Connecting Channels

Connecting Channels

Connect WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, email, and your website so every customer message lands in one inbox. All channels are included on every plan, and you can connect as many as you like. Start with the general flow below, then open the step-by-step guide for your channel.

WhatsApp Facebook Instagram Telegram Email SMS Website Live Chat

Connect a new channel

Every channel, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, email, and your website, is connected from the same place in your dashboard. The general flow is always the same; only the authorisation step differs per channel.

The Connect a channel dialog in HabariChat listing Web Chat Widget, WhatsApp Business, Telegram Bot, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Business, Email (SMTP/IMAP) and SMS as connectable platforms
The Connect a channel dialog — pick a platform (Web Chat, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, Email, or SMS) and follow the guided steps.
Before you start
  • You must be logged in to HabariChat.
  • Have the account that owns the channel ready (Meta Business account, Facebook Page admin, Telegram, or email credentials).
  1. Go to Inboxes in the main navigation.
  2. Click + Connect New Channel (also labelled Add Inbox or Connect Channel).
  3. Choose the channel you want to add.
  4. Follow the channel-specific guide below.
  5. When it's done, send a test message and confirm it lands in your inbox and that the channel shows as Active.
Tip: start with the channel your customers use most (for most Kenyan businesses that's WhatsApp), get it working end to end, then add the rest.
Connecting WhatsApp? Meta bans some industries outright, prohibits political parties and politicians entirely, and restricts others to approved countries. Check prohibited & regulated industries and political parties & government first.

Step-by-step guide for each channel

Each channel has its own guide with prerequisites, screenshots, and troubleshooting. Pick yours:

Connect WhatsApp

Onboard a number through Meta Embedded Signup: new number, existing number, or Coexistence.

Read the guide →

Connect Facebook

Link your Facebook Page so every Messenger conversation lands in your inbox.

Read the guide →

Connect Instagram

Bring Instagram DMs from a Business or Creator account into your unified inbox.

Read the guide →

Connect Telegram

Create a bot with BotFather, paste the token, and activate instantly.

Read the guide →

Connect Email

Send and receive email via SMTP/IMAP. Settings for Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo.

Read the guide →

Website Live Chat

Add the WebChat widget to your site so visitors get instant AI answers.

Read the guide →

Manage your channels

Everything lives under Inboxes → Channel Management, where each connected channel has its own card.

The Channel Management tab inside Inboxes, showing six connected channel cards (Telegram, Instagram, Facebook Page, WhatsApp and Live Helper Chat) each with an auto-response toggle, active status, and Edit and delete controls
The Channel Management tab, edit settings, toggle auto-response, deactivate, or remove a channel.

Edit a channel

  1. Go to Inboxes → Channel Management and find the channel.
  2. Click its edit/settings icon (gear or pencil).
  3. Update settings such as API keys, display name, or notification settings.
  4. Click Save Changes.

Auto-response & account status

  • Enable / disable auto-response: toggle the auto-response switch on the channel card, then send yourself a test message to confirm the AI replies.
  • Deactivate the account: stops new messages being processed by HabariChat while keeping all your old conversations, you can reconnect later without reconfiguring.

Delete a channel

  1. Go to Channel Management and find the channel.
  2. Click the delete (trash) icon.
  3. Confirm when prompted.
Deleting a channel removes its messages from your HabariChat inbox but typically preserves them on the original platform.
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