---
title: "Calibrate the watcher | Grafana Labs"
description: "Calibrate the watcher so Assistant can save validated checks and a baseline."
---

> For a curated documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt). For the complete documentation index, see [llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt).

# Calibrate the watcher

Calibration builds checks and a baseline from your watcher’s context and data sources, so you don’t write queries or set thresholds. It runs in the background on the **Calibration** tab and keeps running if you leave the page.

If calibration can’t build a baseline, for example because your data sources don’t have the telemetry you described, it stops and explains what’s missing. Correct the watcher goal or data sources on the **Calibration** tab and click **Retry calibration**.

When calibration succeeds, the switch at the top of the page reads **Active**, and the watcher scans on its schedule.

**Create watcher** opened your watcher’s **Calibration** tab. If you left it, the first steps take you back.

To follow calibration, complete the following steps:

1. Open **Watchers**.
2. In the Watchers list, click your watcher’s name.
3. Open the **Calibration** tab, in the row of tabs below **Status**.
   
   Don’t use the button at the top of the page that reads **Calibrate** or **Recalibrate**. That’s for changing the watcher later.
   
   The context you entered appears here as the watcher goal.
4. If the **Calibration** tab shows **Calibration needs your input**, answer the questions, then click **Continue calibration**.
   
   Only the person who started calibration can answer them. The answer Assistant recommends is already selected and marked **(Recommended)**.
5. When calibration finishes, read the **Calibration summary** at the top of the **Calibration** tab.
6. Scroll down to **Calibration results** and review the **Calibration baseline** and the saved checks.

Calibration saved checks and a baseline, and the watcher is now scanning on its schedule. In the next milestone, you’ll trigger **Run now** and learn how to pause the automatic runs.

* * *

### More to explore (optional)

- [Calibrate a watcher](https://grafana.com/docs/grafana-cloud/platform/grafana-assistant/platform/watchers/#calibrate-a-watcher)

Were you successful?

![No](https://grafana.com/media/images/svg/thumbs-up.svg) No

![Yes](https://grafana.com/media/images/svg/thumbs-up.svg) Yes

Super! You can move to the next step.

Explore the following troubleshooting topics if you need help:

[Calibrate a watcher](https://grafana.com/docs/grafana-cloud/platform/grafana-assistant/platform/watchers/#calibrate-a-watcher)

Please tell us what didn't work:

Submit

Submitting...

There was an error with your submission.

Thank you!

Need more support? Check out these [helpful resources.](https://grafana.com/help/)