# Move a contact through the pipeline

Change a contact's deal stage from the table, Kanban or contact panel, and record a reason when a deal is lost.

Canonical: https://docs.lead-knight.com/en/contacts/move-through-stages/

## What a stage means

A contact's stage describes where its deal stands. Stage labels are customizable, so your workspace may use names different from the examples in a video. The underlying stage meaning stays the same when its label changes.

## Before you start

Open **Contacts** and find the record. Moving a contact requires write access to its deal, a non-viewer role and an unfrozen record. If the stage is private, you cannot use the hidden stage as an editable pipeline position.

## Change the stage

1. In **Table**, use the contact's **Stage** selector and choose the destination stage. You can also open the contact panel and change its stage there.
2. Alternatively switch to **Kanban**. On desktop, drag an editable contact card into the destination stage column. Scroll horizontally to reach columns off-screen. Opening the contact panel and using its selector is an alternative to dragging.
3. For a stage with a lost meaning, the **Loss reason** dialog opens instead of immediately completing the move.
4. Choose **Reason** from **Bought elsewhere**, **Not serious**, **No answer** or **Other**. Add an optional **Note** for context.
5. Click **Save**. The move is saved and the list refreshes. **Cancel** dismisses the loss dialog without saving that move.
6. Check the new stage in the list or destination column. Select a next task separately if follow-up is needed; changing a stage is not the same as scheduling a task.

## Reading the board

Each Kanban column shows its stage label and contact count. When deal values exist, totals are displayed by currency rather than combining different currencies. A separate **Stage private** column can hold records whose deal stage you cannot see.

The stage meanings shown in settings include **In progress**, **Qualified**, **Meeting held**, **Won**, **Lost** and **Not relevant**. Their displayed contact-stage labels may be renamed by your workspace. Do not infer a meaning from color alone.

## If something goes wrong

- A card will not drag: check deal access, your role and whether the contact is frozen. Try opening the panel to see available actions.
- The loss dialog says **Missing: Reason**: select a reason, then save again.
- The card appears absent after moving: clear search and attention filters, and inspect the destination stage. Filters still apply after a move.
- A save error appears: the move has not been confirmed; use the displayed error rather than assuming the card's position proves success.
- The stages do not match your process: an owner/admin can [customize stages](https://docs.lead-knight.com/en/contacts/customize-stages/); you do not need a second contact record.

## Related pages

- [Contacts overview](https://docs.lead-knight.com/en/contacts/overview/)
- [Customize stages](https://docs.lead-knight.com/en/contacts/customize-stages/)
- [Follow-up tasks](https://docs.lead-knight.com/en/contacts/follow-up-tasks/)
- [Calls and messages](https://docs.lead-knight.com/en/contacts/communication-history/)


## Move a contact through your pipeline

[Move a contact through your pipeline](https://kwqpaiaguxkmadaipfrf.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/guide-videos/guides/videos/J4/nadlanite-en-255f1386d8f5.mp4)

1. Each contact has a stage, from New through to Won or Lost.
2. Click the stage to change it.
3. Pick the next stage as the deal moves forward.
4. The contact moves to that stage. Moving someone to Lost asks for a reason.