Connections
Connect your agent to messaging platforms so people can talk to it.
How Connections Work
Each connection links your agent to a messaging platform. When someone sends a message on that platform, it reaches your agent through the OpenClaw Gateway, which processes it and sends a response back.
You can connect multiple platforms at once — for example, Telegram for personal use and Discord for a community server. Each connection has its own access policy.
Access Policies
Every connection has an access policy that controls who can message your agent:
Supported Channels
📱Telegram
The most popular connection. Create a bot via @BotFather, paste the token, and you're live.
Setup Steps
- Open @BotFather on Telegram and create a new bot
- Copy the bot token
- In ClawManager → Connections, click Telegram and paste the token
- Set your access policy (pairing, allowlist, or open)
- Save and restart the gateway
📌 Supports DMs, groups, inline buttons, and reactions.
🎮Discord
Connect a Discord bot to your server for AI-powered conversations.
Setup Steps
- Go to discord.com/developers and create a new application
- Under Bot, create a bot and copy the token
- Copy the Application ID (Client ID) for the invite link
- In ClawManager → Connections, click Discord and paste both values
- Use the generated invite link to add the bot to your server
- Set access policy and restart the gateway
📌 Supports DMs, server channels, threads, and slash commands.
Connect via the WhatsApp Web bridge. Uses a QR code to link your session.
Setup Steps
- In ClawManager → Connections, click WhatsApp
- Choose whether to use a dedicated number or your personal number
- Set your access policy and allowed contacts
- Save config, then scan the QR code with WhatsApp on your phone
- Wait for the connection to establish
📌 Recommended: use a dedicated number. Personal number works but carries risk of WhatsApp restrictions.
🔒Signal
Connect via signal-cli for encrypted messaging.
Setup Steps
- Install Java 21+ and signal-cli on your system
- Have a phone number ready (dedicated recommended)
- In ClawManager → Connections, click Signal
- Follow the guided setup: enter phone number and signal-cli path
- Link or register your number, then set access policy
📌 Requires signal-cli and Java. Fully end-to-end encrypted.
🍎iMessage
Connect to iMessage on macOS using the imsg CLI tool.
Setup Steps
- Requires macOS with Messages.app signed in
- Install the imsg CLI tool
- Grant Full Disk Access to the terminal
- In ClawManager → Connections, click iMessage and configure
📌 macOS only. Also supports BlueBubbles as an alternative bridge for cross-platform setups.
💼Slack
Add your agent to Slack workspaces via Socket Mode or HTTP webhooks.
Setup Steps
- Create a Slack App at api.slack.com
- Choose Socket Mode (recommended — no public URL needed) or HTTP mode
- For Socket Mode: generate an App Token (xapp-) and Bot Token (xoxb-)
- In ClawManager → Connections, click Slack and enter your tokens
- Install the app to your workspace and set access policy
📌 Socket Mode works behind firewalls. HTTP mode needs a public URL.
📧Google Chat
Connect to Google Chat via a service account and webhook.
Setup Steps
- Create a Google Cloud project and enable the Chat API
- Create a service account and download the JSON key
- In ClawManager → Connections, click Google Chat
- Enter the service account file path and webhook settings
- Configure in Google Workspace Admin
📌 Requires Google Workspace. Uses service account authentication.
📡IRC
Classic IRC support for connecting to channels on any IRC network.
Setup Steps
- In ClawManager → Connections, click IRC
- Enter your server, port, nickname, and channels to join
- Configure authentication if your network requires it
📌 Supports multiple channels and networks.
🏢Microsoft Teams
Connect to MS Teams via the Bot Framework.
Setup Steps
- Register a bot in the Azure Bot Framework portal
- Get your App ID, App Password, and Tenant ID
- In ClawManager → Connections, click MS Teams
- Enter your credentials and webhook settings
- Deploy the bot manifest to your Teams tenant
📌 Requires Azure AD registration. Supports direct messages and channels.
🟢LINE
Connect to LINE Messaging API.
Setup Steps
- Create a LINE Developers account and a Messaging API channel
- Get your Channel Access Token and Channel Secret
- In ClawManager → Connections, click LINE
- Enter your tokens and configure the webhook URL
- Set access policy and restart
📌 Requires a public webhook URL. Popular in Japan and Southeast Asia.
🟣Twitch
Add your agent to Twitch chat as a bot.
Setup Steps
- Install the Twitch plugin: openclaw plugins install @openclaw/twitch
- Create a Twitch application for bot credentials
- Get your bot username, access token, and client ID
- In ClawManager → Connections, click Twitch
- Enter credentials, target channel, and role permissions
📌 Control who can interact: moderators only, subscribers, VIPs, or everyone.
🔷Matrix
Connect to the Matrix decentralized network.
Setup Steps
- In ClawManager → Connections, click Matrix
- Enter your homeserver URL, username, and access token
- Configure rooms to join
📌 Works with any Matrix homeserver (Element, Synapse, etc.).
🟡Nostr
Connect to the Nostr decentralized protocol.
Setup Steps
- In ClawManager → Connections, click Nostr
- Configure your relay and key settings
📌 Experimental. Decentralized social protocol.
Connection Stats & Monitoring
The Connections page in ClawManager shows live stats for each channel: messages received, active sessions, and connection health. If a channel disconnects, you'll see a warning banner with options to reconnect or restart.
Slash Commands
Once connected, your agent responds to slash commands in chat:
Next Steps
With a connection active, your agent is live! Customize it further in Agents or add capabilities with Skills & Tools.