# Update a contact (v1)

> PATCH /api/v1/chatbots/:chatbotId/contacts/:contactId — update a contact by external id. Accepts a Chatbase-style { data: {...} } wrapper or a bare body.

## PATCH /api/v1/chatbots/:chatbotId/contacts/:contactId

Update an existing contact, addressed by its `external_id`. Only the fields you send are changed. Sending `null` for `name`, `email`, or `phonenumber` clears it. For Chatbase compatibility the body may be wrapped in `{ "data": { ... } }`, or sent bare.

> **AUTH & IDS:** Authenticate with `Authorization: Bearer oc_...`. `chatbotId` is your agent id; `contactId` is the contact's `external_id`.

### Path & body

| Field | In | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| chatbotId | path | integer | The agent id. |
| contactId | path | string | The contact's current `external_id`. |
| external_id | body | string | Change the external id. Must be unique for the agent or you get `409`. |
| name | body | string|null | New name, or `null` to clear. |
| email | body | string|null | New email, or `null` to clear. |
| phonenumber | body | string|null | New phone, or `null` to clear. |
| stripe_accounts | body | array | Replaces the array. |
| custom_attributes | body | object | Replaces the custom-attributes object. |

```bash
curl -X PATCH https://app.bookbag.ai/api/v1/chatbots/123/contacts/user_8821 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $BOOKBAG_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{ "data": { "name": "Sam R.", "custom_attributes": { "plan": "enterprise" } } }'
```

## Status codes

| Status | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| 200 | Updated. |
| 401 | Missing or invalid key. |
| 404 | Unknown chatbot/contact. Body: `{ message: "Resource not found" }`. |
| 409 | New `external_id` conflicts. Body: `{ message: "Error saving chatbot contact. External ID or email already exists." }`. |

See [Errors](/docs/api/errors).