Enable Virtual Agent or chat

---
title: Enable Virtual Agent or chat
description: Enable Virtual Agent so that employees can find answers to their questions without waiting on hold or calling an agent.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/it-operations-management/digital-end-user-experience-dex/enable-va-chat.html
release: australia
product: Digital End-User Experience \(DEX\)
classification: digital-end-user-experience-dex
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Setting up Desktop Assistant, Configure, Digital End-User Experience, IT Operations Management]
---

# Enable Virtual Agent or chat

Enable Virtual Agent so that employees can find answers to their questions without waiting on hold or calling an agent.

## Before you begin

The Virtual Agent plugin \(com.glide.cs.chatbot\) must be installed and active.

Role required: sn\_dex\_desktop.admin

## Procedure

1.  Navigate to **All** > **Desktop Assistant** > **Configuration** > **Application**.

2.  On the Desktop Assistant page, select the **Virtual agent enabled** check box.

    For information about how to configure Virtual Agent, see [Configuring Virtual Agent](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/conversational-interfaces/configure-virtual-agent.md).

3.  Select **Update**.

    The Virtual Agent or chat icon \[Omitted image "icon-virtual-agent.png"\] Alt text: appears on the Desktop Assistant header.

4.  To open the chat window, select the Virtual Agent or chat icon \[Omitted image "icon-virtual-agent.png"\] Alt text: from the Desktop Assistant header.

    For information about how to configure chat branding, see [Set up your Virtual Agent bot's branding](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/conversational-interfaces/ac-configure-chat-branding.md).