---
title: "Manage connected channels"
description: "Learn how to view, reconnect, and disconnect your messaging channels in Interlinked AI — monitor connection health, troubleshoot expired tokens, and keep your Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp integrations running smoothly."
section: "Channels and integrations"
url: https://interlinked-ai.com/en/resources/docs/manage-connected-channels
lang: en
lastUpdated: 2026-04-28
---

# Manage connected channels

## Where to manage channels

After your initial setup, all channel management happens in the **AI Config wizard**. Navigate to the Channels step to see the current status of all three supported channels.

To access AI Config:
1. Go to your Interlinked dashboard at `panel.interlinked-ai.com`
2. Click **AI Config** in the sidebar navigation
3. Navigate to the **Channels** step

<div class="docs-media-placeholder">
  <p class="mono-label">Screenshot: AI Config Channels step showing all three channel cards with their connection status</p>
</div>

## Understanding connection status

Each channel card displays one of the following statuses:

| Status | Meaning | Action needed |
|--------|---------|---------------|
| **Connected** | The channel is active and the AI agent is receiving messages | None — operating normally |
| **Not connected** | The channel has never been connected or was disconnected | Click Connect to set up the channel |
| **Reconnection needed** | The connection token has expired or permissions were revoked | Click Reconnect to restore the connection |

<div class="docs-callout docs-callout-warning">
  <p><strong>Important</strong></p>
  <p>When a channel shows "Reconnection needed," the AI agent cannot receive or send messages on that platform until you reconnect. Customer messages sent during a disconnection are not queued — they will not be processed retroactively.</p>
</div>

## Reconnecting a channel

Channel connections can expire or become invalid for several reasons:

- **Meta token expiration** — Meta OAuth tokens have a limited lifetime. When they expire, the connection needs to be re-authorized.
- **Permission changes** — If you or another admin changes permissions on your Meta Business Settings, Page settings, or Instagram account, the connection may become invalid.
- **Account changes** — Changing the linked Facebook Page for an Instagram account, transferring Page ownership, or modifying your Meta Business Portfolio can affect connections.
- **Meta platform updates** — Occasionally, Meta updates its API requirements, which may require re-authorization.

To reconnect a channel:

1. Open **AI Config** → Channels step.
2. Find the channel that needs reconnection.
3. Click **Reconnect** (or **Connect** if the connection was fully removed).
4. Complete the Meta authorization flow — the same process as the initial connection.
5. The channel returns to **Connected** status.

<div class="docs-callout docs-callout-tip">
  <p><strong>Tip</strong></p>
  <p>If you receive messages from customers saying they are not getting responses, the first thing to check is your channel connection status in AI Config. A disconnected channel is the most common cause of missed messages.</p>
</div>

## Disconnecting a channel

If you want to stop the AI agent from operating on a specific channel:

1. Open **AI Config** → Channels step.
2. Find the channel you want to disconnect.
3. Click the **Disconnect** option.
4. Confirm the disconnection.

### What happens when you disconnect

- The AI agent **immediately stops** receiving and responding to messages on that channel.
- **Existing conversation history** in the CRM is preserved — you do not lose past conversations.
- **The channel card** returns to "Not connected" status.
- You can **reconnect at any time** by going through the authorization flow again.

### Revoking access from Meta's side

You can also revoke Interlinked's access directly from Meta:

- **Facebook and Instagram** — Go to Facebook Settings → Business Integrations → find Interlinked → Remove.
- **WhatsApp** — Go to Meta Business Suite → WhatsApp Manager → Account Settings → manage connected platforms.

Revoking access from Meta's side will cause the channel to show "Reconnection needed" in Interlinked.

## Adding a new channel after publishing

You can connect additional channels at any time after publishing. For example, if you initially connected only Instagram, you can add WhatsApp or Messenger later without any disruption to your existing channels.

1. Open **AI Config** → Channels step.
2. Click **Connect** on the new channel.
3. Complete the Meta authorization flow.
4. The AI agent immediately begins handling conversations on the new channel.

No additional publishing step is required — the new channel becomes active as soon as the connection is established.

## Channel health best practices

To keep your channel connections healthy and avoid interruptions:

1. **Check connection status regularly** — Visit AI Config → Channels at least once a month to verify all channels show "Connected."
2. **Maintain admin access** — Ensure the Meta account used for authorization maintains admin permissions on the relevant Pages and accounts.
3. **Respond to Meta notifications** — If Meta sends notifications about your business account, app permissions, or API access, address them promptly to avoid connection disruptions.
4. **Avoid unnecessary permission changes** — Changing Page roles, Instagram account types, or Meta Business Portfolio settings can inadvertently break connections.
5. **Test after reconnecting** — After any reconnection, send a test message to confirm the AI agent is responding correctly.

## What to do next

- **Troubleshoot connection issues** — See [Meta connection troubleshooting](/en/resources/docs/meta-connection-troubleshooting) for solutions to common problems.
- **Learn about the CRM** — See [CRM overview](/en/resources/docs/crm-overview) to understand how conversations from all channels are managed in one place.
- **Modify your AI configuration** — See [Edit your setup from AI Config](/en/resources/docs/edit-your-setup-from-ai-config) for a full guide to post-publishing configuration changes.