---
title: "Wait for File Step"
url: "https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/wait-for-file-step"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-12-25T10:42:12.433Z"
---

# Wait for File Step

The Wait for File Step tells your automation process to pause until a specific file shows up or disappears. This helps your robot work together with other systems, like when another program creates a file.

## How to Use the Wait for File Step

This step lets you pick a file path and say whether the robot should wait for the file to appear or go away.

### Step 1: Add the Wait for File Step

1.  Drag the **Wait for File Step** into your process workflow.
2.  Click on the step to set its options.

### Step 2: Set Up Step Information

**Step Name** (Optional)

-   Give the step a custom name. This name shows up on the process step box in the editor.

### Step 3: Set Input Parameters

**File path** (Required)

-   Type the full path to the file you want to watch.
-   You can use a string variable you've already made or type the path directly.
-   **Example:** `C:\Data\report.xlsx`

**Timeout** (Optional)

-   Put in a number in seconds for how long the robot should wait.
-   You can use an integer variable you've already made or type the value directly.
-   If you leave this blank, the robot waits until the file is created or deleted. The longest it will wait is 24 hours.

### Step 4: Set Output Parameters

**Output** (Required)

-   Assign a boolean variable you've already made here.
-   This variable will be `True` if the file was created/deleted in time.
-   It will be `False` if the time ran out and the file status didn't change as expected.

### Step 5: Set Up Error Handling

**Throw exception** (Required)

-   **T (True):** If something goes wrong (for example, the time runs out), the process will stop and show an error.
-   **F (False):** (This is the default) If something goes wrong, the process will keep going, and the `Output` variable will show what happened.

## Related Articles

-   [Error Handling - Robotiq.ai Help Center](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/error-handling)
-   [Define Variable Step - Robotiq.ai Help Center](https://docs.robotiq.ai/en/article/define-variable-step)

## Need Help?

Can't find what you're looking for? Join the [Robotiq Community](https://community.robotiq.ai/home/) to get help from other users and the Robotiq team.

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