Telegram Integration
Your AI assistant, in your pocket
TL;DR
Telegram is the most popular way to use OpenClaw. Create a Telegram bot, add the token to your config, and you're done. Message your AI assistant anytime, anywhere.
Why Telegram?
Real-time Chat
Message your AI assistant instantly. No web browser needed.
Group Support
Add OpenClaw to group chats. It responds when mentioned.
Voice Messages
Send voice notes. OpenClaw transcribes and responds.
File Sharing
Share documents, images, and files directly in chat.
Proactive Alerts
Receive scheduled briefings, reminders, and notifications.
Works Everywhere
Use Telegram's apps on mobile, desktop, and web.
Setup in 3 Steps
Total time: Under 5 minutes
Create a Telegram Bot
Message @BotFather on Telegram and follow the prompts to create a new bot. You'll receive a bot token.
# In Telegram, message @BotFather:
/newbot
# Follow the prompts, then copy your bot tokenConfigure OpenClaw
Add your bot token to the OpenClaw configuration file.
// In clawdbot.json (channels section):
{
"telegram": {
"botToken": "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}Start Chatting
Find your bot in Telegram and send a message. OpenClaw will respond!
# Start OpenClaw if not running:
openclaw gateway start
# Then message your bot in Telegram!Pro Tips
🔒 Make It Private
By default, anyone who finds your bot can message it. Add your Telegram user ID
to the ownerIds config to restrict access.
👥 Group Chats
Add your bot to groups and set groupPolicy to control when it responds.
Use "mention" so it only replies when @mentioned.
🎨 Custom Username
Choose a memorable username for your bot when creating it with BotFather. You can also set a custom profile picture.
📱 Quick Access
Pin the chat with your bot in Telegram for quick access. Some users set it as their default assistant.
Full Configuration Example
{
"channels": {
"telegram": {
"botToken": "1234567890:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz",
"ownerIds": ["123456789"],
"groupPolicy": "mention",
"allowedGroups": ["-1001234567890"],
"capabilities": {
"voice": true,
"images": true
}
}
}
}botToken: From @BotFather
ownerIds: Your Telegram user ID (use @userinfobot to find it)
groupPolicy: "all" | "mention" | "none"
allowedGroups: Group IDs where the bot can respond
Ready to Start?
Set up Telegram integration in under 5 minutes.