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

# Channels

> Connect your assistants to multiple communication platforms

## What are Channels?

Channels are the **messaging platforms** through which users can interact with your Illumichat assistants. From the Channels page, you can configure, enable, and manage all your assistant's messaging integrations in one place.

<Note>
  **Looking for Shopify, WooCommerce, or Spreadsheets?** These are no longer
  channels. They're now **realtime data sources** configured under your
  assistant's [Knowledge Base](/features/knowledge-base) → **Realtime data**,
  where they're read live at chat time. Old channel links redirect there
  automatically.
</Note>

## Accessing Channels

1. Navigate to your assistant's settings
2. Select **Channels** from the sidebar
3. You'll see a card grid showing all available channels

Each channel card displays:

* The channel name, icon, and authentication type (API Key or OAuth)
* Connection status (Connected, Not Connected, or Coming Soon)
* An enable/disable toggle for connected channels
* A **Connect** or **Configure** button

## Available Channels

### SMS (Active)

Send and receive text messages through your Twilio phone number. Your assistant automatically responds to incoming texts with AI-generated replies.

* **Provider**: Twilio (Bring Your Own Key)
* **Auth type**: API Key
* **Features**: Auto-responses, contact matching, analytics dashboard
* **Setup time**: \~5 minutes

[Learn more about SMS Integration](/features/sms)

### WhatsApp (Active)

Respond to WhatsApp Business messages automatically through the Meta Cloud API. Your assistant replies to inbound messages, respects WhatsApp's 24-hour customer-service window, and supports human takeover from the Universal Inbox.

* **Provider**: Meta WhatsApp Cloud API (OAuth Embedded Signup or manual token)
* **Auth type**: OAuth (Embedded Signup) or API Key (manual)
* **Features**: Auto-responses, 24-hour window handling, template messages, human takeover, contact matching, analytics
* **Setup time**: \~10 minutes

[Learn more about WhatsApp Integration](/features/whatsapp)

### Facebook Messenger (Active)

Respond to Facebook Messenger conversations automatically. Your assistant handles incoming messages, Get Started button postbacks, and supports human takeover for live agent handoff.

* **Provider**: Meta Graph API (OAuth)
* **Auth type**: OAuth (Facebook Login)
* **Features**: Auto-responses, Get Started button, human takeover, contact matching, analytics
* **Setup time**: \~5 minutes

[Learn more about Facebook Messenger Integration](/features/messenger)

### Instagram DM (Active)

Respond to Instagram Direct Messages automatically. Your assistant handles DMs, story replies, story mentions, and icebreaker conversations.

* **Provider**: Meta Graph API (OAuth)
* **Auth type**: OAuth (Facebook Login)
* **Features**: Auto-responses, story interactions, icebreakers, contact matching, analytics
* **Setup time**: \~5 minutes

[Learn more about Instagram DM Integration](/features/instagram)

### Live Chat (Active)

Let website-widget visitors escalate from the AI to a human agent. Live Chat is **not a separate dashboard** — it's the human-handoff layer of the [Universal Inbox](/features/inbox): escalated visitors land in your inbox queue, where agents claim them, reply in real time, and end the session. Enable it and configure business hours / agent availability from the Live Chat settings; agents work the conversations in the Inbox.

* **Provider**: Built-in (website widget)
* **Features**: Visitor escalation, agent queue + take-next, business hours, agent availability, real-time messaging, transcripts
* **Where agents work**: the [Universal Inbox](/features/inbox)

[Learn more in the Universal Inbox guide](/features/inbox)

### Slack (Coming Soon)

Integrate your assistant with Slack workspaces and channels.

<Note>
  Coming Soon channels are displayed as placeholder cards in the grid. They are non-interactive and will be enabled as integrations become available.
</Note>

## Managing Channels

### Connect a Channel

Click the **Connect** button on any unconfigured channel card to open its setup page and enter your credentials.

### Enable/Disable a Channel

Use the toggle switch on any connected channel card to quickly enable or disable it without navigating to its settings.

### Edit Channel Configuration

Click the **Configure** button on a connected channel card to open its detail page. Each channel has its own configuration form and analytics dashboard.

### Channel Analytics

Analytics for each channel are accessible from the channel's detail page. For SMS, this includes message volume, delivery rates, session tracking, and estimated costs. For Instagram, this includes message volume, delivery rates, conversation sources, story interactions, and icebreaker usage. For Messenger, this includes message volume, delivery and read rates, conversation counts, and human takeover metrics.