> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ilert.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ilert.com/incidents-and-status-pages/incidents/incident-channels.md).

# Incident channels

An incident channel is a dedicated chat channel connected to an [incident](/incidents-and-status-pages/incidents.md) for real-time coordination. It gives your responders one place to talk through the response while the incident keeps the structured record.

## Before you start

Incident channels rely on a connected chat integration. Make sure one of the following is set up for your account:

* [Slack](/chatops/slack.md)
* [Microsoft Teams](/chatops/microsoft-teams.md)
* [Google Chat](/chatops/google-chat.md)

See the [ChatOps overview](/chatops/overview.md) for how to connect a chat tool to ilert.

## Create an incident channel

You can connect a channel in two ways:

* **While declaring an incident** — select **Create incident channel** in the [Declare incident dialog](/incidents-and-status-pages/incidents/declare-an-incident.md).
* **From an existing incident** — in the incident view, use the **Incident channel** section to create one.

If more than one chat platform is connected to your account, you choose which one to use when the channel is created.

{% hint style="info" %}
An incident can have one incident channel. The platform is fixed once the channel is created—you can disconnect a channel, but you cannot switch it to a different platform.
{% endhint %}

## Keeping the channel and timeline in sync

Once a channel is connected, [comments](/incidents-and-status-pages/incidents/incident-timeline-and-comments.md#comments) are kept in sync between ilert and the channel, so the conversation and the incident [timeline](/incidents-and-status-pages/incidents/incident-timeline-and-comments.md) stay aligned. This also means the channel can be included when you [generate a post-mortem with ilert AI](/incidents-and-status-pages/status-updates/generating-incident-updates-through-ai.md).


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