# Installation

### Install Birdie in Plain 

#### 1. Get your Plain API Key

* First, go into your Plain workspace Settings > Machine users & API Keys.
* Create a new Machine User dedicated to Birdie.
* Create an API Key for this user, and add 6 permissions:
  1. <mark style="color:$danger;">`chat:create`</mark>
  2. <mark style="color:$danger;">`customer:read`</mark>
  3. <mark style="color:$danger;">`thread:read`</mark>
  4. <mark style="color:$danger;">`thread:reply`</mark>
  5. <mark style="color:$danger;">`user:read`</mark>
  6. <mark style="color:$danger;">`workspace:read`</mark>
* Copy the API Key and store it somewhere safe - you’ll need it in the next step.

#### 2. Setup Birdie

Go to your [**Birdie workspace settings**](https://app.birdie.so/settings/helpdesk), open the **Helpdesk Integrations** section, find **the "Plain" integration**, and click **Enable**.

A window will open prompting you to paste the API Key you just created. Paste it into the **API Key** field and click the **Test** button.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://3843507234-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FECPgvsGwy5oMz4WIZw3a%2Fuploads%2F4KHPWuSx423Lq6lRbNIT%2FScreenshot%202026-02-19%20at%2016.51.38.png?alt=media&#x26;token=1486c6f8-7c7e-42a6-9197-549edc2b54f6" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

The API Key and permissions will be tested. If valid, click on **Save**.

You're all set! You can now [add the Birdie Snippet](https://docs.birdie.so/birdie-docs/helpdesk/plain/flows/human-initiated-requests-via-snippet) to request recordings from your users.