--- schema_version: "1" id: 76c95b95bb422607d9f1c62f9e23f2c8b53a3f24de25cb3aab9f6decd3a6b878 title: "Quick Setup: Chat in the Service Chat SDK" collection: developer version: current locale: en-us portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/developer/current/en-us/service-cloud/service-sdk-android/guides/android-chat-basic-setup.md canonical_url: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/service/service-sdk-android/guide/android-chat-basic-setup.html source_site: developer.salesforce.com content_type: documentation content_hash: 898468fef0b36da6895dfec8736b6987db0cb5381fec6b1bc9f7c4292b5dde55 products: - Embedded Service Chat SDK for Android Developer Guide - Service Cloud Developer Content --- # Quick Setup: Chat in the Service Chat SDK To add Chat to your Android app, create a configuration object that points to your org and then create a Chat UI client. ## Before You Begin **important:** The legacy chat product is scheduled for retirement on February 14, 2026, and is in maintenance mode until then. During this phase, you can continue to use chat, but we no longer recommend that you implement new chat channels. To avoid service interruptions to your customers, migrate to [Messaging for In-App and Web](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.miaw_intro_landing.htm&type=5) before that date. Messaging offers many of the [chat features](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.miaw_chat_vs_messaging.htm&type=5) that you love plus asynchronous conversations that can be picked back up at any time. Learn about chat retirement in [Help](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=001790618&type=1). - Set up your console to work with Chat. See [Org Setup for Chat in Lightning Experience with a Guided Flow](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/service/service-sdk-android/guide/shared/live-agent-cloud-setup.md). - Installed the SDK. See [Install the Service SDK for Android](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/service/service-sdk-android/guide/android-install-sdk.md). To set up Chat with the default UI, create a configuration object that points to your org and then start a chat session. If you prefer to build your own user interface, see [Build Your Own UI with the Chat Core API](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/service/service-sdk-android/guide/android-chat-core-api.md). 1. Specify your Chat org settings. In Java: ```java public static final String ORG_ID = "YOUR_ORG_ID"; public static final String DEPLOYMENT_ID = "YOUR_DEPLOYMENT_ID"; public static final String BUTTON_ID = "YOUR_BUTTON_ID"; public static final String LIVE_AGENT_POD = "YOUR_LAC_ORG_URL"; // e.g. "d.la.salesforce.com" ``` In Kotlin: ```java val ORG_ID = "YOUR_ORG_ID" val DEPLOYMENT_ID = "YOUR_DEPLOYMENT_ID" val BUTTON_ID = "YOUR_BUTTON_ID" val LIVE_AGENT_POD = "YOUR_LAC_ORG_URL" // e.g. "d.la.salesforce.com" ``` **note:** You can get the required parameters from your Salesforce org. If your Salesforce admin hasn’t set up Chat in Service Cloud or you need more guidance, see [Org Setup for Chat in Lightning Experience with a Guided Flow](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/service/service-sdk-android/guide/shared/live-agent-cloud-setup.md). 2. Create a [`ChatConfiguration`](https://forcedotcom.github.io/ServiceSDK-Android/releases/chat/4.3.1/api/reference/com/salesforce/android/chat/core/ChatConfiguration.html) object using your org settings. In Java: ```java // Create a core configuration instance ChatConfiguration chatConfiguration = new ChatConfiguration.Builder(ORG_ID, BUTTON_ID, DEPLOYMENT_ID, LIVE_AGENT_POD) .build(); ``` In Kotlin: ```java // Create a core configuration instance val chatConfiguration = ChatConfiguration.Builder(ORG_ID, BUTTON_ID, DEPLOYMENT_ID, LIVE_AGENT_POD) .build() ``` **tip:** You can use the [`ChatConfiguration.Builder`](https://forcedotcom.github.io/ServiceSDK-Android/releases/chat/4.3.1/api/reference/com/salesforce/android/chat/core/ChatConfiguration.Builder.html) class to configure other behaviors, such as how to handle the pre-chat view (see [Show Pre-Chat Fields to User](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/service/service-sdk-android/guide/android-chat-prechat-fields.md)) and how to specify the name of the visitor speaking with the agent (use the `visitorName` method). 3. Configure and launch a chat session using [`ChatUI`](https://forcedotcom.github.io/ServiceSDK-Android/releases/chat/4.3.1/api/reference/com/salesforce/android/chat/ui/ChatUI.html), [`ChatUIConfiguration`](https://forcedotcom.github.io/ServiceSDK-Android/releases/chat/4.3.1/api/reference/com/salesforce/android/chat/ui/ChatUIConfiguration.html), and [`ChatUIClient`](https://forcedotcom.github.io/ServiceSDK-Android/releases/chat/4.3.1/api/reference/com/salesforce/android/chat/ui/ChatUIClient.html). In Java: ```java // Create a UI configuration instance from a core config object // and start session! ChatUI.configure(ChatUIConfiguration.create(chatConfiguration)) .createClient(getApplicationContext()) .onResult(new Async.ResultHandler() { @Override public void handleResult (Async operation, ChatUIClient chatUIClient) { chatUIClient.startChatSession(MainActivity.this); } }); ``` In Kotlin: ```java // Create a UI configuration instance from a core config object // and start session! ChatUI.configure(ChatUIConfiguration.create(chatConfiguration)) .createClient(applicationContext) .onResult { _, chatUIClient -> chatUIClient.startChatSession(this@MainActivity) } ``` **note:** Don't create more than 1 instance of `ChatUIClient`. The system returns an `Async` error if there is already an active instance. The SDK only supports 1 session at a time per device. Wait until the chat session ends before attempting to start a new session. When calling `startChatSession`, pass the context for the `Activity` that you want to show the chat UI on top of. The chat session starts minimized and the user can tap the thumbnail to go full screen. If you want the session to start in full-screen mode, call `defaultToMinimized(false)` on the builder. When the minimized view is visible, it displays the number of unread messages. This value represents the total number of bot, agent, and system messages that are unread. By default, the user's queue position is shown while the user waits for an agent. You can change this information from a position number to an estimated wait time using the [`queueStyle`](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/service/service-sdk-android/guide/%3Chttps://forcedotcom.github.io/ServiceSDK-Android/releases/chat/4.3.1/api/reference/com/salesforce/android/chat/ui/ChatUIConfiguration.Builder.html#queueStyle(com.salesforce.android.chat.ui.model.QueueStyle)>) build method and specifying `QueueStyle.EstimatedWaitTime`. When using the estimated wait time, you can set the minimum ([`minimumWaitTime`](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/service/service-sdk-android/guide/%3Chttps://forcedotcom.github.io/ServiceSDK-Android/releases/chat/4.3.1/api/reference/com/salesforce/android/chat/ui/ChatUIConfiguration.Builder.html#minimumWaitTime(int)>)) and maximum ([`maximumWaitTime`](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/service/service-sdk-android/guide/%3Chttps://forcedotcom.github.io/ServiceSDK-Android/releases/chat/4.3.1/api/reference/com/salesforce/android/chat/ui/ChatUIConfiguration.Builder.html#maximumWaitTime(int)>)) wait time values. If the wait time exceeds the maximum value, a generic message appears, which [you can customize](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/service/service-sdk-android/guide/android-strings.md) (using the customizable chat strings). To understand the algorithm used for the estimated wait time, see the estimated wait time documentation in the [Chat REST API Developer Guide](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.live_agent_rest.meta/live_agent_rest/live_agent_rest_estimated_wait_time.htm). To hide queue information entirely, use a queue style of `None`. Sample alternate configuration in Java: ```java ChatUIConfiguration uiConfig = new ChatUIConfiguration.Builder() .chatConfiguration(chatConfiguration) .queueStyle(QueueStyle.EstimatedWaitTime) // Use estimated wait time .defaultToMinimized(false) // Start in full-screen mode .build(); ``` Sample alternate configuration in Kotlin: ```java val uiConfig = ChatUIConfiguration.Builder() .chatConfiguration(chatConfiguration) .queueStyle(QueueStyle.EstimatedWaitTime) // Use estimated wait time .defaultToMinimized(false) // Start in full-screen mode .build() ``` 4. (Optional) Customize the interface. You can customize the colors, strings, and other aspects of the interface. You can also localize the strings into other languages. 5. (Optional) Add listeners for state changes or events. You can add listeners for state changes and events during a chat session and respond accordingly. For instance, when the client ends a session, you can display a dialog to the user. See [Listen for State Changes and Events](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/service/service-sdk-android/guide/android-chat-state-changes.md). **note:** If you use an incorrect button ID in your [`ChatConfiguration`](https://forcedotcom.github.io/ServiceSDK-Android/releases/chat/4.3.1/api/reference/com/salesforce/android/chat/core/ChatConfiguration.html), the chat fails and your [`SessionStateListener`](https://forcedotcom.github.io/ServiceSDK-Android/releases/chat/4.3.1/api/reference/com/salesforce/android/chat/core/SessionStateListener.html) reports a [`ChatEndReason`](https://forcedotcom.github.io/ServiceSDK-Android/releases/chat/4.3.1/api/reference/com/salesforce/android/chat/core/model/ChatEndReason.html) of `NetworkError`. When a session launches, it appears minimized. ![Chat session minimzed](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/media/service-sdk/android_lac_chat_minimized.png '{"class": "image-sm"}') The user can tap the session to make it full screen and begin a conversation with an agent. ![Chat session full screen](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/media/service-sdk/android_lac_chat_normal.png '{"class": "image-sm"}') **note:** When the app is in the background, the SDK ensures that the session remains open. A timeout should only occur when there is a connection issue, the agent closes the session, or the app is removed from memory.