Connecting WhatsApp & Telegram

Why Connect Messaging Apps?

OpenClaw's real power comes from making your AI assistant available wherever you already communicate. Instead of switching to a dedicated app, just text your assistant like you would a friend.

WhatsApp Setup

WhatsApp integration uses your personal account via web.whatsapp.com pairing. No business account needed.

Step 1: Enable WhatsApp in Config

During the onboarding wizard, select WhatsApp. Or manually edit ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json:

{
  "channels": {
    "whatsapp": {
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}

Step 2: Start the Gateway

Watch the logs for a QR code to appear. It will look like a large block of ASCII characters.

Step 3: Scan the QR Code

1. Open WhatsApp on your phone
2. Go to Settings → Linked Devices
3. Tap Link a Device
4. Scan the QR code from your terminal

Once connected, send a message to yourself in WhatsApp. You should receive a response from OpenClaw!

Telegram Setup

Telegram integration uses a bot token from BotFather. This gives you a dedicated bot account for OpenClaw.

Step 1: Create a Bot with BotFather

1. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
2. Send the command: /newbot
3. Follow the prompts to choose a name and username
4. Copy the bot token (it looks like: 123456789:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz)

Step 2: Add Token to OpenClaw

Edit your OpenClaw config file:

{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "enabled": true,
      "token": "YOUR-BOT-TOKEN-HERE"
    }
  }
}

Step 3: Start the Gateway

Search for your bot in Telegram and send it a message. OpenClaw will respond!

Discord Setup

Discord integration creates a bot that can respond in servers and DMs.

Step 1: Create a Discord Application

1. Go to Discord Developer Portal
2. Click New Application
3. Go to the Bot tab and click Add Bot
4. Copy the bot token
5. Enable Message Content Intent under Privileged Gateway Intents

Step 2: Configure OpenClaw

{
  "channels": {
    "discord": {
      "enabled": true,
      "token": "YOUR-BOT-TOKEN",
      "dm": {
        "policy": "pairing"
      }
    }
  }
}

Step 3: Invite the Bot to Your Server

1. Go to OAuth2 → URL Generator in the Developer Portal
2. Select scopes: bot
3. Select bot permissions: Send Messages, Read Message History
4. Copy the generated URL and open it in your browser
5. Select your server and authorize

Slack Setup

Slack integration uses a bot token and requires creating a Slack app.

1. Go to Slack API Apps
2. Create a new app "From scratch"
3. Under OAuth & Permissions, add bot token scopes: chat:write, channels:read, groups:read
4. Install the app to your workspace
5. Copy the Bot User OAuth Token
6. Add to OpenClaw config under channels.slack.token

Security: DM Pairing

OpenClaw includes security features to protect against unauthorized access via DMs.

Testing Your Setup

Once you've connected a messaging app, test it:

Troubleshooting

Next Steps

• →Set up heartbeats for proactive assistance
• →Create custom skills for specialized tasks
• →Learn browser control and automation
• →Explore advanced channel configuration