Lazy Load Chat: Speed Up Your GoHighLevel Chat Widget

GoHighLevel added a new “Load on user interaction” setting inside the Chat Widget Builder. You’ll find it under the Chat Window tab in the Additional Options area. When this setting is turned on, the chat widget waits before loading until a visitor interacts with the page.

That interaction can be a scroll, click, or touch on the screen. If the visitor does nothing, the widget will still load automatically after around 8 seconds. So your chat still becomes available, but it avoids loading the second the page opens.

Before this update, the chat widget loaded immediately for every visitor, whether they planned to use it or not. Now, GHL gives you more control over how and when the widget appears. Existing widgets will still use the original loading behavior unless you manually enable the new setting.

Lazy load chat helps your site do less work when the page first opens. That’s a good thing. The faster your page feels, the better chance visitors will stay long enough to read, click, book, or ask a question.

This update is especially useful on mobile. A chat widget that loads right away can add extra script work during the first few seconds. By waiting for a scroll, click, or tap, GoHighLevel helps reduce that early load while still keeping chat available when it matters.

For agencies, this is a small setting that can make client sites feel more polished. You can improve page experience without removing lead capture tools. That’s a solid win, and you don’t need to rebuild the site to get it.

Lazy load chat is managed inside the Chat Widget Builder in GoHighLevel. You will open the Chat Widget area, select the widget you want to update, open the Chat Window tab, and then enable the “Load on user interaction” setting. This helps reduce unnecessary widget loading during the first page load while still keeping chat available for visitors.

Here are the steps to enable lazy load chat in GHL.

• Open the Chat Widget area.
• Select the chat widget you want to edit.
• Open the Chat Window tab.
• Enable “Load on user interaction.”

To start make sure you are logged in to your GoHighLevel sub-account.

• The Main Menu on the left side of your screen has all the main areas that you work in when using GHL.

1.1 Click Sites in the left-hand menu.

• This opens the Sites section where you can manage websites, funnels, blogs, and chat widgets.

1.2 Click Chat Widget from the top navigation menu.

• This opens the Webchat for your website page where all your chat widgets are listed.

2.1 Find the chat widget you want to update from the widget list.

• This can be an All-in-one chat, Live Chat, SMS / Email chat, or Voice AI widget.

2.2 Click the three-dot menu on the right side of the widget row.

• This opens the widget action menu.

2.3 Click Edit.

• This opens the selected chat widget settings.

3.1 Click the Chat Window tab near the top of the widget settings.

• This opens the appearance and behavior settings for the widget.

3.2 Scroll down to the Additional Options section.

• This is where the new lazy load chat setting is located.

4.1 Find the “Load on user interaction” toggle.

• This setting delays widget loading until the visitor interacts with the page.

4.2 Turn the toggle ON.

• The widget will now wait for a scroll, click, or touch interaction before loading.

4.3 Click Save.

• This applies the new lazy load chat behavior to your website.

Important note: Existing chat widgets will continue using the original instant-load behavior unless you manually enable the lazy load chat setting.

Lazy load chat works best on websites where speed matters. If you run landing pages, local business sites, or mobile-heavy campaigns, this setting can help reduce unnecessary loading during the first few seconds of the visit.

One smart move is to test the feature on mobile first. Mobile users usually notice slow page loads faster than desktop users. If your site already has videos, tracking scripts, popups, or animations loading on the page open, delaying the chat widget can help the page feel cleaner and more responsive.

You should also think about the type of page you are using. A homepage or long-form sales page is usually a great fit for lazy load chat. But if you rely heavily on instant support or live chat conversions the second someone lands on the page, you may want to compare both loading styles before making it permanent.

A good habit is to check your page speed before and after enabling the setting. Even small improvements in load performance can help keep visitors on the page longer.

Lazy load chat gives your website a better first impression. The page can load with less weight up front, which helps visitors start reading, scrolling, and clicking faster.

For agencies, this is a simple win you can apply across client sites. You are not removing the chat widget. You are just making it load smarter. That means clients can still capture leads while improving the way their website feels to real visitors.

This is also useful when you are selling website optimization or cleanup services. Small settings like this show clients that performance is not always about rebuilding the whole site. Sometimes, it is about fixing the little things that slow it down.

Lazy load chat is not a flashy update, but it is useful. It gives GoHighLevel users a simple way to reduce early page load weight while keeping the chat widget ready for real visitors.

For agencies, this is the kind of setting worth checking on client websites. It can help improve website speed, support a better mobile experience, and give visitors a smoother first impression.Try it on one site first, test the widget behavior, and compare the page experience. Have you enabled lazy load chat in GHL yet?