# Human Handoff

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A human handoff requires at least one [Team](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/settings/workspace/teams) with a live agent signed-in and available to inherit chats from the AI agent.
{% endhint %}

The Human Handoff action transfers a chat from the AI agent to a live agent, who replies to chats from the [Inbox](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/inbox) helpdesk dashboard. Once a live agent is handling a chat, it's referred to as a [livechat](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/livechats).

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## Configuration

Select a **Human Handoff** action from the tree to open its settings:

* **User availability check** — when enabled, chats are only transferrable to a live agent who's [online](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/settings/user-account/online-status).
* **Assign chat** — determines where the chat gets transferred:
  * **Assign to all users in the teamspace** — all live agents in the same teamspace as the AI agent will see the pending chat and be able to claim it.
  * **Assign to specific users or teams** — only the specified teams or live agents will see the chat.
    * **Assign by language (optional)** — if the AI agent supports multiple languages defined in its [General settings](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/manage-ai-agents#general), you can further concentrate the team/live agent assignments by language.

See [Chat Assignment](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/settings/teamspaces/chat-assignment) to configure how chats get assigned to specific live agents.

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## Handing Back to AI Agent

A chat is automatically returned from a live agent back to the AI agent when the chat's **status** is marked as **Closed**. This initiates the [Chat Closed by Live Agent](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/ai-agents/workflows-and-actions) trigger, and any enabled subsequent actions like [Collect Feedback](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/ai-agents/workflows-and-actions/collect-feedback) will take place.

Then, the chat flow will immediately resume from the original Human Handoff action, running through any subsequent actions in the nested ***When live agent closes chat*** tree.