Methods and apparatuses are described for automatic authentication switching in online chat sessions. A server receives a request to establish an online chat session from a first client device, including authentication credentials associated with the first client device. The server establishes an online chat session between the first client device and a second client device via a first authenticated communications channel. The server transmits one or more chat messages between the first client device and the second client device using the first authenticated communications channel. The first client device determines that the online chat session has lost authentication. The first client device automatically switches the online chat session to a second unauthenticated communications channel. The server maintains the established online chat session between the first client device and the second client device via the second unauthenticated communications channel.