> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://stagehand-stg-1784.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Agent Fallbacks

> A failsafe when unexpected page changes add extra steps

## When to use

Use an agent fallback as a failsafe when a one step action unexpectedly becomes a multi-step flow.

## How it works

1. [`act()`](/v2/basics/act) is attempted for the direct action
2. If it fails, [`agent()`](/v2/basics/agent) figures out the new path
3. Agent completes all needed steps (open menu → click button)

### Example scenario

**Before**: Sign in button was in the header\
**After**: Sign in now requires: Click account menu → Click "Sign in" option

A single `act("click sign in")` can't handle this change. The agent fallback can discover and execute both steps.

<CodeGroup>
  ```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
  import { Stagehand } from "@browserbasehq/stagehand";

  try {
    await page.act("click the 'Sign In' button");
  } catch (err) {
    console.log("Agent fallback triggered");

    const agent = stagehand.agent({
      provider: "anthropic",
      model: "claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
      instructions: "You are a helpful assistant that can use a web browser.",
    });

    const result = await agent.execute({
      instruction: "Find and click Sign In button",
      maxSteps: 10,
    });

    console.log(result.success ? "Agent fallback success" : "Agent fallback failed");

    if (!result.success) throw err;
  }
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  from stagehand import Stagehand

  try:
      await page.act("click the 'Sign In' button")
  except Exception as err:
      print("Agent fallback triggered")

      agent = stagehand.agent({
          "provider": "anthropic",
          "model": "claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
          "instructions": "Complete the action, handling any new steps required.",
      })

      result = await agent.execute({
          "instruction": "Find and click Sign In button",
          "max_steps": 10,
      })

      print("Agent fallback success" if result.success else "Agent fallback failed")

      if not result.success:
          raise err
  ```
</CodeGroup>