Getting Started with the Messaging API

To utilize the Messaging API, you'll need a channel. You can create a new channel through the LINE Developers Console or enable the Messaging API for your existing LINE Official Account. Choose the guide that best fits your requirements:

1. Create a channel via the LINE Developers Console
2. Enable the Messaging API for your existing LINE Official Account

What is a channel?

A channel serves as a communication pathway for providers to leverage features of the LINE Platform, such as the Messaging API and LINE Login, within their services. Having a channel is a prerequisite for using the LINE Platform, enabling you to access functions of the Messaging API using the channel's information, such as access token.

Create a Channel in the LINE Developers Console

If you're new to using the Messaging API, begin by creating a channel on the LINE Developers Console. Follow the steps below to learn how to create a channel from the LINE Developers Console:

Step 1: Log in to the LINE Developers Console

To start, click the "Log in to LINE Developers Console" button and sign in to your account on the LINE Developers Console. For detailed instructions, refer to the "Log in to LINE Developers" section in the LINE Developers Console documentation.

Step 2: Register as a Developer (only required on the first login)

Upon your initial login to the LINE Developers Console, you'll be prompted to enter your name and email address to register as a developer. This process will create a developer account for you.

Step 3: Create a New Provider

Navigate to the console home and click on "Create a new provider." On the "Create a new provider" screen, input a Provider name. A provider represents the entity offering your service or app. Enter a name of your choice, such as your own name or the name of your company. Then, click on "Create."

Step 4: Create a Channel

1. On the provider page, navigate to the "Channels" tab and then click on "Create a Messaging API channel."
2. Provide the requested information for your channel. Ensure that your channel name does not contain "LINE" or a similar string.
3. The following information set in the Basic settings tab of the Messaging API channel will be displayed to users:
   • Channel icon (optional): Appears on the LINE chat screen, and only if you have a LIFF app.
   • Channel name: Displayed on the LINE chat screen.
   • Channel description: Shown on the LIFF permission consent screen, but only if you have a LIFF app.
   • Company or owner's country or region: Appears on the profile screen of your LINE Official Account linked to the Messaging API channel.
   • Privacy policy URL (optional): Displayed on the LIFF permission consent screen, if applicable.
   • Terms of use URL (optional): Also shown on the LIFF permission consent screen, if applicable.

Precautions for Channel and Provider Linkage:

• Once a channel is created, it cannot be transferred to another provider later.
• When developing a service that links a Messaging API channel with a LINE Login channel, both channels should be created within the same provider.
• Each LINE user who uses services provided by developers is assigned a different user ID for each provider. User IDs cannot be used to identify the same user across channels under different providers.

Step 5: Verify the Channel

Ensure that the channel has been successfully created.

When you create a channel, it will also be applied to the LINE Official Account Manager. A LINE Official Account is automatically generated when you create a channel, and its name corresponds to the channel name. You can find the LINE Official Account linked to the channel displayed in the LINE Official Account Manager. From there, you can configure various settings for your LINE Official Account.

Use the Messaging API with your existing LINE Official Account

To integrate your existing LINE Official Account with the Messaging API, follow these steps:

Step 1: Enable Messaging API

Navigate to the LINE Official Account Manager and enable the use of the Messaging API. This action will create a Messaging API channel associated with your account. For detailed instructions, refer to the Messaging API section in LINE for Business (note: this resource is available only in Japanese).

If the account you used to log in to the LINE Official Account Manager has never been used on the LINE Developers Console, you may encounter a screen prompting you to register developer information. Provide your name and email to create a developer account.

Step 2: Access the LINE Developers Console

Access the LINE Developers Console to configure the newly created Messaging API channel. Log in using the same account credentials you used to log in to the LINE Official Account Manager.

Step 3: Verify Channel Creation

After logging in, select the provider you previously chose in Step 1. Confirm that a channel has been successfully created for the selected provider.

Next Steps:

With the channel set up, you're now prepared to utilize the Messaging API. In the upcoming steps, you'll configure the channel to build a bot.

Next, choose a provider to manage your LINE Official Account. If you intend to integrate your LINE Official Account with existing channels like LINE Login, select the provider associated with the channel you wish to integrate.