How can I add a clickable link to open a chat window in Shopify?

Topic summary

Main issue: A previously working URL parameter (?show_chat) that auto-opened the Shopify Chat (Shopify Inbox) widget has stopped working as of last week. The goal is to add a clickable link/button that opens the chat window on a page.

Recent inputs:

  • Suggestion to use the Shopify Inbox app was made, but the original poster already uses it and needs a trigger to open the chat, not the app itself.
  • A terse workaround “/?chat” was proposed, but no confirmation of effectiveness was provided.
  • A third-party app (CartUp AI) was promoted; its description focuses on linking to product pages, not on opening the chat widget, making its relevance to this specific trigger unclear.

Status and open questions:

  • No verified solution or official parameter to open the Shopify chat window has been confirmed.
  • The thread remains unresolved; key question: What is the current supported method (URL parameter or JS trigger) to programmatically open Shopify Inbox chat?
Summarized with AI on December 17. AI used: gpt-5.

No I already have Shopify Inbox, the problem I’m facing is to click a button to open such chat box

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