> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.livchat.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Send your first WhatsApp message in 5 minutes

# Quickstart

Get started with LivChat.ai in just a few steps.

## Step 1: Get Your API Key

1. Go to [livchat.ai](https://livchat.ai)
2. Scan the QR code with your WhatsApp
3. Sign up or log in to your account
4. Navigate to **Settings > API Keys**
5. Click **Create API Key**

<Note>
  Your API key starts with `lc_live_` for production or `lc_test_` for testing.
</Note>

## Step 2: Connect Your WhatsApp

Before sending messages, you need to connect a WhatsApp session:

```bash theme={null}
# Check session status
curl https://api.livchat.ai/v1/session/status \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
```

If not connected, get a QR code to scan:

```bash theme={null}
# Get QR code
curl https://api.livchat.ai/v1/session/qr \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
```

## Step 3: Send Your First Message

Once connected, send a message:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://api.livchat.ai/v1/messages/send \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{
      "phone": "5511999999999",
      "body": "Hello from LivChat!"
    }'
  ```

  ```javascript Node.js theme={null}
  const response = await fetch("https://api.livchat.ai/v1/messages/send", {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      Authorization: "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      phone: "5511999999999",
      body: "Hello from LivChat!",
    }),
  });

  const data = await response.json();
  console.log(data);
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests

  response = requests.post(
      "https://api.livchat.ai/v1/messages/send",
      headers={
          "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
          "Content-Type": "application/json",
      },
      json={
          "phone": "5511999999999",
          "body": "Hello from LivChat!",
      },
  )

  print(response.json())
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Step 4: Verify Number Has WhatsApp

Before sending, you can check if a number has WhatsApp:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://api.livchat.ai/v1/contacts/check \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "phones": ["5511999999999", "5511888888888"]
  }'
```

Response:

```json theme={null}
{
  "success": true,
  "code": 200,
  "data": [
    {
      "phone": "5511999999999",
      "isInWhatsapp": true,
      "jid": "5511999999999@s.whatsapp.net"
    },
    {
      "phone": "5511888888888",
      "isInWhatsapp": false,
      "jid": null
    }
  ]
}
```

## What's Next?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Authentication" icon="key" href="/authentication">
    Learn about API key scopes and security
  </Card>

  <Card title="Send Media" icon="image" href="/api-reference/messages/send-image">
    Send images, documents, audio, and more
  </Card>

  <Card title="Webhooks" icon="webhook" href="/api-reference/webhook">
    Receive incoming messages and events
  </Card>

  <Card title="Groups" icon="users" href="/api-reference/groups/list">
    Manage WhatsApp groups
  </Card>
</CardGroup>