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

# Connecting Channels

> How to connect Gmail, Outlook, Slack, WhatsApp, and Calendar to Outband for unified communication intelligence.

Outband supports multiple communication channels. Each channel you connect enriches your Contact Models and provides a more complete picture of your communication relationships.

## Supported Channels

| Channel              | What Outband processes                     | Plan required |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ------------- |
| **Gmail**            | Emails (read, categorize, draft, send)     | All plans     |
| **Outlook**          | Emails (read, categorize, draft, send)     | All plans     |
| **IMAP**             | Any IMAP-compatible email provider         | All plans     |
| **Slack**            | Channels and DMs (read, categorize, draft) | Professional+ |
| **WhatsApp**         | WhatsApp Business messages                 | Professional+ |
| **Google Calendar**  | Events, meetings, scheduling context       | All plans     |
| **Outlook Calendar** | Events, meetings, scheduling context       | All plans     |

## Connecting a New Channel

1. Go to **Settings > Connected Accounts**
2. Select **Connect** next to the channel you want to add
3. Follow the authorization flow for that provider
4. Once connected, you will see a green **Connected** badge

<Info>
  You can connect multiple accounts of the same type. For example, you can connect both a personal Gmail and a work Gmail account.
</Info>

## Channel-Specific Details

### Gmail and Outlook

These are the primary channels. When connected:

* Outband imports your email history for Contact Model building
* New emails are processed in near real-time
* Drafts can be sent through your connected account
* Sent messages appear in your normal sent folder

### Slack

When you connect Slack:

* Outband reads messages from channels you are in and your DMs
* Messages are integrated into Contact Models -- a contact you email and also Slack with will have a richer model
* Slack threads appear in your Daily Briefing alongside email
* Drafts for Slack messages are supported in Drafter mode

### WhatsApp

When you connect WhatsApp Business:

* Business messages are processed alongside email and Slack
* Contact Models are enriched with WhatsApp communication patterns
* WhatsApp items appear in your Daily Briefing

### Calendar

Calendar connections provide temporal context:

* Outband knows when you have meetings and with whom
* Briefing items are enriched with "you have a meeting with this person tomorrow"
* Meeting preparation context is surfaced proactively
* Calendar data is read-only -- Outband does not create or modify events

## Managing Connected Accounts

### Viewing connection status

Go to **Settings > Connected Accounts** to see all connected channels with their status:

* **Connected** (green) -- Working normally
* **Requires Re-authorization** (amber) -- You need to reconnect. Select **Reconnect** to fix.
* **Error** (red) -- Something went wrong. Select for details and troubleshooting.

### Disconnecting a channel

1. Go to **Settings > Connected Accounts**
2. Select **Disconnect** next to the channel
3. Confirm the disconnection -- Outband explains what will change ("AI will no longer process Gmail")
4. Your data from that channel remains in Outband until you explicitly delete it

<Warning>
  Disconnecting your only email account will significantly reduce Outband's functionality. Your Daily Briefing will be empty until you reconnect or connect a different account.
</Warning>

## Cross-Channel Benefits

The more channels you connect, the richer your intelligence:

* **Cross-channel Contact Models** -- A contact you interact with on email and Slack has a more accurate model than one you only email
* **Unified Canvas** -- Threads that span email and Slack are connected into a single Communication Canvas
* **Better Perception Prediction** -- More data points mean more accurate predictions of how recipients will perceive your messages
* **Meeting context** -- Calendar data enriches briefing items with upcoming meeting awareness

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Contact Intelligence" icon="address-book" href="/journeys/contact-intelligence">
    See how connected channels build your Contact Models.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Settings" icon="gear" href="/journeys/settings">
    Explore all configuration options.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>