Setup

After installing and activating a new Settings sub-menu will show named Help Scout Desk. Navigate to that admin page.

1. Active Help Scout Desk

For pro users you will first enter and activate your license key. Activating your license will allow for auto-updates and help us provide priority support.

2. Create Application within Help Scout

Before proceeding to setup the Help Scout Desk settings you’ll need to create an “OAUTH2 Application” within Help Scout. Help Scout has some documentation on how to do this here.

You need to create an OAuth2 application before you can use the API. Create one by navigating to Your Profile > My apps and click Create My App. A redirection URL is necessary when using the Authorization Code flow.

When creating your application use the redirect url provided on the settings page, e.g. https://wphelpscout.com//yoursite.com/wordpress?hs_oauth_verification=1

3. Enter the Application ID, App Secret, and Mailbox ID

Enter the App ID, and App Secret that was just created in the previous step within the Help Scout for WordPress settings page.

The mailbox id isn’t easy to find but the most straightforward way is to find it within the url of the settings page. Here’s an example:

Advanced note: the Mailbox ID option does allow you to enter multiple mailbox ids, e.g. 123,456,789. However this feature is not yet fully supported.

4. Save

Save these settings and finish configuring the other settings (if applicable), i.e. tags and Beacon.

Final Setup – Shortcodes

To finish things off you’ll need to add some shortcodes to a WordPress page (that you’ve created for support).

Help Scout Desk Setup

The first shortcode (helpscout_desk) is for Help Scout Desk users only, it adds a support desk for users to view their ticket history. The second shortcode (hsd_form) allows for new tickets to be created and update an existing ticket.

Help Scout for WordPress Setup

The second shortcode (hds_form) can be used to add a form to your WP site.

Make sure to add the brackets to your shortcodes, so they look like this in your post.

For an advanced setup review the full shortcodes documentation.