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How to Connect an AI Agent to Chat Apps with Navin

Navin can reply as a self-hosted chatbot or AI agent in Telegram, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, Email, Mattermost, and other chat apps. Messages arrive while the desktop app is open; Navin runs the agent and sends replies back to the same channel.

What you will build

  • a working local agent in Navin
  • one enabled chat channel in Settings
  • a pairing-based approval flow or a narrow static allowlist

When to use this

Use chat apps when the agent should live where users already communicate: private DMs, team channels, group chats, email threads, or bot workspaces.

Before you add a channel

  1. Open Navin and complete provider setup under Settings → Providers and Settings → Models.
  2. Send a short message in the desktop chat to confirm replies work.
  3. Keep Navin open while you test the channel.

Then choose one platform guide for bot or account prerequisites:

Connect a channel in Settings

  1. Get the platform token, login state, or mailbox credentials from that platform.
  2. Open Settings → Channels in Navin.
  3. Choose the platform and open its setup panel.
  4. Paste credentials or complete the QR / login flow; install optional support if the app prompts you.
  5. Restart when Navin requests it.
  6. Send a private test message from the chat app.
  7. Approve the pairing request in Navin when a DM-capable channel asks for one.

If your installed release does not show Settings → Channels, use the in-app help for Chat Apps or update Navin.

Production notes

  • Leave Navin running for always-on chat apps.
  • Use mention-only group policies before opening a bot to busy channels.
  • Enable one channel at a time while debugging.
  • Prefer DMs for first tests; pairing only works in DMs, and group chats add permissions and routing behavior.

Security notes

  • Prefer pairing or explicit allowlists; do not allow everyone unless the bot is intentionally public or isolated.
  • Rotate bot tokens if they are pasted into logs or shared files.
  • Review file, shell, and web tool access before inviting other users.

Troubleshooting

  • Channel missing in Settings: enable the platform panel again or restart Navin after optional channel support installs.
  • First DM returns a pairing code: approve the pending request in Navin (or with /pairing approve <code> from an already trusted chat).
  • Messages do not arrive: confirm credentials, that Navin is open, and that allow lists / group policies match your test.
  • Group replies unexpected: review that channel's group policy in Settings.

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