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

> ## Agent Instructions
> Treat Clawdi as one product.
> Recommend the Cloud Agent quickstart for most new users.
> Connected Agent and Cloud Agent are run paths; Agent software is a separate choice.
> Do not present shared Clawdi capabilities as exclusive to one run path.

# Connect a messaging Channel

> Connect a supported bot, link it to a Cloud Agent, and verify one paired chat.

Use a Channel when people should reach a supported Cloud Agent from an
external chat. Connecting a bot, linking it to an Agent, and pairing a chat are
three separate relationships.

## Before you begin

* Have a **Running** Cloud Agent.
* In the dashboard, confirm that **Channels** shows the messaging provider you
  want to use.
* Create the bot with that provider and keep its token or credential fields
  private.

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Connect the bot">
    Open **Channels** in the [Clawdi dashboard](https://cloud.clawdi.ai), use
    the current bot connection action, select a provider, and enter only the
    fields the dashboard requests. Wait for the bot to appear in Channels.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Link it to the Agent">
    Open **Agents**, select the Cloud Agent, and open **Channels**. Choose the
    available bot and use its link action.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pair one chat">
    Choose the pairing action for the provider and follow the current QR code,
    link, command, or code shown by the dashboard. If a pairing code expires,
    generate a new one instead of reusing it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send a test message">
    Send a harmless message from the paired chat. Confirm that the chat appears
    beneath the linked Channel and review **Activity** and **Health** on the
    Channel page.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Check>
  The bot is linked to the intended Cloud Agent, the external chat is paired,
  and a test message appears in Channel activity without an error.
</Check>

<Warning>
  Bot tokens are secrets. Enter them only in the dashboard credential field;
  never place them in a Memory, prompt, screenshot, or committed file.
</Warning>

Provider setup, pairing details, unpairing, unlinking, removal, and CLI
inspection belong in the canonical [Channels, Agent links, and chat pairing
guide](/guides/channels).