---
title: Adjusting No Data alerts for metric Monitors
description: >-
  Configure No Data alerts properly for metrics with irregular reporting
  patterns, delays, or backfilled data from cloud integrations.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Monitors > Monitor Guides > Adjusting No Data alerts for metric
  Monitors
---

# Adjusting No Data alerts for metric Monitors

## Overview{% #overview %}

When a [metric monitor](https://docs.datadoghq.com/monitors/types/metric/) tracks a metric that doesn't always report at the same frequency, or arrives with a timestamp in the past (such as metrics from [AWS integrations](https://docs.datadoghq.com/integrations/amazon_web_services/)), you may receive `No Data` alerts even when data appears in Datadog. Adjust the following settings in your monitor's **Advanced Options** to reduce false `No Data` alerts.

## Add an evaluation delay{% #add-an-evaluation-delay %}

The evaluation delay pushes the monitor's evaluation window back in time, giving delayed metrics time to arrive in Datadog before the monitor evaluates.

{% image
   source="https://docs.dd-static.net/images/monitors/guide/AWS_Monitor_Config.d5bf3636814f1bedcb11256c61c4a8f6.png?auto=format"
   alt="AWS monitor config" /%}

This setting is recommended for:

- **AWS and crawler-based metrics**: Set to at least 900 seconds (15 minutes) to account for CloudWatch delays.
- **Other cloud provider metrics**: See [Cloud metric delays](https://docs.datadoghq.com/integrations/guide/cloud-metric-delay/) for provider-specific recommendations.

## Disable Require a Full Window of Data{% #disable-require-a-full-window-of-data %}

The **Require a Full Window of Data** setting controls whether the monitor waits for a complete evaluation window before alerting. For sparse or backfilled metrics, requiring a full window can cause the monitor to skip evaluations or report `No Data`.

{% image
   source="https://docs.dd-static.net/images/monitors/guide/require_full_window.194bdddcc6190039a7c82697fe87ee3a.png?auto=format"
   alt="Monitor Advanced Options - Require a Full Window of Data setting in the Datadog UI" /%}

- **Do not require** (recommended for sparse or delayed metrics): The monitor evaluates on partial data, reducing false `No Data` alerts.
- **Require**: The monitor waits for a full window of data before evaluating. This is appropriate for metrics reported by the Datadog Agent at a consistent frequency.

## Install the Datadog Agent on cloud hosts{% #install-the-datadog-agent-on-cloud-hosts %}

Cloud metrics have varying delays depending on the provider. To receive metrics with a smaller delay, install the Datadog Agent directly on your cloud hosts. See [installing the Datadog Agent on cloud instances](https://docs.datadoghq.com/agent/faq/why-should-i-install-the-agent-on-my-cloud-instances/) for more information.

## Further reading{% #further-reading %}

- [Configure your monitor notifications](https://docs.datadoghq.com/monitors/notify/)
- [Schedule a downtime to mute a monitor](https://docs.datadoghq.com/monitors/downtimes/)
- [Troubleshooting No Data in monitors](https://docs.datadoghq.com/monitors/guide/troubleshooting-no-data/)