Automation triggers

Every automation starts from exactly one trigger, and there are only three kinds:

Trigger	Fires when
Someone joins a list	A contact becomes a subscribed member of the list. For a double opt-in list, that’s the confirm click, not the earlier signup
Someone gets a tag	A tag is added to a contact, by you, a bulk action, a form, or another automation’s own “Add a tag” step
Someone signs up through a form	A contact confirms a double opt-in form, or completes a single opt-in form’s signup

An automation has exactly one trigger, set on the Starts when card at the top of the flow.

Set or change the trigger

1. Open the automation’s editor (Edit, from a draft or paused automation).
2. On the Starts when card, click Edit.
3. Choose the trigger kind from Starts when (“Someone joins a list”, “Someone gets a tag”, or “Someone signs up through a form”), then choose the specific list, tag or form from Which one. The hint: “Lists and forms carry consent through to every send; tags don’t.”
4. Click Save trigger.

The trigger can only be changed while the automation is draft or paused. Trying to change it on a live automation redirects you back with “Pause this automation before changing its trigger.”

What each trigger kind means in practice

• List joined only fires on a genuine new subscribe or confirm. Importing a contact into that list never fires it. See Why imports don’t trigger automations.
• Tag added fires no matter what added the tag, including another automation’s own “Add a tag” step, so one automation can hand off to another.
• Form confirmed fires from a form’s double opt-in confirmation, or a single opt-in form’s successful signup. Consent covers the form’s own destination list.

You can’t delete a list, tag or form that a trigger points at while its automation is live, paused, or in review; you’ll be told which automation is using it.

See A contact enters an automation only once and Automation steps explained.