Messaging Channels is where you connect the platform to your shop's SMS number and your Meta business pages (Facebook Messenger and Instagram), monitor monthly message volume, and reach the Chat Widget and Contact Form settings. Email is configured separately (Settings > Email).

Go to Settings > Messaging Channels. The page has six cards.

Monthly Usage (top of page)

  • SMS and Email each have a progress bar showing messages sent this month against your plan limit, plus percent used and received count. Bars turn amber as you approach the limit and red when exceeded.
  • When limit is reached: two radio options. Pause outbound messages (stops outbound SMS and email until next billing period) or Allow overage (keeps sending, bills for excess).
  • Period reset date is shown on the right.

Facebook Messenger: Connected / Not Connected badge. Click Connect Facebook Page to sign in with the Facebook account that admins your business page, grant permission, and pick which page to link. The connected card shows page name, page ID, connection date, and a Disconnect button.

Instagram Direct Messages: linked through your connected Facebook Page; the Instagram account associated with that page is connected automatically when you link Messenger. Incoming Instagram DMs flow into the Inbox alongside other channels.

SMS: Your shop's SMS number is provisioned for you. The card shows the number and lets you send a test. The Allow staff to override SMS opt-out toggle here is a compliance control: leaving it off means staff cannot send to a customer who has not opted in; leaving it on lets staff send anyway (use at your own risk and only with documented consent). To swap or release the underlying number, contact 1sixty8 Manifold support.

Website Chat Widget: card with a Configure Widget button that opens Settings > Chat Widget. See the article on configuring the chat widget.

Contact Form: card with a Configure Contact Form button that opens Settings > Contact Form. See the article on configuring the contact form.

All conversations from any of these channels land in your Inbox under Communications. Use the Channel filter there to narrow by source.