---
title: "Answer Auto-setup's questions"
description: "Give Auto-setup the environment variable, file, or decision it stopped for, and let setup continue."
url: https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/10-answer-auto-setup-s-questions
collection: "Set up your codebase"
updated: 2026-10-29
language: en
---

# Answer Auto-setup's questions

Give Auto-setup the environment variable, file, or decision it stopped for, and let setup continue.

When Auto-setup cannot find a value in your code, it stops and asks you. Setup waits until you answer, so answer as soon as you see **Auto-setup needs your input**.

**Before you start**

-   Have the value at hand. If you do not know it, click **Send to coworker** at the top of the page and hand the setup to an engineer instead.
    

## Steps

1.  Open the setup. If you left the page, click the codebase under **CODEBASES** in the sidebar. A blue dot marks a setup in progress. The panel **Auto-setup needs your input** states the question and, below it, why the agent asks.
    
    ![The Auto-setup needs your input panel asking for an API key, with the API\_KEY field and the Send to agent button](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/p6a1872808f187689a3937fa3/WLoFuR0ll3H2BIA0sD6g9uuwWrI35P2Cqtga34CPgBh0TOSLEp72EgLkCh5idvaVwhVsuYjXYFg.png)
2.  Fill in what it asks for. The form matches the question.
    
    -   One environment variable: a field named after the variable, such as `API_KEY`.
        
    -   Several environment variables: a field for each under **Provide values**.
        
    -   A configuration file: **Add file**, then check the path the agent expects.
        
    -   A decision: a choice under **Choose one**, or a text box under **Your answer**.
        
3.  Click **Send to agent**. The panel changes back to **Auto-setup is running in sandbox** and the log continues from where it stopped.
    

Auto-setup may ask again if it finds something else it cannot resolve. When it is done, the panel reads **Verifying codebase** while the recorded steps replay on a clean copy of your code. Then the card reads **You're all set!**, and **Create Canvas** opens your first canvas.

![The You're all set! card with the line Your codebase is connected and the Create Canvas button](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/p6a1872808f187689a3937fa3/lXw5LHTl3dMPW6WmAsxuamj8sQyd7rBRhf3aGcSY9R6qwYJp15TkC9yfln3gCK3TZrcy4NmhxRu.png)

Values you give here are stored with the codebase. You can change them later with [Edit a codebase's secrets](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/12-edit-secrets.md).

## If it does not work

-   **Send to agent stays disabled**: every field in the form needs a value.
    
-   **There is no Skip button**: the agent marked the value as required. **Skip** appears only for optional values and tells the agent to continue without one.
    
-   **You are not sure what the agent wants**: click **Get help**. It opens the in-app assistant with the question already filled in.
    
-   **The panel says Setup paused and "This is taking longer than usual"**: Auto-setup used up its time. Click **Resume setup** to let it continue.
    
-   **The panel says Auto-setup ran into an error**: click **Retry setup**. If it fails again, contact support.
    
-   **"Failed to submit. Please try again."**: the answer did not reach the agent. Click **Send to agent** once more.
    

## Related

-   [What happens during setup](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/17-what-happens-during-setup.md)
    
-   [Review and verify the setup config](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/14-review-and-verify-the-setup-config.md)
    
-   [Edit a codebase's secrets](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/12-edit-secrets.md)
    
-   [Connect a GitHub repository](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/11-connect-a-github-repository.md)

## Related

- [Connect a GitHub repository](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/11-connect-a-github-repository.md)
- [Upload a codebase as a zip](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/16-upload-a-codebase-as-a-zip.md)
- [Start from a blank codebase](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/15-start-from-a-blank-codebase.md)
- [What happens during setup](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/17-what-happens-during-setup.md)
- [Review and verify the setup config](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/14-review-and-verify-the-setup-config.md)