# Livechats
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Livechats use [interactions](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/getting-started/interactions), a consumable resource in Proto.
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Requires various permissions to view, manage, transfer, export, and download livechats at the individual or team levels.
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A livechat is between a person in a messaging channel and a live agent in Proto.
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## Starting a Livechat
In Proto, all chats are initiated by a person on a [messaging channel](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/ai-agents/publishing) with an [AI agent](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/ai-agents).
If the AI agent has a [Human Handoff](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/ai-agents/workflows-and-actions/human-handoff) action, it can transfer the chat to a user (a "live agent") in your workspace. [Chat assignment](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/settings/teamspaces/chat-assignment) settings determine which live agent and/or team of agents receive inbound chats.
Live agents participate in livechats through the [**Inbox**](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/inbox) dashboard, a consolidated, realtime display of all AI chats, livechats, and [email tickets](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/tickets).
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## Reply to a Livechat
Livechats are representative of a messaging thread on channels like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Webchat. The thread's participants can send a new message at any time.
1. In the Inbox dashboard, select the **livechat** from the Inbox panel.
2. The chat will be opened with all prior messages visible from the person, AI agents, and any contributing live agents. Insert a reply into the **message editor**.
3. Press **Send** or **Takeover & Send**.
See [**Inbox**](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/inbox) for details on:
* Modifying or translating livechat content with AI.
* Replying to livechats with an alias.
* Transferring livechats to another live agent or team.
* Adding attachments, emojis, or variable content to livechats.
* Adding internal notes to livechats.
For additional livechat options, see:
* [**Banning**](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/settings/teamspaces/banning) — ban abusive people from participating in livechat.
* [**Canned Replies**](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/settings/teamspaces/canned-replies) — apply preset messages to livechat replies.
* [**Chat Assignment**](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/settings/teamspaces/chat-assignment) — configure how live agents are assigned new chats.
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## Manage a Livechat
Go to the **Inbox** or **Livechat** dashboards, and select a **livechat**.
The opened Conversation/Livechat panel contains various categories of details:
* **Assignee** — the live agent currently assigned the chat, if any.
* **Assigned teams** — the team(s) currently assigned the chat, if any.
* **Person** — the name of the [person](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/people) if registered, otherwise "Unknown".
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### Details
* **Livechat ID** — the static chat ID assigned by Proto.
* **App** — the messaging channel facilitating the chat.
* **Description** — editable value for live agents to describe the chat.
* **Status** — the chat's current status used for filtering, with the following options: **Open**, **Pending**, **Overdue**, **Resolved**, and **Closed**.
* **Created** — date and time the chat started.
* **Rating** — the person's voluntary rating from the [Collect Feedback](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/ai-agents/workflows-and-actions/collect-feedback) action in a Webchat.
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### Custom Fields
A list of all [**custom fields**](#custom-fields) for a chat. These are editable inputs unique to the workspace.
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### Notes
A list of all internal notes written by live agents, logging pertinent information for the chat. Each note shows the author's avatar and creation timestamp.
* Press 
to start a new note or 
to edit an existing note.
* When creating/editing, use the colour picker to set a note's background colour, distinguishing it from other notes.
* Press 
to delete a note and confirm.
***
### Tags
A list of [**tags**](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/settings/teamspaces/tags) assigned to the chat, used for filtering during livechat searches.
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## Find Livechats
In the Livechat dashboard, find chats with the:
* **Search field** — input text to filter chats in the table by keyword match.
* **Filters** – use the filters (Tags, Tag Groups, Custom Fields, Live agent, Team, Status, CSAT score, Created On) to narrow displayed results. Each filter includes a None option to show records where the field has no value.
Use pagination below the table to change the number of tickets display per page, and to navigate across pages.
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## Export Livechats
See [**Exports**](https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/settings/teamspaces/exports) for details.
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## Delete Livechats
1. Go to the **Livechats** dashboard.
2. In the Livechats table, select one or more chat by its **checkbox**.
3. Select **Delete Livechats** and confirm.
---
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Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://documentation.proto.cx/docs/modules/livechats.md?ask=
```
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The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.