diff --git a/public/app.js b/public/app.js
index 3f1a5450..380b02d6 100644
--- a/public/app.js
+++ b/public/app.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => {
   Twilio.initWebchat({
     deploymentKey: urlParams.get("deploymentKey"),
     region: urlParams.get("region"),
+    appStatus: urlParams.get("appStatus"),
     theme: {
       isLight: isLightTheme
     }
diff --git a/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx b/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx
index 9fc27a15..96b7d163 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx
+++ b/src/__tests__/index.test.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { sessionDataHandler } from "../sessionDataHandler";
 import { WebchatWidget } from "../components/WebchatWidget";
 import { store } from "../store/store";
 import * as initActions from "../store/actions/initActions";
+import * as genericActions from "../store/actions/genericActions";
 
 jest.mock("react-dom");
 
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ describe("Index", () => {
             const root = document.createElement("div");
             root.id = "twilio-webchat-widget-root";
             document.body.appendChild(root);
-            initWebchat({ deploymentKey: "xyz" });
+            initWebchat({ deploymentKey: "CV000000" });
 
             expect(renderSpy).toBeCalledWith(
                 <Provider store={store}>
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ describe("Index", () => {
             const setRegionSpy = jest.spyOn(sessionDataHandler, "setRegion");
 
             const region = "Foo";
-            initWebchat({ deploymentKey: "xyz", region });
+            initWebchat({ deploymentKey: "CV000000", region });
 
             expect(setRegionSpy).toBeCalledWith(region);
         });
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ describe("Index", () => {
         it("initializes config", () => {
             const initConfigSpy = jest.spyOn(initActions, "initConfig");
 
-            initWebchat({ deploymentKey: "xyz" });
+            initWebchat({ deploymentKey: "CV000000" });
 
             expect(initConfigSpy).toBeCalled();
         });
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ describe("Index", () => {
         it("initializes config with provided config merged with default config", () => {
             const initConfigSpy = jest.spyOn(initActions, "initConfig");
 
-            const deploymentKey = "DKxxxxxxxxxxxx";
+            const deploymentKey = "CV000000";
             initWebchat({ deploymentKey });
 
             expect(initConfigSpy).toBeCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ deploymentKey, theme: { isLight: true } }));
@@ -88,5 +89,26 @@ describe("Index", () => {
             expect(warningSpy).toBeCalledTimes(1);
             expect(warningSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith("someKey is not supported.");
         });
+
+        it("triggers expaneded true if appStatus is open", () => {
+            const changeExpandedStatusSpy = jest.spyOn(genericActions, "changeExpandedStatus");
+
+            initWebchat({ deploymentKey: "CV000000", appStatus: "open" });
+            expect(changeExpandedStatusSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ expanded: true });
+        });
+
+        it("triggers expaneded false if appStatus is closed", () => {
+            const changeExpandedStatusSpy = jest.spyOn(genericActions, "changeExpandedStatus");
+
+            initWebchat({ deploymentKey: "CV000000", appStatus: "closed" });
+            expect(changeExpandedStatusSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ expanded: false });
+        });
+
+        it("triggers expaneded false with default appStatus", () => {
+            const changeExpandedStatusSpy = jest.spyOn(genericActions, "changeExpandedStatus");
+
+            initWebchat({ deploymentKey: "CV000000" });
+            expect(changeExpandedStatusSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ expanded: false });
+        });
     });
 });
diff --git a/src/index.tsx b/src/index.tsx
index 36044cb7..bf64fb97 100644
--- a/src/index.tsx
+++ b/src/index.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { sessionDataHandler } from "./sessionDataHandler";
 import { initConfig } from "./store/actions/initActions";
 import { ConfigState, UserConfig } from "./store/definitions";
 import { initLogger, getLogger } from "./logger";
+import { changeExpandedStatus } from "./store/actions/genericActions";
 
 const defaultConfig: ConfigState = {
     deploymentKey: "",
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ const defaultConfig: ConfigState = {
 };
 
 const initWebchat = async (userConfig: UserConfig) => {
-    const validKeys = ["deploymentKey", "region", "theme"];
+    const validKeys = ["deploymentKey", "region", "theme", "appStatus"];
     const logger = window.Twilio.getLogger(`InitWebChat`);
 
     if (!userConfig || !userConfig.deploymentKey) {
@@ -37,6 +38,9 @@ const initWebchat = async (userConfig: UserConfig) => {
         }
     }
 
+    store.dispatch(changeExpandedStatus({ expanded: userConfig.appStatus === "open" }));
+    delete userConfig.appStatus;
+
     const webchatConfig = merge({}, defaultConfig, userConfig);
 
     sessionDataHandler.setRegion(webchatConfig.region);
diff --git a/src/store/definitions.ts b/src/store/definitions.ts
index 18ed0370..a825909c 100644
--- a/src/store/definitions.ts
+++ b/src/store/definitions.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ export type SessionState = {
 export type UserConfig = {
     deploymentKey: string;
     region?: string;
+    appStatus?: "open";
     theme?: {
         isLight?: boolean;
         overrides?: Partial<GenericThemeShape>;