How to Set Up Tidio Live Chat: Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Non-...

Adding live chat to your website might sound like a technical nightmare, but here's the reality: if you can send an email and follow basic instructions, you can have Tidio up and running on your website today. No coding degree required. No developer on speed dial. Just you, your computer, and about 30 minutes of focused time.

Live chat has become one of those "table stakes" features that customers expect when they visit a business website. They want answers now, not after submitting a contact form and waiting 24-48 hours. For small businesses competing against bigger players with dedicated support teams, tools like Tidio level the playing field by letting you offer instant communication—and even automate responses to common questions when you're busy running your actual business.

This guide walks you through every step of setting up Tidio, from creating your account to customizing your chat widget, setting up basic automation, and managing conversations like a pro. Whether your website runs on Shopify, WordPress, Wix, or something else entirely, you'll find the specific instructions you need right here.

What Tidio Actually Does (And Why Your Business Might Need It)

Before we dive into the technical steps, let's quickly cover what you're actually setting up. Tidio is a customer communication platform that combines three main features:

Live Chat: A small chat bubble that appears on your website, allowing visitors to message you directly. You can respond in real-time from your computer or phone.

Chatbots and Automation: Pre-built "flows" that can greet visitors, answer common questions, collect contact information, and handle basic interactions even when you're not available.

AI Agent (Lyro): An artificial intelligence feature that learns from your FAQs and help documents to answer customer questions automatically—with actual intelligence, not just scripted responses.

The combination means you can provide responsive customer service without hiring a support team or being chained to your computer 24/7. For small businesses especially, this is transformative.

Step 1: Create Your Tidio Account

Let's start at the beginning. Open your web browser and navigate to tidio.com.

Look for the main call-to-action button—it'll say something like "Get Started" or "Start for free." Click it to begin the account creation process.

You have a few options for signing up:

Enter your email address and create a password
Use your existing Google account for quicker access
Connect through Facebook if that option appears
Use Wix login if you're already a Wix user

After you choose your signup method, Tidio will ask you a series of setup questions. These aren't just data collection—they actually help configure your project appropriately. You'll typically be asked about:

Your business type (e-commerce, service business, etc.)
What you primarily want Tidio to do (customer support, sales, lead generation)
The size of your operation

Answer honestly, as these choices affect which templates and features Tidio highlights for you.

When prompted, give your project a simple, recognizable name. Something like "Main Website Chat" or "Sarah's Boutique Support" works perfectly. If you already have your website up and running, enter that address when asked.

Once you complete this initial setup, you'll land in your Tidio dashboard. Take a moment to orient yourself—you'll see menu items for Live Chat, Flows (that's where chatbots and automation live), Contacts, and Settings. Don't worry about memorizing everything now; we'll explore each section as we go.

Step 2: Understand Your Installation Options

Here's where things get practical. Tidio needs to be connected to your website so that chat bubble can actually appear for your visitors. There are two main approaches:

The Easy Way (Recommended): If your website is built on Shopify, WordPress, or Wix, you can use a dedicated app or plugin. This is the "click a few buttons and you're done" approach. No code involved.

The Universal Way: For any other website platform, you'll copy a small JavaScript code snippet from Tidio and add it to your website. This sounds scarier than it is, and we'll walk through it step by step.

If you're genuinely non-technical, strongly prefer the app/plugin route if it's available for your platform. The code method is a backup option when apps aren't available, and honestly, you can usually ask your web designer or developer to handle those 30 seconds of pasting for you.

Now let's get into the specific instructions for each platform.

Step 3: Installing Tidio on Shopify

If you run a Shopify store, you're in luck—this is one of the smoothest installation processes available.

Start by logging into your Shopify admin panel at your usual address (typically yourstore.myshopify.com/admin).

In the left sidebar menu, click on "Apps." This takes you to your installed apps area and also gives you access to the Shopify App Store.

Use the search function in the App Store and type "Tidio." You'll see the official Tidio app appear in the results. Click through to the app page.

Click the "Install" or "Add app" button. Shopify will show you what permissions the app needs—this is standard for any app that interacts with your store. Confirm these permissions to proceed.

After confirming, Shopify will redirect you into Tidio's setup flow. If you already created your Tidio account in Step 1, log in with those credentials. If not, you can create your account at this stage.

Now here's a step that some people miss: you need to enable the chat widget in your theme. Go back to your Shopify admin and navigate to "Online Store" then "Themes."

Click "Customize" on your currently active theme. Look for a section called "App embeds" or something similar (Shopify's interface updates periodically, so the exact location might vary slightly).

Find "Tidio Chat Widget" in this section and toggle it ON. Click Save to confirm your changes.

Open your live storefront in a new browser tab—not the admin preview, but your actual public website. You should see a small chat bubble appear, typically in the bottom right corner. That's your Tidio widget, live and ready for customers.

Step 4: Installing Tidio on WordPress

WordPress users have an equally straightforward path through the plugin system.

In the left sidebar, hover over "Plugins" and click "Add New."

In the search bar at the top right, type "Tidio" and press enter.

Look for the official Tidio live chat plugin. It should be one of the first results. Click "Install Now" and wait a few seconds for it to download.

Once installed, click "Activate." This turns the plugin on and makes it available in your WordPress dashboard.

After activation, you'll notice a new "Tidio" menu item appears in your left sidebar. Click on it.

At this point, WordPress will either ask you to create a new Tidio account or log in to an existing one. Use the same account you created in Step 1 to keep everything connected.

Once you've logged in and connected the plugin to your Tidio account, the chat widget is automatically added to your website. No additional configuration needed on the WordPress side.

Test it by opening your website's public homepage in a new tab (or an incognito window to see it fresh). The Tidio chat bubble should appear.

A note for WordPress users: The plugin approach works for self-hosted WordPress.org sites where you have access to the plugin directory. If you're on WordPress.com, your options depend on your plan level.

Step 5: Installing Tidio on Wix

Wix doesn't have a dedicated Tidio app in the same way Shopify and WordPress do, but you can still add Tidio through Wix's custom code feature. This is still manageable for non-technical users—it's essentially copying and pasting.

Before you start, verify two things:

Your Wix site is on a paid plan (custom code isn't available on free Wix sites)
Your domain is connected, whether that's a Wix domain or your own custom domain

Now, log in to your Tidio dashboard. Navigate to "Settings," then "Live Chat," then "Installation."

Look for a tab labeled "Manual install" or "JavaScript code." You'll see a code snippet—this is your unique Tidio installation code. Click to copy it.

Switch over to your Wix dashboard for your site. Navigate to "Settings," then "Advanced," then "Custom Code."

Under the section labeled "Body – End," click "Add code" or the plus button.

Paste the Tidio code snippet you copied into the code box. Give it a simple name like "Tidio Chat" so you can identify it later.

Choose to load it on "All pages" (unless you have a specific reason to limit where chat appears). Select "Load code once per visitor" if that option is available.

Save your changes and publish your Wix site.

Visit your live Wix site as a regular visitor would. The chat bubble should now be visible and functional.

Step 6: Installing Tidio on Other Website Platforms

What if you're not on Shopify, WordPress, or Wix? Maybe you use Squarespace, Webflow, GoDaddy Website Builder, or something else entirely. The universal JavaScript method has you covered.

In your Tidio dashboard, go to "Settings," then "Live Chat," then "Installation."

Under "Manual install," you'll find your unique code snippet. Copy this entire snippet—it'll look like a block of text starting with something like <script>.

Now comes the part that varies depending on your platform. Most modern website builders have a "Custom code" or "Header & Footer scripts" area somewhere in their settings. Here's where to look:

Squarespace: Settings → Advanced → Code Injection → Footer
Webflow: Project Settings → Custom Code → Footer Code
GoDaddy: Look in the website editor settings for custom code options
Other builders: Search their help documentation for "add custom code" or "footer scripts"

Paste the Tidio snippet in the appropriate footer code area and save your changes.

If you can't find where to add code: Don't stress. Send the code snippet to whoever built or maintains your website with this exact instruction: "Please paste this Tidio JavaScript snippet right before the closing </body> tag in the main layout template for all pages." Any web developer will know exactly what this means and can do it in under a minute.

After adding the code and publishing your changes, visit your website as a regular visitor to confirm the chat bubble appears.

Step 7: Customize Your Chat Widget's Appearance

Now that Tidio is installed, let's make it look like it belongs on your website rather than a generic add-on.

In your Tidio dashboard, navigate to "Settings" (look for a gear icon), then "Live Chat" or "Channels," and find the "Appearance" or "Widget customization" section.

Here's what you can typically adjust:

Colors: Match your chat widget to your brand. If your website uses a specific shade of blue, use that same blue for your chat bubble and message colors. Consistency builds trust.

Position: Most businesses stick with bottom right, as that's where visitors expect to find chat. Bottom left is an option if right-side placement conflicts with other elements on your site.

Shape and Style: Some options may exist for rounded versus squared corners, or different bubble shapes. Pick what feels right for your brand personality.

Display Name and Photo: This is what visitors see when they chat. You might use "Support Team," your business name, or even your own name and photo if you're a solo operator. Add your logo or a friendly headshot depending on the vibe you want.

Welcome Message: This is the initial message that appears in the chat widget or pops up to greet visitors. Examples:

"Hi! Let us know if you have any questions."
"Need help choosing a product? Chat with us here."
"Welcome! How can we help you today?"

Keep it friendly and helpful without being pushy.

Online and Offline Messages: Configure what visitors see when you're actively available versus when you're away. For offline periods, you might say: "We're not available right now, but leave your question and email and we'll get back to you within 24 hours."

After making your changes, click Save and refresh your live website to see the updated look.

Step 8: Set Up Basic Automation and Chatbots

Here's where Tidio starts working for you even when you're not at your computer. The "Flows" feature lets you create automated conversations that can greet visitors, collect information, and answer common questions.

In your Tidio dashboard, open the "Flows" or "Chatbots" section.

You'll find a library of templates designed for common scenarios. Start with these rather than building from scratch:

Visitor greeting: Automatically welcomes new visitors after they've been on your site for a few seconds
Lead collection: Asks for name, email, and what they're interested in
FAQ responses: Answers common questions automatically
Offline message capture: Collects visitor questions and contact info when you're not available

Click on a template that matches your needs. You'll enter a visual builder where you can:

Edit the text in message bubbles
Set triggers for when the flow activates (e.g., "after 10 seconds on page" or "only on the pricing page")
Add decision branches based on visitor responses
Connect multiple messages in a conversation sequence

Don't overcomplicate things initially. One welcome bot plus one basic lead-capture flow is plenty to start. You can add more sophistication later as you see what your visitors actually need.

Setting Up Lyro AI Agent

Tidio's Lyro is an AI-powered feature that goes beyond scripted chatbots. It can understand visitor questions and provide relevant answers based on information you give it.

Navigate to the "Lyro – AI Agent" section in your Tidio dashboard.

The key to making Lyro useful is connecting it to your knowledge base. You can:

Upload FAQ documents
Link to your help pages or knowledge base
Add specific question-and-answer pairs

The more accurate information you provide, the better Lyro performs. Focus on covering your most common customer questions first.

Once you've added your knowledge sources, turn Lyro on for your live chat channel.

Start with Lyro handling a limited scope of questions while you monitor its accuracy. You can expand its responsibilities as you gain confidence in its responses.

For businesses exploring other AI tools, you might find our guide on ChatGPT for beginners helpful for understanding how conversational AI works more broadly.

Step 9: Learn to Handle Conversations Effectively

Your team (or just you, if you're running solo) will spend most of your Tidio time in the "Inbox" or "Conversations" section. This is mission control for customer communication.

In the dashboard, click "Inbox" or "Conversations."

You'll see several things:

A list of visitors currently browsing your site
Active chats that need responses
Past conversations for reference

When a new message comes in, it appears in your list. Click on the conversation to open it.

Type your reply in the message box at the bottom and hit send. But there's more you can do:

Canned Responses: These are pre-written replies for frequent questions. Instead of typing "Our shipping takes 3-5 business days for standard delivery and 1-2 days for express" every time, create a canned response and insert it with a couple of clicks.

Internal Notes: Add notes that only your team can see. Useful for tracking context like "This customer asked about returns last week" or "Interested in bulk pricing."

Visitor Information: The sidebar usually shows you what page the visitor is on, how they found your site, and their location. Use this context to provide more relevant help.

When you've resolved a conversation, mark it as "Closed" or "Solved." This keeps your inbox organized and makes it easier to track what still needs attention.

Stay Responsive on Mobile

You won't always be at your computer, but customers still expect quick responses. Download the Tidio mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Log in with your account credentials, and you can reply to chats from your phone just like you would from your desktop. Push notifications alert you when new messages arrive, so you're never leaving customers waiting without knowing it.

Step 10: Connect Tidio to Your Other Business Tools

As your operation grows, connecting Tidio with other systems saves time and reduces manual work.

Common integrations include:

E-commerce Platforms: If you installed Tidio on Shopify, the integration may already share some order data. Similar connections exist for WooCommerce and other platforms. This means you can see what products a visitor has viewed or purchased right in the chat window.

CRM and Email Tools: Connect Tidio with your customer relationship management system or email marketing platform. Contact information collected through chat can flow directly into your existing customer database.

Social Channels: Link Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and other social platforms so messages from those channels appear in your single Tidio inbox. Instead of checking five different apps, you manage everything in one place.

To set up integrations:

Navigate to "Integrations" in your Tidio dashboard.

Find the tool you want to connect—for example, "Instagram" or your specific CRM.

Click on the integration and follow the on-screen instructions. Typically, you'll need to log in to that other service and approve the connection between the two platforms.

If you're interested in connecting multiple business tools through automation, our guide on social media automation with AI covers related concepts for streamlining your digital presence.

Step 11: Test Everything Before Going Live

Before you rely on Tidio for actual customer communication, test it like a customer would. This catches issues before real visitors encounter them.

Open your website in a private or incognito browser window. This ensures you're seeing what a first-time visitor sees, not a cached version.

Walk through this checklist:

Widget Visibility: Confirm the chat bubble appears on your important pages—homepage, product pages, contact page, etc. If it's missing somewhere, check your flow triggers or installation settings.

Bot Flows: If you set up automated greetings or FAQ bots, trigger them by waiting the specified time or visiting the relevant pages. Make sure they fire correctly and the messaging sounds right.

Message Delivery: Start a test conversation as a "visitor" in your incognito window. Then, in another window or on your phone, open the Tidio inbox and verify you see this message. Reply to confirm the two-way communication works.

Notifications: Turn on sound notifications in your browser and Tidio desktop app. Send yourself a test message and make sure you actually hear or see the alert. Configure email notifications for times when you might be away from your computer.

If something doesn't work as expected, return to Settings → Live Chat → Installation and verify you used the correct method for your platform. Tidio's Help Center also has platform-specific troubleshooting guides.

Step 12: Ongoing Improvement and Optimization

Setting up Tidio isn't a one-time task—it's the beginning of a customer communication system that you'll refine over time.

Dedicate some time each week (even 15-20 minutes) to these improvement activities:

Review Conversations

Read through your recent chats. You'll quickly notice patterns:

Questions that come up repeatedly
Points where visitors get confused
Requests that your website doesn't address well

When you identify repeated questions, add them to your FAQ flow or Lyro's knowledge base. Each automated answer saves you time on future chats.

Check Your Analytics

Tidio provides reporting on metrics like:

Chat volume (how many conversations you're having)
Response times (how quickly you're replying)
Outcomes (leads captured, issues resolved)

Watch for trends. If response times are creeping up, you might need to add more automated responses or adjust your availability. If a particular page generates lots of chats, maybe that page needs clearer information.

Adjust Widget Behavior

The timing and triggers for your chat widget affect both helpfulness and annoyance levels. If visitors are closing the widget immediately after it pops up, it might be appearing too aggressively. If nobody's engaging, your timing or messaging might need adjustment.

Experiment with different approaches:

Try a 15-second delay instead of 10
Test different welcome messages
Consider page-specific triggers (pricing page visitors might need different help than blog readers)

Expand Automation Strategically

As you get comfortable with basic flows, consider adding more automation. Build flows for:

Product recommendations based on visitor behavior
Appointment scheduling
Order status inquiries (especially valuable for e-commerce)
Returns and refunds initial questions

Each effective automation multiplies your capacity without hiring additional help.

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

The chat widget isn't appearing on my site.

Double-check that you completed all installation steps for your platform. For Shopify, make sure the app embed is enabled in your theme settings. For WordPress, verify the plugin is activated and connected to your Tidio account. For code-based installation, confirm the snippet is placed before the closing </body> tag and the page is published.

Messages aren't reaching my inbox.

Check your Tidio notification settings. Also verify you're looking at the correct project if you have multiple Tidio projects set up. Test the connection by messaging yourself from an incognito window.

Visitors complain about the chat bubble being annoying.

Adjust your timing triggers so the widget appears less aggressively. Consider making the initial greeting less intrusive—a small wave or subtle animation rather than a large pop-up message. Respect that not every visitor wants to chat.

I'm overwhelmed by chat volume.

This is actually a good problem—it means people want to talk to you. Focus on expanding your automation to handle common questions. Prioritize adding canned responses for frequent topics. If volume continues growing, consider Tidio's options for handling higher capacity.

Lyro is giving incorrect answers.

Review and update your knowledge base. Lyro can only work with the information you provide. If it's giving wrong answers, either the information isn't in its knowledge base or the question is outside its scope. You can also adjust which types of questions Lyro handles versus which get passed to human operators.

Security Considerations

As with any tool that handles customer data, basic security practices matter. Use a strong, unique password for your Tidio account. If you have team members with access, set appropriate permission levels so everyone has the access they need without unnecessary privileges.

Tidio handles data according to their privacy and security policies, but you're still responsible for how you use customer information you collect through chat. Be clear with visitors about data usage, especially if you're collecting contact information.

For a broader look at keeping your business secure when using AI-powered tools, our guide on AI security for small businesses covers important considerations.

What You've Accomplished

By following this guide, you've:

Created and configured a Tidio account
Installed the chat widget on your website (regardless of platform)
Customized the appearance to match your brand
Set up basic automation to handle common scenarios
Learned how to manage conversations effectively
Connected Tidio with your other business tools
Tested everything to ensure it works properly
Established a foundation for ongoing improvement

That's a significant upgrade to your customer communication capabilities, achieved without writing a single line of code from scratch or hiring a technical team.

Next Steps Worth Considering

Now that Tidio is running, here are natural next steps as you grow:

Build Your Knowledge Base: The more information you add to Lyro and your FAQ flows, the more effective your automation becomes. Treat this as an ongoing project.

Train Your Team: If you have employees who'll use Tidio, show them the inbox, teach them about canned responses, and establish guidelines for response tone and timing.

Monitor Competitor Approaches: Visit competitor websites and interact with their chat systems. Notice what works and what frustrates you as a visitor, then apply those lessons to your own setup.

Explore Advanced Features: Once you're comfortable with the basics, dig into Tidio's more advanced capabilities—multi-step flows, conditional logic, advanced integrations, and more sophisticated AI training.

Live chat transforms how small businesses connect with potential customers. Instead of hoping visitors will fill out a form or pick up the phone, you're meeting them exactly where they are with exactly the help they need. For businesses looking to compete effectively regardless of size, that's a genuine competitive advantage.

If you're exploring other ways AI can strengthen your business operations, consider reviewing our roundup of the 2026 AI toolkit for essential business apps for additional tools worth evaluating.

You've got this. The hardest part—actually starting—is behind you. Now it's just about refining and improving as you learn what your specific customers need.

How to Set Up Tidio Live Chat: Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Non-Technical Small Business Owners