> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.agno.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Background Mode

> Background mode enables long-running tasks on reasoning models like GPT-5.4 without worrying about timeouts or connectivity issues.

Background mode enables long-running tasks on reasoning models like GPT-5.4 without worrying about timeouts or connectivity issues. The API returns immediately and Agno polls for the result automatically.

```python background.py theme={null}
"""
Background Mode
===============

Background mode enables long-running tasks on reasoning models like GPT-5.4
without worrying about timeouts or connectivity issues. The API returns
immediately and Agno polls for the result automatically.

Requires: openai>=2.0.0
"""

from agno.agent import Agent
from agno.models.openai import OpenAIResponses

# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Create Agent with background mode enabled
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

agent = Agent(
    model=OpenAIResponses(
        id="gpt-5.4",
        background=True,
        background_poll_interval=2.0,  # seconds between polls (default)
    ),
    markdown=True,
)

# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Run Agent
# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
if __name__ == "__main__":
    agent.print_response("Explain the history of quantum computing in detail")
```

## Run the Example

<Steps>
  <Snippet file="create-venv-step.mdx" />

  <Step title="Install dependencies">
    ```bash theme={null}
    uv pip install -U agno openai
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Export your OpenAI API key">
    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash Mac/Linux theme={null}
      export OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"
      ```

      ```bash Windows theme={null}
      $Env:OPENAI_API_KEY="your_openai_api_key_here"
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run the example">
    Save the code above as `background.py`, then run:

    ```bash theme={null}
    python background.py
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

Full source: [cookbook/90\_models/openai/responses/background.py](https://github.com/agno-agi/agno/blob/main/cookbook/90_models/openai/responses/background.py)