# Step 1: Set up your agent

Setting up on your own: in Agent Studio → Messages, name your agent, choose its voice, write the opening message above the chat button, then save. This completes the Assistant step on Home.

This is the Markdown version of https://www.meetdarwin.ai/help/set-up-on-your-own/set-up-your-agent, published by Darwin and generated on 23 October 2026.

Find it in Darwin: Agent Studio → Messages (https://app.meetdarwin.ai/admin/agent?tab=design). Updated Oct 13, 2026.

Your agent needs a name, a voice and an opening line before it can go live. All three are on one tab in Agent Studio, and saving them ticks off **Assistant** on Home.

_Screenshot: Agent Studio with the Messages tab selected: Name and voice, Opening message and Reply buttons on the left, and the chat preview on the right._

1. **Open Agent Studio**

   Select **Agent Studio** in the sidebar. It opens on the **Messages** tab.

2. **Name your agent and pick its voice**

   Under **Name and voice**, type the **Agent name** visitors see in the chat. Open **Voice & tone** and choose **Friendly**, **Professional** or **Direct**.

   _Screenshot: The Name and voice section with Agent name set to Maya and the Voice & tone menu, set to Friendly._

3. **Write the opening message**

   The opening message is the short card above the chat button that invites visitors to talk. Make sure its switch (1) is on, then write it in **Message above the chat button** (2), up to 120 characters. One question works best, for example "Comparing plans? I can tell you which one fits your team."

   _Screenshot: The Opening message section: the on/off switch marked 1 and the Message above the chat button field marked 2._

4. **Add reply buttons (optional)**

   Under **Reply buttons**, select **Add button** to give visitors one-click answers under the opening, such as **See pricing** or **Book a demo**. You can have up to 4.

   _Screenshot: The Reply buttons section with the Add button control and one button open for editing._

5. **Save**

   Select **Save changes** in the bar at the bottom. Home now shows **Assistant** as done.

   _Screenshot: The bar at the bottom of the editor reading Unsaved changes, with Save changes highlighted._

## Good to know

- The preview on the right shows your unsaved changes, so you can see the opening before you save.
- Darwin reads your website when you sign up, so your agent already knows your pages. Check what it knows in **Knowledge** during [step 3](https://www.meetdarwin.ai/help/set-up-on-your-own/try-your-agent).
- Everything on this tab is explained in [Messages: name, voice and opening](https://www.meetdarwin.ai/help/agent-studio/name-voice-and-opening).

- [Step 2: Connect your calendar](https://www.meetdarwin.ai/help/set-up-on-your-own/connect-your-calendar): So visitors can book a meeting in the chat.
- [Back to the overview](https://www.meetdarwin.ai/help/set-up-on-your-own/set-up-darwin-on-your-own): All five steps.