---
title: "Getting end users into a CoBrowse Session"
slug: "getting-end-users-into-a-cobrowse-session"
updated: 2026-06-02T18:02:22Z
published: 2026-06-02T18:02:22Z
canonical: "docs.screenmeet.com/getting-end-users-into-a-cobrowse-session"
---

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

# Getting end users into a CoBrowse Session

## Getting Customers Into a CoBrowse Session

### Overview

Once an agent starts a CoBrowse session, the customer needs a way to enter the session PIN and begin sharing their browser. This article covers three methods for getting customers into a session: Quick Links (best for live chat), clickable links that open the PIN modal automatically, and hotkeys that let customers trigger the modal themselves. Each method requires the ScreenMeet CoBrowse script to be installed on the destination page.

---

### Method 1: Quick Links (Live Chat)

Quick Links are the fastest option when you are already in a live chat with the customer. After starting a CoBrowse session, the agent console displays a set of Quick Links directly below the session PIN. Each link is a pre-configured URL with the session PIN embedded as a hash parameter, for example:

```plaintext
https://www.example.com/support#cobrowse_pin=432017
```

The agent clicks the copy icon next to the desired URL and pastes it into the chat. When the customer opens the link, the CoBrowse script on the page reads the PIN from the URL and joins the session automatically, with no manual PIN entry required.

Configuring Quick Link URLs

Quick Link URLs are managed under **Organization** > **Settings and Policies** > **CoBrowse Deployments**. Only URLs pointing to pages with the CoBrowse script installed will work correctly. See [CoBrowse Quick Links](/docs/getting-end-users-into-a-cobrowse-session#) for setup instructions.

---

### Method 2: Clickable Link That Opens the PIN Modal

If you want customers to land on a CoBrowse-enabled page and be prompted to enter a PIN without needing the agent to send a session-specific link, append `#startcb` to any page URL that has the CoBrowse script installed. When the customer opens the link, the PIN entry modal opens automatically.

```plaintext
https://www.example.com/support#startcb
```

This approach is useful when you want to embed a persistent "Start CoBrowse Session" link in a support portal, email template, or chat widget. The customer clicks the link, the modal appears, and they enter the PIN the agent provides verbally or in chat.

Script Required on Destination Page

All URL-based methods only work on pages where the CoBrowse bootstrap script is present. If the customer lands on a page without the script, no modal will appear and the session will not start.

---

### Method 3: Hotkeys

Hotkeys allow customers to open the CoBrowse PIN modal themselves using a keyboard shortcut, without clicking any link. This is useful when the CoBrowse script is already embedded site-wide and you want an always-available entry point that does not depend on the agent sending a URL.

Hotkeys are enabled by adding the following configuration block to your page, before the CoBrowse bootstrap script loads:

```javascript
window.Cobrowse = window.Cobrowse || {};
window.Cobrowse.modal = window.Cobrowse.modal || {
  commandQueue: [],
  useHotkeys: true
};
```

With hotkeys enabled, the default key combinations are:

- **Shift + Space** — opens the PIN entry modal
- **Shift + Escape** — ends the current session

These bindings can be customized. The following example changes the start shortcut to **Shift + Enter**:

```javascript
window.Cobrowse = window.Cobrowse || {};
window.Cobrowse.modal = window.Cobrowse.modal || {
  commandQueue: [],
  useHotkeys: true,
  hotkeys: {
    startSession: {
      shiftKey: true,
      keyCode: 13
    },
    endSession: {
      shiftKey: true,
      keyCode: 27
    }
  }
};
```

To disable hotkeys entirely, set `useHotkeys` to `false`.

Communicating the Shortcut to Customers

Hotkeys are not visible to the customer by default. If you use this method, instruct customers to press the shortcut via chat or a visible on-page prompt.

---

### Comparison

| Method | Best For | Customer Action Required | PIN Entry |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Quick Links | Live chat sessions | Open the link | Automatic |
| Clickable link (`#startcb`) | Support portals, email templates | Open the link, enter PIN | Manual |
| Clickable link with PIN embedded | Agent-generated links sent mid-conversation | Open the link | Automatic |
| Hotkeys | Sites with always-on CoBrowse script | Press keyboard shortcut, enter PIN | Manual |

---

### Related Articles

- [CoBrowse Quick Links](/docs/getting-end-users-into-a-cobrowse-session#)
- [CoBrowse Script Installation](/docs/getting-end-users-into-a-cobrowse-session#)
- [Starting a CoBrowse Session](/docs/getting-end-users-into-a-cobrowse-session#)
- [CoBrowse Deployments and Deployment Keys](/docs/getting-end-users-into-a-cobrowse-session#)