# Handle contact requests yourself

_Category: Widget and embedding_

When visitors can't find an answer in the widget, send them to your own contact page, form or live chat instead of the widget's built-in form. Define `onContactsRequest` in your options, and the widget calls it whenever a visitor asks to contact you.

**You need:** the widget on your page (see [Widget installation and options](https://developers.helpcenter.io/content/widget-options)) · **Plans:** All plans

## How it works

The widget offers contact in these places, with these texts unless you changed them in your dashboard:

- **I can't find what I'm looking for**, on its home screen and under search results.
- **Contact our team**, after a search with no results.
- **Still stuck? Message our team →**, under an AI answer.
- **Contact us**, when the AI assistant can't answer.

With `onContactsRequest` defined:

- A click on any of them calls your function, with no arguments, instead of opening the built-in form.
- These entry points show even when your help center has no recipient email for the built-in form.
- The widget stays open. Close it in your function with `window.hcWidget.hide()` when your form or chat opens on top.
- The widget's frame sits lower in your page's stacking order (`z-index: 2147482999` instead of `2147483647`), so a chat window can open above it.

## Send visitors to your contact page

```
<script>
  window.hcOptions = {
    app_id: 'YOUR_WIDGET_ID',
    onContactsRequest: function () {
      window.open('https://www.example.com/contact', '_blank', 'noopener');
    }
  };
</script>
<script src="https://helpcenter.io/js/init.js" async></script>
```

Replace the address with your contact page. The widget stays open behind the new tab.

## Open your own form

This example closes the widget and opens a form in a `<dialog>` on your page:

```
<dialog id="support-dialog">
  <form method="dialog">
    <h2>Contact support</h2>
    <label>Your message <textarea name="message" required></textarea></label>
    <button type="submit">Send</button>
  </form>
</dialog>

<script>
  window.hcOptions = {
    app_id: 'YOUR_WIDGET_ID',
    onContactsRequest: function () {
      window.hcWidget.hide();
      document.getElementById('support-dialog').showModal();
    }
  };
</script>
<script src="https://helpcenter.io/js/init.js" async></script>
```

Your function doesn't receive the visitor's search or email address, so ask for what you need in your form.

## Open your live chat

Call your chat's own JavaScript API. This example opens the Intercom Messenger, and falls back to your contact page when the chat hasn't loaded:

```
<script>
  window.hcOptions = {
    app_id: 'YOUR_WIDGET_ID',
    onContactsRequest: function () {
      window.hcWidget.hide();
      if (window.Intercom) {
        window.Intercom('show');
      } else {
        window.location.href = 'https://www.example.com/contact';
      }
    }
  };
</script>
<script src="https://helpcenter.io/js/init.js" async></script>
```

Keep your chat's own installation code on the page. Step-by-step setups, including hiding each chat's launcher, are in these guides:

- [Integrate the widget with the Intercom Messenger](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/integrate-the-helpcenter-io-widget-with-the-intercom-messenger)
- [Integrate the widget with Chatra](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/integrate-the-helpcenter-io-widget-with-the-chatra-chat-widget)
- [Integrate the widget with tawk.to](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/integrate-the-helpcenter-io-smart-widget-with-the-tawk-to-chat-widget)
- [Integrate the widget with Gorgias Chat](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/integrate-the-helpcenter-io-widget-with-gorgias-chat)

## Without onContactsRequest

The widget shows its built-in contact form, which emails your team. The form needs a recipient email set in your dashboard; without one, the widget shows no contact entry points at all. See [Let visitors message your team from the widget](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/widget-contact-form).

## Related

- [Widget JavaScript API](https://developers.helpcenter.io/content/widget-javascript-api)
- [Widget installation and options](https://developers.helpcenter.io/content/widget-options)