---
title: "Define email queue properties"
slug: "define-email-queue-properties"
updated: 2026-10-21T11:41:42Z
published: 2026-10-21T11:41:42Z
canonical: "help.8x8.com/define-email-queue-properties"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.8x8.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Define email queue properties

**8x8 Contact Center** administrators define an email queue with the primary properties, such as queue name, default priority, email processing timeout, and more. The Properties tab in **8x8 Configuration Manager** under Queues/Skills > Email allows administrators to define these properties.

To define email queue properties:

1. From the **Configuration Menu**, open **Queues/Skills**.
2. Click ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon_plus_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T23%3A11%3A04Z&se=2026-11-04T00%3A11%3A04Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=P898j%2Bj5OTGw7ieCPmOxfyFYV6dI624jBfBGhGJATP8%3D) or **Email**.
3. Enter the desired properties in the **Properties** tab. The following table summarizes the options under **Queues/Skills > Email > Properties**:

| Properties Tab Option | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Queue type | Read-only reminder of the type of queue. |
| Queue name | Enter a name for the queue. |
| Default priority | Choose the priority for this queue, where 1 specifies the lowest priority and 10 specifies the highest priority. This defines the priority for interactions of all media. By default, **8x8 Contact Center** prioritizes the queues as follows: - Phone queue = 8 (highest default priority) - Chat queue = 6 - Voicemail queue = 4 - Email queue = 2 (lowest default priority) Based on your business needs, you can assign the desired priority for each queue. |
| Email processing timeout | Choose how long **8x8 Contact Center** must wait before assigning a new interaction from the queue to an agent who has just completed an interaction. The post-processing timeout enables agents servicing the selected queue to perform any necessary post-interaction tasks before receiving a new interaction. Choose **Manual** to enable agents assigned to this queue to use their **8x8 Agent Console** to explicitly make themselves available for new interactions. When there are multiple agents available with the same queue and skill level assignment waiting to receive the next interaction, **8x8 Contact Center** routes the call to the agent who has been idle the longest. For details, see our content on how to [reset idle timer for agents](/documentation/docs/reset-idle-timer-for-agents#work-with-agents-idle-timer). |
| Queue Signature | Type the default signature appended to all email responses sent by an agent in response to an email interaction. |

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/CM-queue-skills-email-properties.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T23%3A11%3A04Z&se=2026-11-04T00%3A11%3A04Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=P898j%2Bj5OTGw7ieCPmOxfyFYV6dI624jBfBGhGJATP8%3D)
4. Click **Save**.

After you define the queue properties, you are ready to assign members to the queue.