Test mode and going live

If you just connected your store and the chat does not appear when you open your shop in a private window — nothing is broken. That is test mode.

What test mode is

Before you start a subscription, Storebird runs in test mode:

• The widget renders only for you, the logged-in store owner
• Real visitors see nothing at all
• You get a daily allowance of test conversations (30 per day per website) so you can try it properly without cost
• Everything else is fully unlocked: connect your store, sync products, fill the knowledge base, set branding and tone

Test mode exists so you can judge the answer quality on your own catalog before you pay for anything.

How to test properly

Open your own storefront while logged in to WordPress as the store owner. The widget appears. Then ask it the questions your customers actually ask — not the questions you hope it can answer:

• A product question with a specific requirement ("do you have this in size 42, in blue?")
• A stock question about something nearly sold out
• A shipping or returns question that lives on one of your policy pages
• An order question with a real order number (see Order tracking)
• Something you do not sell, to see whether it says so honestly

Every test conversation appears in your Inbox, so you can read the answers back calmly.

Going live

Start a subscription from Billing or the pricing page. The moment the subscription is active, the widget starts rendering for every visitor on your store. There is no separate "publish" switch to forget.

What if I want it off again?

Cancelling your subscription returns the widget to owner-only test mode — it does not delete your knowledge base, branding or conversation history. See Billing, account and data.

Common causes when the widget still does not show

More in Troubleshooting.