---
title: "Start chatbot (Available in Pro plan)"
method: POST
path: "/api/ext/v3/chatbots/start"
tags: ["Chatbots"]
---

# Start chatbot (Available in Pro plan)

`POST /api/ext/v3/chatbots/start`

## Request body

- StartChatbotRequest — Request model for starting a chatbot.
  - `target` string, required — The target recipient in the following formats: * **`ContactId`**: The unique ID of a contact. * **`PhoneNumber`**: The recipient's phone number (e.g., `14155552671`). * **`Channel:ContactId`**: A combination of the channel (name or phone number) and the recipient's phone number (e.g., `MyChannel:65b73810e2bd04aa867b5f7d`, `123456789:65b73810e2bd04aa867b5f7d`). * **`Channel:PhoneNumber`**: A combination of the channel (name or phone number) and the recipient's phone number (e.g., `MyChannel:1415552671`, `123456789:1415552671`).
  - `chatbot_id` string, required — Chatbot ID.

## Response `200`

Returns the result of starting the chatbot.

- StartChatbotResponse — Response model for starting a chatbot.
  - `result` boolean — Result of the chatbot start operation.

## Other responses

- `400` — The request is invalid.
- `401` — The request is unauthorized.
- `403` — The request is forbidden.
- `429` — Too many requests. Either the rate limit has been exceeded or usage limits have been reached.
- `500` — Unexpected error occurred. Please try again.

---

[API](https://skmtc.net/wati/apis/api-documentation-v3.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.net/wati/apis/api-documentation-v3/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-staging.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/wati/api-documentation-v3/versions/dee16d2c7d41/schema)