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Use the Automation Path Builder to add or remove contacts from a list

Article: 000053987
Updated: March 18, 2026

Use automation to add your contacts to a list, or take them off a list, when they reach a specific step in your automation path

Managing your contacts can be cumbersome, but when you use automation to help you, it becomes much less of a chore! An automation path can be used to add contacts to a list, or remove contacts from a list, as they complete a specific step in your path. Here's how it works:

 

Clock IconSave time: Make sure to create any new lists you want to add your contacts to before you add the 'Add or remove from list' step to your automation path!

 


Add an 'Add or remove from list' action to your path

The 'Add or remove from list' contact action can be added anywhere in your path after the trigger step, and you can have multiple 'Add or remove from list' steps in your path, as needed.

Light Bulb IconDesign tip: Adding a conditional split before the 'Add or remove from list' step lets you choose the contact activity, shopping behavior, or list, tag, and segment membership that triggers the list update.

 

  1. From the Contact actions section, drag the Add or remove from list step into your path.
  2. Drop the Add or remove from list step anywhere in the path where there’s a plus sign.

    Automation path builder with Contact actions section and Add or remove from list option being dragged into the path and dropped into place

It's that easy! Repeat the steps for each 'Add or remove from list' step you want to add to your path. A step can also be dragged anywhere there’s a plus sign if you want to change its location in the path.

 

Select the list you want to add or remove contacts from

All it takes is a quick edit to select the list you want to associate with the step:

  1. Click the three dots on the Add or remove from list step in your path, and select the "Edit" option.

    Automation path with Add or remove from list step with menu expanded and Edit option selected

  2. Select either the "Add" or "Remove" option.
  3. Select a list from the drop-down menu.
    Note: Click the Save & close button in the upper right-hand corner of the path builder and then click Contacts > Lists if you need to create a new list. This takes you out of the path builder, but you can click the Automations option in the left-hand menu to open your automation back up and continue editing it.
  4. Click the Save button.

    Add or remove from list overlay with Add option selected, List drop-down menu, and Save button

 

Light Bulb IconDid you know? Your automation path can be edited at any time after it's been activated, but if you make changes to the 'Add or remove from list' step, the changes only apply to contacts who reach the step going forward, and don't apply to contacts who already completed the step.

 


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