How do message updates affect in-progress sequences?

Last updated: October 14, 2026

When you update the content of a sequence step, it's important to understand how those changes apply to leads who are already active in that sequence.

To modify a sequence, go to the sequence's page > "Settings" > "Messages" > "Edit sequence".

How message updates work for active leads

Once a sequence step has been scheduled or sent for a lead, it is locked in and cannot be changed. When you save changes to a live sequence template, the dialog Save changes to a live sequence? asks what happens to leads already going through it. You can choose:

  • Keep leads in progress (recommended): Leads who already received a message keep their original sequence. Enrolled leads who do not have a step scheduled yet move onto the updated sequence template. Leads added from now on get the updated version.

  • Stop leads in progress: Every lead currently in the sequence stops immediately, including leads that have not received anything yet. Only leads added from now on go through the updated version.

A step that is already scheduled, or sitting in Tasks, keeps its original message and structure.

Pro tip: Choose Stop leads in progress only when you want every current lead to stop. Otherwise, choose Keep leads in progress.

How to ensure all leads receive updated content

Keep leads in progress already moves enrolled leads who have not been scheduled yet onto the updated sequence template. Leads who already received a message, or who already have a step scheduled, stay on the original one. To move those leads onto the new content:

  1. Change the sequence's status to Inactive. This will stop all activity related to said sequence.

  2. On the top right corner in the sequence's page, click on the three dots and click "Clone".

  3. Update the cloned sequence steps with your new content.

  4. Link the lead list to the new sequence, select a behaviour such that leads are enrolled in the new sequence, and select "Enroll existing leads now".

Best practices

To minimize disruption, review and finalize your sequence content before enrolling leads. Making content changes before any steps are scheduled ensures all leads receive the most up-to-date messaging without requiring a restart.