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

# Connect your support channels

> Find email, WhatsApp, and Live Chat setup in Channels and verify your first conversation.

Open **Channels** in the main sidebar to manage the ways customers reach your workspace. Start with one channel, check that it works, then add another.

Owners and Admins can connect and manage channels. Other teammates can ask a workspace administrator to complete setup.

## Choose a channel

| Channel | Start here | Current scope |
| - | - | - |
| Email | [Set up support email](/guides/set-up-your-support-email) | Configure your support address, forwarding, and sending domain. |
| WhatsApp | [Connect WhatsApp](/guides/connect-whatsapp) | Connect through Meta when signup is enabled for your workspace. Text replies require a valid connection and an open reply window. |
| Live Chat | [Install Live Chat](/guides/install-live-chat-on-your-website) | Set up your website widget and review the guide's current dashboard reply limits. |

Select **Connect**, **Manage**, or **View setup** beside the channel. Existing Settings links still open the channel's configuration.

## Read the connection state

* **Not connected:** no setup has been saved for this channel.
* **Setup saved:** configuration exists. Verify real message delivery before treating the channel as ready.
* **Status unavailable:** the latest state could not be loaded. Open the setup page and try again.

WhatsApp may show that new connections are not available for your workspace yet. A listed channel does not grant access to its rollout.

## Verify the channel

Use an address or number you control to send a message through the connected channel. Find the conversation in **Threads**, send a supported reply, and confirm that it arrives.

For WhatsApp, follow [Reply to WhatsApp conversations](/guides/reply-to-whatsapp-messages). For email, use [Test and troubleshoot email delivery](/guides/test-and-troubleshoot-email-delivery).

Connecting a channel does not turn on automatic customer replies. [Automations](/guides/configure-ai-automation) are managed separately.


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