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

# Start Campaign

> Start a campaign, transitioning it from draft or paused to active.

## Path Parameters

<ParamField path="campaign_id" type="string" required>
  The unique identifier of the campaign.
</ParamField>

## Prerequisites

Before starting a campaign, ensure it has:

* At least one sequence step
* Leads enrolled (added through the dashboard)
* Email accounts assigned

## Response

Returns the updated campaign object with `status: "active"`.

<RequestExample>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl -X POST "https://api.foxreach.io/api/v1/campaigns/cmp_abc123/start" \
    -H "X-API-Key: otr_your_key"
  ```

  ```python Python SDK theme={null}
  from foxreach import FoxReach

  client = FoxReach(api_key="otr_your_key")
  campaign = client.campaigns.start("cmp_xyz789")
  ```

  ```typescript TypeScript SDK theme={null}
  import { FoxReach } from "foxreach";

  const client = new FoxReach({ apiKey: "otr_your_key" });
  const campaign = await client.campaigns.start("cmp_xyz789");
  ```
</RequestExample>

<ResponseExample>
  ```json theme={null}
  {
    "data": {
      "id": "cmp_abc123",
      "name": "Q1 Outreach",
      "status": "active",
      "startedAt": "2025-01-15T09:00:00",
      "..."
    }
  }
  ```
</ResponseExample>

## Errors

| Status | Description                                   |
| ------ | --------------------------------------------- |
| `400`  | Campaign is already active                    |
| `400`  | Cannot start a completed campaign             |
| `400`  | Campaign must have at least one sequence step |
| `404`  | Campaign not found                            |

## Rate Limit

* **100 requests per minute, per API key.** Fixed 60-second window.
* Every response includes `X-RateLimit-Limit`, `X-RateLimit-Remaining`, and `X-RateLimit-Reset` (unix epoch seconds).
* A `429` response includes a `Retry-After` header (seconds until the bucket resets).

For client-side patterns (`Retry-After`, exponential backoff, monitoring `X-RateLimit-Remaining`), see [Rate Limiting](/rate-limiting).