---
title: Enable public access to the chat widget
description: Enable public access to the standard chat Virtual Agent chat widget for portals.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/conversational-interfaces/enable-public-access-web-client.html
release: australia
product: Conversational Interfaces
classification: conversational-interfaces
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [General chat settings, Configuring Conversational Interfaces, Conversational Interfaces Console, Conversational Interfaces]
---

# Enable public access to the chat widget

Enable public access to the standard chat Virtual Agent chat widget for portals.

## Before you begin

Role required: admin

## About this task

Public access to the standard chat Virtual Agent chat widget defaults to off. Use the following steps to allow public access to the chat widget for only portals.

## Procedure

1.  In the unified navigation bar, select the globe icon \(\[Omitted image "icon-scope.png"\] Alt text: Globe icon.\).

2.  Select **Application Scope**, then choose the **Virtual Agent Web Client** scope.

    **Tip:** You must be in the **Virtual Agent Web Client** scope to enable public access.

3.  Navigate to **All** > **Conversational Interfaces** > **Settings** > **General**.

4.  Under **Display options**, enable **Public access**.

    \[Omitted image "public-access-web-client.png"\] Alt text: Public access toggle enables public access to the Virtual Agent chat widget in portals.

    A message displays confirming that the setting has been saved.


**Parent Topic:**[General chat settings](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/conversational-interfaces/ci-configuring-chat-features.md)