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# Communication Settings

The **Communications** page (**Settings → Communications**) controls what CONFIRM sends to candidates automatically, the templates those messages use, who on your team is notified, and which mailbox candidate email comes from. Admins, Recruiters, and Viewers can open it; only Admins and Recruiters can edit rules and templates.

This page is a short orientation. For a full walkthrough of editing rules, steps, and variables, see [Templates & Automation](/communication/templates-and-automation).

## The four tabs

| Tab                     | What it holds                                                                                                |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Communication Rules** | Every automated candidate-facing message, grouped by purpose. Each rule has a trigger and one or more steps. |
| **Templates**           | Reusable email and SMS templates, including built-in system templates you can view but not change.           |
| **Team Notifications**  | **Who gets notified**: the team members who get an email when a candidate needs action.                      |
| **Sending Mailbox**     | Which connected Google or Microsoft mailbox candidate email is sent from.                                    |

If you have unsaved edits on **Communication Rules** or **Templates** and switch tabs, the page asks whether to save or discard them first.

## Communication Rules

Rules are organized into groups:

| Group                   | What it covers                                                     |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Interview lifecycle** | Confirmations and rescheduling around a booked slot                |
| **Interview reminders** | Time-based nudges before the interview                             |
| **Candidate outreach**  | Follow-ups when a candidate goes quiet                             |
| **Evaluations**         | Sending external assessments and skills tests                      |
| **Recovery**            | Optional re-engagement after a missed step                         |
| **Background checks**   | The link a candidate gets once a background check has been ordered |

Each step sends by **SMS**, **Email**, or **Call**, at a set time relative to its trigger. You can filter the list by status (**Active** or **Paused**), by channel, and by whether a rule is **Customized** or still the **Default**. Edits and on/off toggles apply to your whole organization.

The **Background checks** group only matters if background checks are turned on for your organization. See [Background Checks Overview](/background-checks/overview).

## Templates

The **Templates** tab holds your **Email** and **SMS** templates. Create, edit, and delete your own; system templates are read-only. Templates can be linked from rule steps and used when [messaging candidates](/communication/messaging-candidates) directly.

## Team Notifications

The **Who gets notified** list controls which team members get an email when a candidate needs action, for example a finished screening, a reply, or an interview that needs an outcome. Everyone in your organization can view the list; only Admins can add or remove people. If nobody is on the list, no notifications are sent. See [Team Notifications](/communication/team-notifications) for which events send an email.

## Sending Mailbox

The **Sending Mailbox** tab shows the mailbox candidate email is sent from. Connecting, reconnecting, and removing accounts happens on [Connect Email & Calendar](/settings/integrations), which the tab links to.

## Exporting your communication package

Click **Export package** (top right) to download a Word document of every communication rule and what it sends, which is useful for reviewing copy with your team. Choose what the variables should show:

* **Filled-in preview**: example values (such as a sample first name, your company, and the job) so it reads like a real message.
* **Show placeholders**: keeps `{{variables}}` visible, which is best for editing copy.

> **Note**
>
> Candidates who shouldn't be contacted at all are handled through the candidate's status (**Do Not Contact**) or the [Blocklist](/settings/blocklist), not through rules on this page.