> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bilby.health/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Online hours and booking mode

> Set each practitioner's online hours, offer fixed session times, and choose instant booking or requests.

## Set each practitioner's online hours

1. In **Settings › Online bookings**, open the **Schedules** tab.
2. Turn on each practitioner who takes online bookings, then select **Set up schedule**.
3. Tick the services they offer online, and paint the hours patients can book on the grid.
4. Select **Save schedule**.

You can only paint hours inside the practitioner's working hours. Leave, closures and existing appointments are taken out for you.

## Offer fixed session times

> [!NOTE]
>
> Not every practice has this yet. Bilby turns it on for each practice. If you can't see it, contact Bilby support.

By default patients can start at any time inside the painted hours. To offer set start times instead, open the practitioner's schedule, choose fixed sessions, and paint one block for each session. Patients are then offered each session's start time only.

## Instant booking or requests

* Confirm instantly books the appointment straight away, as long as Bilby can match the patient to one existing patient. Otherwise it arrives as a request.
* Send a request holds the time and waits for you to approve or reject it.

To approve or reject requests, see [Online requests](https://docs.bilby.health/calendar/front-desk-queues.md#online-requests).


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