diff --git a/lib/ask/channel.ex b/lib/ask/channel.ex
index 1e5f81a39..335f6cc77 100644
--- a/lib/ask/channel.ex
+++ b/lib/ask/channel.ex
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ defmodule Ask.Channel do
     field :settings, :map
     field :patterns, Ask.Ecto.Type.JSON, default: []
     field :status, Ask.Ecto.Type.JSON, virtual: true
+    field :paused, :boolean, default: false
+
     belongs_to :user, Ask.User
     has_many :respondent_group_channels, Ask.RespondentGroupChannel, on_delete: :delete_all
     many_to_many :projects, Ask.Project, join_through: Ask.ProjectChannel, on_replace: :delete
@@ -36,7 +38,7 @@ defmodule Ask.Channel do
   """
   def changeset(struct, params \\ %{}) do
     struct
-    |> cast(params, [:name, :type, :provider, :base_url, :settings, :user_id, :patterns])
+    |> cast(params, [:name, :type, :provider, :base_url, :settings, :user_id, :patterns, :paused])
     |> validate_required([:name, :type, :provider, :settings, :user_id])
     |> validate_patterns
     |> assoc_constraint(:user)
@@ -84,18 +86,39 @@ defmodule Ask.Channel do
   end
 
   def with_status(channel) do
-    status = channel.id |> ChannelStatusServer.get_channel_status()
-
-    status =
-      case status do
-        :up -> %{status: "up"}
-        :unknown -> %{status: "unknown"}
-        down_or_error -> down_or_error
-      end
+    status = channel |> get_status()
 
     %{channel | status: status}
   end
 
+  def get_status(%{paused: true}) do
+    %{status: "paused"}
+  end
+
+  def get_status(channel) do
+    channel.id
+    |> ChannelStatusServer.get_channel_status()
+    |> case do
+      :up -> %{status: "up"}
+      :unknown -> %{status: "unknown"}
+      down_or_error -> down_or_error
+    end
+  end
+
+  def is_paused?(channel) do
+    channel.paused
+  end
+
+  def is_down?(channel) do
+    channel
+    |> get_status()
+    |> case do
+      %{status: "up"} -> false
+      %{status: "unknown"} -> false
+      _ -> true
+    end
+  end
+
   defp validate_patterns(changeset) do
     changeset
     |> validate_patterns_not_empty
diff --git a/lib/ask/runtime/channel_status_server.ex b/lib/ask/runtime/channel_status_server.ex
index ed39052dd..895c3b4ed 100644
--- a/lib/ask/runtime/channel_status_server.ex
+++ b/lib/ask/runtime/channel_status_server.ex
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ defmodule Ask.Runtime.ChannelStatusServer do
   end
 
   def poll(pid) do
-    send(pid, :poll)
+    send(pid, :poll_once)
   end
 
   def get_channel_status(channel_id) do
@@ -40,57 +40,23 @@ defmodule Ask.Runtime.ChannelStatusServer do
     log_info("polling")
 
     try do
-      Survey.running_channels()
-      |> Repo.preload(:user)
-      |> Enum.each(fn c ->
-        previous_status = get_status_from_state(c.id, state)
+      poll_channels(state)
 
-        spawn(fn ->
-          status = ChannelBroker.check_status(c.id)
-          timestamp = Timex.now()
+      {:noreply, state}
+    after
+      :timer.send_after(@poll_interval, :poll)
+    end
+  end
 
-          case status do
-            {:down, messages} ->
-              case previous_status do
-                %{status: :down} ->
-                  nil
-
-                _ ->
-                  AskWeb.Email.channel_down(c.user.email, c, messages) |> Ask.Mailer.deliver()
-
-                  update_channel_status(c.id, %{
-                    status: :down,
-                    messages: messages,
-                    name: c.name,
-                    timestamp: timestamp
-                  })
-              end
-
-            {:error, code} ->
-              case previous_status do
-                %{status: :error} ->
-                  nil
-
-                _ ->
-                  AskWeb.Email.channel_error(c.user.email, c, code) |> Ask.Mailer.deliver()
-
-                  update_channel_status(c.id, %{
-                    status: :error,
-                    code: code,
-                    name: c.name,
-                    timestamp: timestamp
-                  })
-              end
-
-            status ->
-              update_channel_status(c.id, status)
-          end
-        end)
-      end)
+  def handle_info(:poll_once, state) do
+    log_info("poll forced")
+
+    try do
+      poll_channels(state)
 
       {:noreply, state}
     after
-      :timer.send_after(@poll_interval, :poll)
+      nil
     end
   end
 
@@ -105,4 +71,56 @@ defmodule Ask.Runtime.ChannelStatusServer do
   def log_info(message) do
     Logger.info("ChannelStatusServer: #{message}")
   end
+
+  defp poll_channels(state) do
+    Survey.running_channels()
+    |> Repo.preload(:user)
+    |> Enum.each(fn c ->
+
+      unless c.paused do
+        previous_status = get_status_from_state(c.id, state)
+
+        spawn(fn ->
+          status = ChannelBroker.check_status(c.id)
+          timestamp = Timex.now()
+
+          process_channel_status_change(status, previous_status, timestamp, c)
+        end)
+      end
+    end)
+  end
+
+  defp process_channel_status_change({:down, _messages}, %{status: :down}, _timestamp, _channel) do
+    nil
+  end
+
+  defp process_channel_status_change({:down, messages}, _previous_status, timestamp, channel) do
+    AskWeb.Email.channel_down(channel.user.email, channel, messages) |> Ask.Mailer.deliver()
+
+    update_channel_status(channel.id, %{
+      status: :down,
+      messages: messages,
+      name: channel.name,
+      timestamp: timestamp
+    })
+  end
+
+  defp process_channel_status_change({:error, _code}, %{status: :error}, _timestamp, _channel) do
+    nil
+  end
+
+  defp process_channel_status_change({:error, code}, _previous_status, timestamp, channel) do
+    AskWeb.Email.channel_error(channel.user.email, channel, code) |> Ask.Mailer.deliver()
+
+    update_channel_status(channel.id, %{
+      status: :error,
+      code: code,
+      name: channel.name,
+      timestamp: timestamp
+    })
+  end
+
+  defp process_channel_status_change(status, _previous_status, _timestamp, channel) do
+    update_channel_status(channel.id, status)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/lib/ask/runtime/survey_broker.ex b/lib/ask/runtime/survey_broker.ex
index 5673786cd..6436bdbd3 100644
--- a/lib/ask/runtime/survey_broker.ex
+++ b/lib/ask/runtime/survey_broker.ex
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ defmodule Ask.Runtime.SurveyBroker do
   import Ecto
 
   alias Ask.{
+    Channel,
     Repo,
     Logger,
     Survey,
@@ -131,10 +132,7 @@ defmodule Ask.Runtime.SurveyBroker do
 
     channel_is_down? =
       channels
-      |> Enum.any?(fn c ->
-        status = c.id |> ChannelStatusServer.get_channel_status()
-        status != :up && status != :unknown
-      end)
+      |> Enum.any?(&(&1 |> Channel.is_paused?() || &1 |> Channel.is_down?()))
 
     poll_survey(survey, now, channel_is_down?)
   end
diff --git a/lib/ask/survey.ex b/lib/ask/survey.ex
index be234af6b..bdf2101bf 100644
--- a/lib/ask/survey.ex
+++ b/lib/ask/survey.ex
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ defmodule Ask.Survey do
     PanelSurvey
   }
 
-  alias Ask.Runtime.ChannelStatusServer
   alias Ask.Ecto.Type.JSON
   alias Ecto.Multi
 
@@ -525,8 +524,8 @@ defmodule Ask.Survey do
 
     down_channels =
       channels
-      |> Enum.map(&(&1.id |> ChannelStatusServer.get_channel_status()))
-      |> Enum.filter(&(&1 != :up && &1 != :unknown))
+      |> Enum.map(&(&1 |> Channel.get_status()))
+      |> Enum.filter(&(&1[:status] != "up" && &1[:status] != "unknown"))
 
     %{survey | down_channels: down_channels}
   end
diff --git a/lib/ask_web/controllers/channel_controller.ex b/lib/ask_web/controllers/channel_controller.ex
index 490d6c8cd..cff426e87 100644
--- a/lib/ask_web/controllers/channel_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/ask_web/controllers/channel_controller.ex
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ defmodule AskWeb.ChannelController do
   use AskWeb, :api_controller
 
   alias Ask.{Channel, Project, Logger}
-  alias Ask.Runtime.ChannelBroker
+  alias Ask.Runtime.{ChannelBroker, ChannelStatusServer}
 
   def index(conn, %{"project_id" => project_id}) do
     channels =
@@ -106,4 +106,38 @@ defmodule AskWeb.ChannelController do
 
     render(conn, "show.json", channel: channel |> Repo.preload([:projects, :user]))
   end
+
+  def pause(conn, %{"channel_id" => id}) do
+    pause_channel(conn, id, true)
+  end
+
+  def unpause(conn, %{"channel_id" => id}) do
+    pause_channel(conn, id, false)
+  end
+
+  defp pause_channel(conn, id, paused) do
+    channel_params = %{"paused" => paused}
+
+    Channel
+    |> Repo.get!(id)
+    |> authorize_channel(conn)
+    |> Repo.preload([:projects, :user])
+    |> Channel.changeset(channel_params)
+    |> Repo.update()
+    |> case do
+      {:ok, channel} ->
+        ChannelBroker.on_channel_settings_change(channel.id, channel.settings)
+        ChannelStatusServer.poll(ChannelStatusServer.server_ref())
+
+        render(conn, "show.json", channel: channel |> Repo.preload(:projects))
+
+      {:error, changeset} ->
+        Logger.warn("Error when pausing channel: #{id}")
+
+        conn
+        |> put_status(:unprocessable_entity)
+        |> put_view(AskWeb.ChangesetView)
+        |> render("error.json", changeset: changeset)
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/lib/ask_web/router.ex b/lib/ask_web/router.ex
index ddf5dd266..c41f3c49a 100644
--- a/lib/ask_web/router.ex
+++ b/lib/ask_web/router.ex
@@ -171,7 +171,11 @@ defmodule AskWeb.Router do
           as: :update_archived_status
       end
 
-      resources "/channels", ChannelController, except: [:new, :edit]
+      resources "/channels", ChannelController, except: [:new, :edit] do
+        post "/pause", ChannelController, :pause, as: :pause
+        post "/unpause", ChannelController, :unpause, as: :unpause
+      end
+
       get "/audios/tts", AudioController, :tts
       resources "/audios", AudioController, only: [:create, :show]
       resources "/authorizations", OAuthClientController, only: [:index, :delete]
diff --git a/priv/repo/migrations/20241007192540_pause_channel.exs b/priv/repo/migrations/20241007192540_pause_channel.exs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3d08b1c4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/priv/repo/migrations/20241007192540_pause_channel.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+defmodule Ask.Repo.Migrations.PauseChannel do
+  use Ecto.Migration
+
+  def change do
+    alter table(:channels) do
+      add :paused, :boolean, default: false
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/priv/repo/structure.sql b/priv/repo/structure.sql
index f3172a38f..1aa2e07c7 100644
--- a/priv/repo/structure.sql
+++ b/priv/repo/structure.sql
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `channels` (
   `updated_at` datetime NOT NULL,
   `base_url` varchar(255) DEFAULT NULL,
   `patterns` text,
+  `paused` tinyint(1) DEFAULT '0',
   PRIMARY KEY (`id`),
   UNIQUE KEY `id` (`id`),
   KEY `channels_user_id_index` (`user_id`),
@@ -1018,7 +1019,7 @@ CREATE TABLE `users` (
 /*!40101 SET COLLATION_CONNECTION=@OLD_COLLATION_CONNECTION */;
 /*!40111 SET SQL_NOTES=@OLD_SQL_NOTES */;
 
--- Dump completed on 2024-04-22 22:06:45
+-- Dump completed on 2024-10-07 19:43:26
 INSERT INTO `schema_migrations` (version) VALUES (20160812145257);
 INSERT INTO `schema_migrations` (version) VALUES (20160816183915);
 INSERT INTO `schema_migrations` (version) VALUES (20160830200454);
@@ -1238,3 +1239,4 @@ INSERT INTO `schema_migrations` (version) VALUES (20230405111657);
 INSERT INTO `schema_migrations` (version) VALUES (20230413101342);
 INSERT INTO `schema_migrations` (version) VALUES (20230821100203);
 INSERT INTO `schema_migrations` (version) VALUES (20240422175453);
+INSERT INTO `schema_migrations` (version) VALUES (20241007192540);
diff --git a/test/ask/runtime/channel_status_server_test.exs b/test/ask/runtime/channel_status_server_test.exs
index a6068dcbf..c7990f549 100644
--- a/test/ask/runtime/channel_status_server_test.exs
+++ b/test/ask/runtime/channel_status_server_test.exs
@@ -144,4 +144,34 @@ defmodule Ask.Runtime.ChannelStatusServerTest do
     ChannelStatusServer.poll(pid)
     refute_receive [:email, ^email]
   end
+
+  test "doesn't send email when a channel is down but status was previously :paused" do
+    {:ok, pid} = ChannelStatusServer.start_link()
+    Process.register(self(), :mail_target)
+    user = insert(:user)
+    survey = insert(:survey, state: :running)
+
+    channel =
+      TestChannel.create_channel(user, "test", TestChannel.settings(TestChannel.new(), 1, :down), %{paused: true})
+
+    setup_surveys_with_channels([survey], [channel])
+
+    ChannelStatusServer.poll(pid)
+    refute_receive [:email, _]
+  end
+
+  test "doesn't send email when :error is received but status was previously :paused" do
+    {:ok, pid} = ChannelStatusServer.start_link()
+    Process.register(self(), :mail_target)
+    user = insert(:user)
+    survey = insert(:survey, state: :running)
+
+    channel =
+      TestChannel.create_channel(user, "test", TestChannel.settings(TestChannel.new(), 1, :error), %{paused: true})
+
+    setup_surveys_with_channels([survey], [channel])
+
+    ChannelStatusServer.poll(pid)
+    refute_receive [:email, _]
+  end
 end
diff --git a/test/ask_web/controllers/channel_controller_test.exs b/test/ask_web/controllers/channel_controller_test.exs
index a7a05323c..7c0dae8ca 100644
--- a/test/ask_web/controllers/channel_controller_test.exs
+++ b/test/ask_web/controllers/channel_controller_test.exs
@@ -218,4 +218,40 @@ defmodule AskWeb.ChannelControllerTest do
       end
     end
   end
+
+  describe "pause" do
+    setup %{conn: conn, user: user} do
+      settings = Ask.TestChannel.settings(Ask.TestChannel.new)
+      channel = insert(:channel, user: user, type: "sms", settings: settings)
+      {:ok, conn: conn, user: user, channel: channel}
+    end
+
+    test "pause channel", %{conn: conn, user: user, channel: channel} do
+      conn =
+        post conn, channel_pause_path(conn, :pause, channel.id)
+
+      assert json_response(conn, 200)
+
+      channel =
+        user
+        |> assoc(:channels)
+        |> Repo.one!()
+
+      assert %{paused: true} = channel
+    end
+
+    test "unpause channel", %{conn: conn, user: user, channel: channel} do
+      conn =
+        post conn, channel_unpause_path(conn, :unpause, channel.id)
+
+      assert json_response(conn, 200)
+
+      channel =
+        user
+        |> assoc(:channels)
+        |> Repo.one!()
+
+      assert %{paused: false} = channel
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/test/ask_web/controllers/survey_controller_test.exs b/test/ask_web/controllers/survey_controller_test.exs
index 4983dd727..7ab5fd4af 100644
--- a/test/ask_web/controllers/survey_controller_test.exs
+++ b/test/ask_web/controllers/survey_controller_test.exs
@@ -319,6 +319,7 @@ defmodule AskWeb.SurveyControllerTest do
       survey_1 = insert(:survey, project: project, state: :running)
       survey_2 = insert(:survey, project: project, state: :running)
       survey_3 = insert(:survey, project: project, state: :running)
+      survey_4 = insert(:survey, project: project, state: :running)
 
       up_channel =
         TestChannel.create_channel(user, "test", TestChannel.settings(TestChannel.new(), 1))
@@ -337,10 +338,19 @@ defmodule AskWeb.SurveyControllerTest do
           TestChannel.settings(TestChannel.new(), 3, :error)
         )
 
-      setup_surveys_with_channels([survey_1, survey_2, survey_3], [
+      paused_channel =
+        TestChannel.create_channel(
+          user,
+          "test",
+          TestChannel.settings(TestChannel.new(), 3, :error),
+          %{paused: true}
+        )
+
+      setup_surveys_with_channels([survey_1, survey_2, survey_3, survey_4], [
         up_channel,
         down_channel,
-        error_channel
+        error_channel,
+        paused_channel,
       ])
 
       ChannelStatusServer.poll(pid)
@@ -350,7 +360,7 @@ defmodule AskWeb.SurveyControllerTest do
 
       conn = get(conn, project_survey_path(conn, :index, project.id))
 
-      [survey_1, survey_2, survey_3] = json_response(conn, 200)["data"]
+      [survey_1, survey_2, survey_3, survey_4] = json_response(conn, 200)["data"]
       assert survey_1["down_channels"] == []
 
       [%{"status" => "down", "messages" => [], "timestamp" => t1, "name" => "test"}] =
@@ -364,6 +374,8 @@ defmodule AskWeb.SurveyControllerTest do
       assert t2
       assert code
 
+      assert [%{"status" => "paused"}] = survey_4["down_channels"]
+
       ChannelBrokerSupervisor.terminate_children()
       ChannelBrokerAgent.clear()
     end
@@ -2774,7 +2786,7 @@ defmodule AskWeb.SurveyControllerTest do
     end
 
     test "stops respondents only for the stopped survey", %{conn: conn, user: user} do
-      start_survey_canceller_supervisor() 
+      start_survey_canceller_supervisor()
       project = create_project_for_user(user)
       questionnaire = insert(:questionnaire, name: "test", project: project)
       survey = insert(:survey, project: project, state: :running)
diff --git a/test/support/test_channel.ex b/test/support/test_channel.ex
index 6b15ad7b8..ab58f13c8 100644
--- a/test/support/test_channel.ex
+++ b/test/support/test_channel.ex
@@ -74,16 +74,19 @@ defmodule Ask.TestChannel do
     |> Ask.Repo.insert!()
   end
 
-  def create_channel(user, base_url, api_channel) do
-    user
-    |> Ecto.build_assoc(:channels)
-    |> Ask.Channel.changeset(%{
+  def create_channel(user, base_url, api_channel, extra_params \\ %{}) do
+    changeset_params = %{
       name: "test",
       provider: "test",
       base_url: base_url,
       type: "ivr",
       settings: api_channel
-    })
+    }
+    changeset_params = Map.merge(changeset_params, extra_params)
+
+    user
+    |> Ecto.build_assoc(:channels)
+    |> Ask.Channel.changeset(changeset_params)
     |> Ask.Repo.insert!()
   end