> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.bitbybit.studio/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How to set up a pre-chat form in Chat Widget > Ask anonymous visitors for their name, email, or phone number before they start chatting, so agents see a real name instead of a placeholder. Use the **Pre-chat form** to ask visitors for their details before the chat opens. Agents then see the visitor's real name in Live Chat instead of a placeholder like **Customer 1234**. The form only shows to anonymous visitors. Customers who are logged in to your store skip it. ## Prerequisites * You can open [**bitChat > Chat Widget**](https://app.bitbybit.studio/bitchat/chat-widget). * Your widget uses an on-site chat style. The pre-chat form isn't available for the **Redirect** style. ## Step 1: Open Pre-chat form * Go to [**bitChat > Chat Widget**](https://app.bitbybit.studio/bitchat/chat-widget). * Open **Widget**. * Find **Pre-chat form**. ## Step 2: Turn on Pre-chat form * Turn on the **Pre-chat form** switch. * The field list appears. By default, **Full Name** and **Email Address** are **Required**, and **Phone Number** is **Off**. Pre-chat form card turned on, with Full Name and Email set to Required and Phone Number set to Optional ## Step 3: Choose which fields to ask for For each field, choose one option: * **Required** — visitors must fill it in to start chatting. * **Optional** — the field shows, but visitors can leave it empty. * **Off** — the field isn't shown. Available fields: * **Full Name** * **Email Address** * **Phone Number** ⚠️ At least one field must be **Required** or **Optional**. If all fields are **Off**, you can't save. ⚠️ If no field is **Required**, visitors can start chatting without giving any details. You'll see a warning, but you can still save. ## Step 4: Reorder the fields (optional) * Drag a field by its handle to change the order it appears in the form. ## Step 5: Save your changes * Check the live preview to see the form as visitors will. * Save the widget settings. Pre-chat form shown in the chat widget, asking for name, email, and phone before the chat starts ## What visitors see When an anonymous visitor opens the widget, they see a **Before we start** form with the fields you turned on. After they click **Start chat**, the chat opens and their details are saved to the customer profile. Returning visitors on the same browser session aren't asked again. ## Related articles * [How visitor information is collected](/bitchat/how-visitor-information-is-collected) * [Chat Widget overview](/bitchat/chat-widget-overview) * [How to set up conversation starters in Chat Widget](/bitchat/how-to-set-up-conversation-starters-in-chat-widget)