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How to Set Up OpenClaw with Telegram: Complete Integration Guide

6 min read

How to Set Up OpenClaw with Telegram: Complete Integration Guide

Telegram integration allows you to interact with your OpenClaw AI agent from anywhere. Whether you are away from your Mac or just prefer messaging, this guide will walk you through the complete setup process.

Why Use Telegram with OpenClaw?

Benefits

  • Remote access: Control your AI agent from anywhere
  • Mobile friendly: Use your iPhone or Android device
  • Async communication: Send commands and receive responses when convenient
  • Secure: Telegram offers end-to-end encryption for secret chats
  • Multi-device: Access from phone, tablet, or web

Use Cases

  • Check your Mac status while away from home
  • Get notifications about important events
  • Execute quick tasks without opening your laptop
  • Share AI-generated content with friends

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • OpenClaw installed and running on your Mac
  • A Telegram account (free)
  • The Telegram app on your phone (recommended)
  • About 15 minutes of free time

Step 1: Create a Telegram Bot

OpenClaw connects to Telegram through a bot. Here is how to create one:

1.1 Open BotFather

  1. Open Telegram on your phone or desktop
  2. Search for "@BotFather" (the official bot for creating bots)
  3. Start a conversation by clicking "Start"

1.2 Create Your Bot

  1. Send the command: /newbot
  2. BotFather will ask for a name for your bot
    • This is the display name (e.g., "My OpenClaw Bot")
    • Can contain spaces and emojis
  3. Next, choose a username for your bot
    • Must end in "bot" (e.g., "myopenclaw_bot")
    • Must be unique across Telegram
    • Can only contain letters, numbers, and underscores

1.3 Save Your API Token

BotFather will respond with a message containing your HTTP API token. It looks like this:

123456789:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrSTUvwxyz

⚠️ Important: This token is like a password. Keep it secure and never share it publicly.

Copy this token and save it somewhere safe. You will need it in Step 2.

Step 2: Configure OpenClaw

Now that you have a bot, you need to tell OpenClaw about it.

2.1 Edit Configuration

Open your OpenClaw configuration file:

nano ~/.openclaw/config.json

2.2 Add Telegram Settings

Add or update the Telegram section in your configuration:

{
  "telegram": {
    "enabled": true,
    "botToken": "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN_HERE",
    "allowedUsers": [
      "your_telegram_username"
    ],
    "webhook": {
      "enabled": false,
      "url": ""
    }
  }
}

Replace YOUR_BOT_TOKEN_HERE with the token you got from BotFather.

Replace your_telegram_username with your actual Telegram username (without the @ symbol).

2.3 Security: Restrict Access

The allowedUsers array controls who can interact with your bot. For security, only add trusted users:

"allowedUsers": [
  "your_username",
  "friend_username",
  "colleague_username"
]

Step 3: Restart OpenClaw

After updating the configuration, restart OpenClaw to apply the changes:

openclaw restart

Or if you started it manually:

# Stop the current instance
Ctrl+C

# Start again
openclaw

Step 4: Test Your Connection

4.1 Send a Test Message

  1. Open Telegram
  2. Find your bot (search for the username you created)
  3. Click "Start" or send /start
  4. Try sending a simple message: "Hello"

4.2 Expected Response

Your OpenClaw should respond within a few seconds. If everything is working, you will see a greeting message.

4.3 Try a Command

Send a command to test functionality:

What is the weather today?

Or:

List files in my Documents folder

Step 5: Advanced Configuration (Optional)

5.1 Webhook Mode (Production)

For production use, you can set up webhooks instead of polling:

{
  "telegram": {
    "enabled": true,
    "botToken": "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN",
    "allowedUsers": ["your_username"],
    "webhook": {
      "enabled": true,
      "url": "https://your-domain.com/webhook",
      "secret": "your-webhook-secret"
    }
  }
}

This requires a publicly accessible domain with HTTPS.

5.2 Custom Commands

You can define custom commands in Telegram:

  1. Send /setcommands to BotFather
  2. Select your bot
  3. Enter commands in this format:
status - Check system status
files - List recent files
backup - Run backup task
help - Show help message

Troubleshooting

Issue: Bot does not respond

Possible causes:

  • Incorrect bot token
  • OpenClaw is not running
  • Configuration syntax error
  • User not in allowedUsers list

Solutions:

  1. Check OpenClaw logs: openclaw logs
  2. Verify bot token is correct
  3. Check JSON syntax: Use a JSON validator
  4. Ensure your Telegram username is correct

Issue: "Unauthorized" error

Cause: Your Telegram username is not in the allowedUsers list.

Solution:

  1. Find your Telegram username (Settings → Edit Profile → Username)
  2. Add it to the configuration
  3. Restart OpenClaw

Issue: Slow response times

Cause: Network issues or heavy load.

Solutions:

  • Check your internet connection
  • Monitor system resources
  • Consider enabling webhook mode for better performance

Issue: Commands work but natural language does not

Cause: AI provider configuration issue.

Solution:

  • Verify API key is valid
  • Check API credits/billing
  • Review AI provider status page

Best Practices

Security

  • ✅ Keep your bot token secret
  • ✅ Only allow trusted users
  • ✅ Use a strong webhook secret if using webhooks
  • ✅ Regularly rotate tokens
  • ✅ Monitor bot activity

Performance

  • ✅ Use webhook mode for production
  • ✅ Set up rate limiting
  • ✅ Monitor API usage
  • ✅ Keep OpenClaw updated

Usability

  • ✅ Set up custom commands for common tasks
  • ✅ Create a welcome message
  • ✅ Document available features
  • ✅ Use clear, concise messages

Example Use Cases

Daily Digest

Set up a daily summary of your Mac status:

/openclaw schedule daily "Send system status report at 9 AM"

File Sharing

Quickly share files from your Mac:

Send me the screenshot I took yesterday

Automation Triggers

Trigger automations remotely:

Run my backup script

Notifications

Get notified about important events:

Alert me when battery drops below 20%

Privacy Considerations

When using Telegram with OpenClaw:

  • Messages are processed through Telegram servers
  • Consider using Telegram secret chats for sensitive information
  • Be mindful of what information you share through the bot
  • Regularly review bot access logs

Conclusion

You now have a fully functional Telegram integration with OpenClaw! You can control your AI agent from anywhere, making your workflow more flexible and mobile.

Remember to:

  • Keep your bot token secure
  • Regularly update OpenClaw
  • Monitor usage to stay within API limits
  • Explore custom commands for your workflow

Happy automating!

Next Steps

FAQ

Q: Can I use multiple messaging platforms at once?

A: Yes, OpenClaw supports multiple integrations simultaneously.

Q: Is Telegram integration free?

A: Yes, both Telegram and OpenClaw are free to use.

Q: Can I disable Telegram later?

A: Yes, simply set "enabled": false in the configuration.

Q: What if I lose my bot token?

A: You can regenerate a new token through BotFather using the /revoke command.

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