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

# Start a new chat

> Open a fresh conversation with an existing or new contact.

Use **Start a new chat** when you need to reach out first, rather than waiting for a contact to message in — following up on a lead, opening a support ticket on someone's behalf, or reconnecting with a contact on a channel they haven't messaged you on yet.

## Start a chat

1. In the [conversation list](/help/inbox/inbox-tour#the-conversation-list), click the **+** button.
2. Choose a **channel** — WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Live Chat, or SMS.
3. Pick an **existing contact**, or create a new one on the spot.
4. Send your first message.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/heyy-c8bd5c9e/DhJ_IMhg_f5FskkC/assets/inbox-start-new-chat.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=DhJ_IMhg_f5FskkC&q=85&s=7ebf2c4fa2222c44fe22585cc714000f" alt="Start a new chat panel" width="1632" height="804" data-path="assets/inbox-start-new-chat.png" />
</Frame>

You can also trigger this from inside an open conversation via **Actions → New chat** — see [Chat actions](/help/inbox/chat-actions) — handy when you want to start a fresh thread with the same contact on a different channel without leaving the one you're in.

<Warning>
  On WhatsApp and Messenger, messaging a contact who has not messaged you within the last 24 hours (or 7 days on Instagram) requires an approved template rather than a free-form message. See [Conversation window](/help/inbox/chat-fundamentals/conversation-window) — if your first message option only shows templates, this is why.
</Warning>

Check a contact's [**Other chats**](/help/inbox/contact-card#other-chats) before starting a new thread — they may already have an open conversation on a different channel that the new chat should continue instead of duplicate.