Troubleshooting Missing Availability with Restricted Scheduling Windows on a Round

Last updated: September 17, 2026

Approx. 6 min read

When a round uses a Restricted Selection Window, candidate.fyi only shows availability inside that window. If suggested slots disappear—or you see No slots suggestions available—this guide walks through what to check.

How restricted scheduling windows change availability

Normally, candidate.fyi reads each interviewer's calendar and working hours to find free time. When a restricted window is active on a round or request, the rules change:

  • Availability comes only from the restricted window you selected—not from general calendar free time.

  • Other scheduling windows (busy blocks, free blocks, personal windows) are ignored while the restriction is active.

  • For windows that Match calendar events, interviewers must have calendar events whose name contains the configured Calendar event name.

  • For System defined restricted windows, availability comes from the date ranges or recurring patterns set in candidate.fyi—no matching calendar event is required.

On the scheduler calendar, matching blocks appear in solid blue and show the tooltip label Restricted selection window.

Where to check your round settings

On the round template

  1. Go to Templates & Libraries → Scheduling → Rounds.

  2. Open the round and click All Settings.

  3. Open the General section.

  4. Confirm Restrict availability to scheduling window is turned on.

  5. Confirm a window is selected in Restricted Selection Window.

  6. Review Restricted Selection Window Option if shown.

On a scheduling request

  1. Go to Scheduling, open the request, and click Schedule.

  2. Click the gear icon labeled Edit Round Settings.

  3. Open the General section and check the same restricted-window fields as above.

A request inherits its round's restricted window unless you override it on the request.

Step 1: Confirm the restricted window exists and is active

Restricted windows are created under Settings → Scheduling → Scheduling Windows.

  1. Click New (or open an existing window) and choose type Restricted selection window.

  2. Choose a Source:

    • Match calendar events — enter the Calendar event name text to match (for example, Executive Interview Block).

    • System defined — set a Date range or Recurring pattern for when scheduling is allowed.

  3. Save the window, then select it on your round or request.

Common issues:

  • The toggle Restrict availability to scheduling window is off, or no window is selected in Restricted Selection Window.

  • The window was archived or deleted. Archived windows are removed from rounds and active requests, which can suddenly leave you with no availability.

  • The wrong window is selected (for example, one meant for a different event name).

Step 2: For calendar-matched windows, verify interviewer calendar events

If your restricted window uses Match calendar events, each assigned interviewer needs matching events on a connected calendar.

Checklist:

  • The event title contains the configured Calendar event name text (partial matches count).

  • Events fall on the days you are searching in the scheduler (try different days with Start on / Schedule For, or switch Morning / Afternoon).

  • Each event block is long enough for the interview duration.

  • The interviewer's calendar is connected (see Getting Started: Connecting your Calendars).

  • Events are not private—private events may not be visible to candidate.fyi.

  • If the interviewer declined a calendar invite for that block, candidate.fyi treats that time as free and it will not count as a restricted window slot.

What to try: Open the scheduler calendar view and look for solid blue Restricted selection window blocks on each interviewer's column. If you do not see them, the calendar event name likely does not match—or the event is outside your current date range.

Step 3: Review the Restricted Selection Window Option

When a restricted window is selected, you may see Restricted Selection Window Option:

  • Respect All candidate.fyi Events — candidate.fyi will not schedule over any interview already on the calendar from candidate.fyi.

  • Respect candidate.fyi Round Events — only events tied to this round block availability; other candidate.fyi events on the calendar are ignored.

If many candidate.fyi events already occupy the restricted blocks, suggested slots can disappear even when calendar events match. Check whether existing interviews are filling those windows.

Step 4: Check other scheduling constraints

Restricted windows define where scheduling is allowed, but other round settings can still remove slots:

  • Candidate availability — for availability requests, the candidate's submitted times must overlap the restricted window. In Suggestion Filters, try turning on Ignore Candidate Availability to test whether this is the blocker.

  • Interviewer working hours — restricted blocks outside working hours may not produce slots unless you turn on Ignore Interviewer Working Hours in Suggestion Filters.

  • Panel interviews — every required interviewer must be free inside the same restricted window at the same time.

  • Buffer hours, minimum availability hours, and schedule-within deadlines — these can narrow or eliminate viable slots even when restricted windows exist.

  • Conference rooms — when Include Booking Rooms is on in Suggestion Filters, room availability must also align.

Step 5: Use the scheduler to narrow down the cause

  1. Open the request and click Schedule.

  2. Select the interview you are trying to book.

  3. Look at the Suggested Slots panel on the right.

  4. If you see No slots suggestions available, open Suggestion Filters (the filter button next to Suggested Slots) and try:

    • Changing the calendar day or Morning / Afternoon filter

    • Ignore Candidate Availability

    • Ignore Interviewer Working Hours

  5. Click Update after each change.

  6. On the calendar, confirm blue Restricted selection window blocks appear for your interviewers on the dates you expect.

If slots appear only after ignoring candidate availability or working hours, the restricted window is working—but another constraint is filtering results out.

Quick reference: common causes and fixes

Symptom

Likely cause

What to do

No suggested slots at all

Restricted window toggle off, or no window selected

Turn on Restrict availability to scheduling window and pick a window

No suggested slots at all

Calendar events do not match the configured name

Verify event titles contain the Calendar event name text; adjust the window or event naming

No suggested slots at all

Searching the wrong day or time band

Change Start on / Schedule For or Morning / Afternoon

Slots on some days but not others

Matching calendar events exist only on certain days

Ask interviewers to add blocks on needed days, or widen system-defined date ranges

Slots for one interviewer but not a panel

Not all interviewers have overlapping restricted blocks

Ensure every interviewer has matching events (or overlapping system-defined windows) at the same times

Slots disappeared after a settings change

Restricted window was archived or removed

Check Settings → Scheduling → Scheduling Windows and re-assign an active window

Blue restricted blocks visible but no slots

Another constraint (candidate availability, working hours, rooms, existing interviews)

Use Suggestion Filters to isolate the constraint; review Restricted Selection Window Option

When to ask for help

If you have confirmed the restricted window is assigned, matching calendar events exist (or system-defined dates cover your range), and Suggestion Filters still show no slots, share with your team:

  • The round name and request link

  • The restricted window name and its Calendar event name (if calendar-matched)

  • Which interviewers are assigned

  • The dates and times you expected slots

  • Whether blue Restricted selection window blocks appear on the scheduler calendar

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