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

# Custom channel

> Enable and configure the custom channel to connect your own app to Brain Studio.

## Introduction

The **custom** channel lets your application (web, mobile, or backend) run flows published in Brain Studio via webhook and REST API, without relying on WhatsApp or Meta.

Jelou receives interactions from your app, processes the flow asynchronously, and delivers bot replies to the URL you configure.

## Prerequisites

Before enabling the channel, make sure you have:

* An active Jelou account and access to the **Channels** section
* A public endpoint in your infrastructure to receive agent replies

## Enable the channel

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Channels section">
    Sign in to Jelou, go to **Channels**, and select the **custom** option.

    <Frame caption="Channel selector with the custom option">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/jelouai/_5gMw8RDlLWxYYHc/assets/images/channels/custom-selector-en.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=_5gMw8RDlLWxYYHc&q=85&s=cebe1a4d00e4aa283503d6f14a6359e2" alt="Jelou Channels section with the custom option highlighted" width="3840" height="1934" data-path="assets/images/channels/custom-selector-en.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name the channel">
    Give the channel a descriptive name, for example `Mobile app - Production`. The name must be between 4 and 50 characters.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete the configuration modal">
    In the modal, provide:

    * The **webhook URL** where Jelou will deliver agent replies (required).
    * An optional **authentication type** (`api_key`, `bearer`, or `basic`) and its value, if your endpoint requires it.
    * The **signing key** (HMAC), **required**. Use it to sign your requests to Jelou's API and verify the replies that arrive in your system.

    <Frame caption="custom channel configuration modal">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/jelouai/_5gMw8RDlLWxYYHc/assets/images/channels/custom-modal-en.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=_5gMw8RDlLWxYYHc&q=85&s=39c4edbe3228b2b9de02b3cd17e1af74" alt="custom channel configuration modal with webhook, authentication, and signing key" width="544" height="584" data-path="assets/images/channels/custom-modal-en.png" />
    </Frame>

    <Note>
      Secrets are encrypted at rest and are not shown in plain text after saving. If you lose a value, generate a new one and update the configuration.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save and connect">
    Save the configuration and make sure the channel is connected to the corresponding project.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Build the logic in Brain Studio">
    Open the project in Brain Studio, select the **custom** channel in the workflows list, and start building with Jelou.

    <Frame caption="Brain Studio canvas with the custom channel selected">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/jelouai/_5gMw8RDlLWxYYHc/assets/images/channels/custom-canvas-en.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=_5gMw8RDlLWxYYHc&q=85&s=d8c46dec5caafdeeabfd875732fb9dc3" alt="Brain Studio with the custom channel selected in the workflows list and the Start node on the canvas" width="2775" height="1931" data-path="assets/images/channels/custom-canvas-en.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Reply delivery

When the agent replies, Jelou `POST`s to your webhook. Delivery has a 20-second timeout and a single attempt (no automatic retries). Your endpoint must respond quickly and reliably.

## Channel limitations

In the builder, some nodes and tools are not available on the **custom** channel because they depend on WhatsApp or other integrations.

### Unavailable nodes and blocks

* HSM template
* WhatsApp Flows
* CTA URL
* Sticker
* Carousel
* Numbered list
* Webview
* Payments
* Connect (advisor)
* Biometrics
* Human handoff (HubSpot, Genesys, or others)

WhatsApp-only nodes such as **Input** and location request also do not appear on this channel.

### Unavailable AI Agent tools

* Call to action (`send_call_to_action`)
* Transfer to agent (`transfer_to_agent`)
* Jelou Shop

## Next step for developers

To send interactions, verify HMAC signatures, and check session status, see the API reference:

<Card title="Custom channel API" icon="code" href="/en/api/custom-channel/introduction">
  Introduction, endpoints, response formats, and HMAC signature.
</Card>