# Assign a conversation to a teammate

> Use the assignee button in the thread header to give a conversation to a teammate. When you reply to an unassigned conversation, Line assigns it to you.

Source: https://useline.io/help/inbox/assign-conversations  
Section: Inbox and contacts  
Last updated: 2026-11-05

An assignment shows who holds a conversation. You change it with the assignee button in the thread header. Every member can assign a conversation.

## Assign a conversation

1. Open the conversation in the **Inbox**.
2. Select the assignee button in the thread header. It shows the current assignee, or **Unassigned**.
3. Select a teammate. Select **You** to take it yourself.

To remove the assignee, select **Unassigned**.

## Automatic assignment when you reply

When you send a reply on a conversation that nobody holds, Line assigns it to you. A conversation that a teammate holds keeps that teammate.

## Choose one owner or shared ownership

An Owner or Admin chooses how assignment works for the whole workspace:

1. Go to **Settings**, then **General**.
2. In **Conversation ownership**, select one option:

| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| **One owner** | A conversation has one assignee. A teammate takes it over by a hand-off. |
| **Shared** | Several teammates can work on one conversation. Each person who replies joins it. |

With **Shared**, the assignee button shows the owner and the number of other people, for example "Sam +2". Select a person in the list to add or remove them. The actions menu (three dots) also has **Add a teammate**.

## Hand off to a teammate

You can ask a teammate to take a conversation through team chat:

1. Select the actions menu (three dots) in the thread header.
2. Select **Hand off to a teammate**, then select the person.

Line sends the conversation to that person in a direct message. When they select **Take it**, Line assigns the conversation to them. If they select **Not now**, the assignment does not change.

To ask for help without a hand-off, select **Ask a teammate**. See [Chat with your team](https://useline.io/help/inbox/team-chat).

## Common problems

**A Web Chat conversation shows "Line" as the assignee.** Your agent handles the chat. Select **Take over** above the composer to answer it yourself.

**The hand-off options are not in the actions menu.** **Ask a teammate** and **Hand off to a teammate** need team chat. If your workspace has no team chat, assign the conversation with the assignee button.

## Related articles

- [Use the shared Inbox](https://useline.io/help/inbox/shared-inbox.md): The Inbox holds every customer conversation on SMS, calls, WhatsApp, email and Web Chat in one list. Open a conversation to read it, reply, or close it.
- [Chat with your team](https://useline.io/help/inbox/team-chat.md): Open Inbox, then Team, to send direct messages and talk in spaces. You can share a customer conversation or hand it over to a teammate.
- [Invite team members to your workspace](https://useline.io/help/team/invite-team-members.md): Go to Settings > Team, select Invite a teammate, enter their email and role, then send. The invite link works for seven days.
- [Add internal notes and mention teammates](https://useline.io/help/inbox/internal-notes-and-mentions.md): Select Internal note in the composer to write a note that only your team sees. Type @ to mention a teammate, who then sees it in Mentions.