How to Initiate a Chat for the Existing Contact
Learn how to initiate a chat for the existing contact on the dashboard.
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You can initiate a chat and start a conversation as long as the customer's phone number is saved under contact history on the dashboard.
To do this:
1. Go to Settings.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62c7d8a855813a2bbe39ae10/6308b34d236135581409216e_1.gif)
2. Click on Contacts on the left.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62c7d8a855813a2bbe39ae10/6308b371e887f2fb448f2773_2.gif)
3. Hover the cursor over the contact to reveal the initiate chat button.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62c7d8a855813a2bbe39ae10/6308b37cad70e37c3e578fe6_3.png)
4. Click on Initiate chat button to assign and start the conversation.
Note: The 24 hour window will already be closed once the chat is assigned. You need to send a template message first. When messages are exchanged between both parties, the 24-hour window will immediately open. Refer to our article on What is 24 hours window?
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62c7d8a855813a2bbe39ae10/6308b3920d02e2a00137e005_4.gif)
5. You also have the option of searching for the contact using a filter.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62c7d8a855813a2bbe39ae10/6308b3a48d888efeddbe3ab7_5.png)
Keywords: Existing contact, Initiate chat, Conversation, Contact history.