How to Connect OpenClaw to Telegram: Complete Setup Guide

Want to chat with your AI assistant from anywhere? Connecting OpenClaw to Telegram puts a powerful AI in your pocket — accessible from any device, anytime. This guide walks you through the complete setup process.

Why Connect OpenClaw to Telegram?

Telegram integration transforms OpenClaw from a local tool into a mobile-ready assistant:

• Chat from anywhere: Phone, tablet, desktop — wherever Telegram works
• No app switching: Your AI lives in an app you already use
• Instant notifications: Get responses pushed to your device
• Media support: Send and receive images, files, and voice messages
• Group chat capable: Add your AI to group conversations

What You’ll Need

• OpenClaw installed and running (see our intro guide)
• A Telegram account
• 10-15 minutes for setup

Step 1: Create Your Telegram Bot

Telegram bots are created through BotFather — Telegram’s official bot management tool.

1. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
2. Start a chat and send /newbot
3. Choose a display name (e.g., “My AI Assistant”)
4. Choose a username ending in “bot” (e.g., “myai_assistant_bot”)
5. BotFather will give you an API token — save this securely!

The token looks like: 1234567890:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz

Important: Keep this token private. Anyone with it can control your bot.

Step 2: Configure OpenClaw

Add your bot token to OpenClaw’s configuration. You can do this through the setup wizard or manually.

Option A: Setup Wizard (Recommended)

openclaw configure --section telegram

The wizard will prompt you to paste your bot token and configure basic settings.

Option B: Manual Configuration

Edit your OpenClaw config file (usually ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json):

{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "enabled": true,
      "botToken": "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN_HERE",
      "dmPolicy": "pairing"
    }
  }
}

Step 3: Set DM Policy

The DM policy controls who can message your bot:

• pairing: New users must be approved before chatting (recommended)
• allowlist: Only pre-approved user IDs can chat
• open: Anyone can chat (use with caution)

For personal use, “pairing” is ideal — you’ll approve yourself on first message.

Step 4: Start the Gateway

Restart OpenClaw to apply the Telegram configuration:

openclaw gateway restart

Check the status to confirm Telegram is connected:

openclaw status

You should see Telegram listed as an active channel.

Step 5: Pair Your Account

1. Open Telegram and find your bot (search for the username you created)
2. Send any message (like “hello”)
3. If using “pairing” mode, approve the request in the OpenClaw dashboard
4. Start chatting!

Advanced Configuration

Group Chat Setup

To use your bot in group chats:

1. Add the bot to a Telegram group
2. Set groupPolicy in your config:
   • "allowlist" — only approved groups
   • "mentions" — responds when @mentioned
3. The bot can be triggered by @mention or configured keywords

Multiple Bots (Multi-Agent)

Running multiple AI personalities? Create separate bots and configure accounts:

{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "accounts": {
        "main": { "botToken": "TOKEN_1" },
        "work": { "botToken": "TOKEN_2" }
      }
    }
  }
}

Each bot can have different behaviors, models, or purposes.

Streaming Responses

Enable streaming for real-time typing feedback:

"streamMode": "partial"

This shows the AI “typing” and updates messages as they generate.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Bot doesn’t respond

• Check that the gateway is running: openclaw status
• Verify the bot token is correct
• Ensure you’ve approved your user (if using pairing mode)

Rate limits

• Telegram has API limits — space out rapid messages
• Consider enabling message queuing in config

“Unauthorized” errors

• Regenerate your bot token in BotFather
• Update the token in OpenClaw config
• Restart the gateway

Tips for the Best Experience

• Set a profile photo for your bot in BotFather — makes it feel more personal
• Add a description so you remember what each bot does
• Use commands — OpenClaw supports /status, /help, and custom commands
• Enable notifications selectively to avoid alert fatigue

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Telegram integration free?

Yes! Telegram’s Bot API is free. You only pay for AI model API costs (like Anthropic or OpenAI).

Can multiple people use the same bot?

Yes, with proper configuration. Each user gets their own session context. Use allowlists to control access.

Does it work with Telegram Premium?

Yes, it works with both free and Premium Telegram accounts.

Can I use voice messages?

OpenClaw can receive voice messages and transcribe them (with appropriate configuration). Voice output requires additional TTS setup.

What happens if my server goes offline?

Telegram queues messages for a short time. When your server comes back online, it will receive pending messages. For high availability, consider running on always-on hardware like a mini PC.

Next Steps

Now that Telegram is connected, explore what your AI assistant can do:

• Set up scheduled tasks and reminders
• Connect additional channels (WhatsApp, Discord)
• Customize your AI’s personality and capabilities
• Explore AI home automation possibilities

This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.