# Connect Discord for questions and handoffs

> Verified against the product on 2026-10-05

## Ask in Discord

Use Cactus slash commands in a connected server. `/cactus ask` posts the answer in the channel for everyone; other commands are private to the person who runs them, except replies from a handoff thread, which go to the customer.

| Command | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `/cactus ask` | Ask a product question in the channel. |
| `/cactus status` | Check what Cactus knows about the server’s product. |
| `/cactus link` | Start linking your Discord account to your Cactus account. |
| `/cactus reply` | In a handoff thread, send text to that handoff’s customer. |
| `/cactus resolve` | In a handoff thread, mark the handoff resolved. |

## Connect your server

1. In **Connect › Discord**, select **Connect** to start the Discord authorization flow.
2. In Discord, choose the server and authorize Cactus, then return to Cactus. Cactus saves the server connection and sets up a handoff channel.

- detail: Disconnect, **Connect** (1)

*In Connect › Discord, select Connect to start the Discord authorization flow.*

## Choose a handoff channel

Discord can receive human handoff cards. After you connect a server, Cactus tries to set up `#cactus-escalations`. If it can’t, choose a channel from the server’s listed text channels. Voice, forum, and category channels aren’t available.

In **Connect › Discord**, choose a channel in **Discord handoff channel**. Cactus posts this product’s handoff cards to the channel you choose. For team-wide handoff settings, see [Resolve or escalate customer conversations](https://cactus.heycactus.ai/resolve-and-escalate-conversations).

## Link your account

1. In a connected server, run `/cactus link`. Cactus sends you a private link that works once and expires after ten minutes.
2. Open the link and sign in to Cactus if asked.
3. On the Cactus link page, select **Confirm** only if you typed `/cactus link` yourself.

- detail: Back to Discord, **Confirm** (1)

*Where Confirm sits on the screen*

If you link an account from the team that connected the server, Cactus answers as you with everything your team can see. If your account belongs to another team, Cactus answers with published pages.

## If linking fails

| What you see | What it means | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| “That link expired.” | The link has expired. | Run `/cactus link` in Discord for a fresh link. |
| “That link has already been used.” | Each link works once. | Run `/cactus link` in Discord for a fresh link. |
| “That Discord account is linked to someone else.” | Another Cactus account has linked this Discord account. | Sign in as the Cactus account that linked it, or link a different Discord account. |
| “That link is not valid.” | Cactus can’t use this link. | Run `/cactus link` in Discord for a fresh link. |