explicit answer when the decision
affects access, money, publishing, customer data, or a destructive action.

## Troubleshooting

| State | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Waiting for input | Runner cannot confidently continue without a response. | Answer or intentionally skip the active question. |
| Old question is read-only | A newer message or task state has replaced it. | Answer the newest active question instead. |
| **User interrupted this question** | The task was stopped before the question was completed. | Start a new follow-up message if you still want Runner to continue. |
| Submit is unavailable | One or more required answers are incomplete, or the card is no longer active. | Complete every current question or move to the latest question card. |
| Response error | Runner could not accept the answer. | Keep the conversation open and submit once more after the task state settles. |

## Related guides

- [Chat with Runner](./chat-with-runner.mdx)
- [Write effective requests](./write-effective-requests.mdx)
- [Task states and details](./task-states-and-details.mdx)