OpenClaw Telegram: The Best Channel for Your AI Assistant

Last Updated: February 2026

Telegram is the most feature-rich channel for OpenClaw. Here's why and how to set it up.

Why Telegram is the Best Channel

Full Feature Support

• Inline buttons — Interactive responses
• Reactions — Quick acknowledgments
• Formatting — Rich markdown, code blocks
• Large files — Up to 2GB
• Voice notes — Transcription support
• Commands — /start, /new, /status, etc.

Easy Bot Setup

Unlike WhatsApp (needs web bridge) or Discord (complex permissions), Telegram bots are:

• Free to create
• Simple API
• No phone number needed
• Unlimited bots per account

Privacy Options

• End-to-end encryption (secret chats)
• Self-destructing messages
• No phone number sharing requirement

Quick Start (5 Minutes)

1. Create a Telegram Bot

1. Open Telegram
2. Search for @BotFather
3. Send /newbot
4. Choose a name (e.g., "My AI Assistant")
5. Choose a username (must end in "bot", e.g., "myai_assistant_bot")
6. Save the token BotFather gives you

2. Install OpenClaw

npm install -g openclaw
openclaw onboard

3. Configure Telegram

During onboard, select Telegram and enter your bot token.

Or add later:

openclaw channels setup telegram

4. Start Chatting

Find your bot in Telegram and send a message!

Configuration

Basic Setup

channels:
  telegram:
    enabled: true
    token: "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN"
    allowFrom: all

Restrict to Your Account

Only respond to you:

channels:
  telegram:
    allowFrom:
      userIds:
        - 123456789  # Your Telegram user ID

Find your ID by messaging @userinfobot.

Group Settings

channels:
  telegram:
    groups:
      enabled: true
      mentionOnly: true  # Only respond when @mentioned
      adminOnly: false   # Allow non-admins to interact

Features

Commands

OpenClaw registers these commands with Telegram:

Inline Buttons

OpenClaw can send interactive buttons:

[Yes] [No] [More Info]

Clicking triggers responses without typing.

Reactions

Quick feedback without messages:

• 👍 = Acknowledged
• 🤔 = Processing
• ✅ = Done

Rich Formatting

OpenClaw sends properly formatted messages:

• Bold and italic
• code and code blocks
• Links and mentions
• Lists and headers

Voice Notes

Send voice messages. OpenClaw:

1. Transcribes the audio
2. Processes your request
3. Responds in text (or voice if configured)

Images

Send images for:

• Description
• OCR (text extraction)
• Analysis
• Context

Use Cases

Daily Briefing

Set up morning summaries via cron:

cron:
  - schedule: "0 8 * * *"  # 8 AM daily
    action: Send daily briefing to Telegram

Task Management

• "Add buy groceries to my list"
• "What's on my agenda today?"
• "Remind me to call John at 3pm"

Research Assistant

• Send links → Get summaries
• Ask questions → Get research
• "Find the latest news about X"

Code Assistant

Send code, get:

• Explanations
• Bug fixes
• Improvements
• Documentation

Quick Notes

Voice note or text → Saved to your notes system → Confirmation message

Advanced Configuration

Webhook Mode (Recommended for VPS)

More reliable than polling for servers:

channels:
  telegram:
    webhook:
      enabled: true
      url: "https://your-domain.com/telegram/webhook"

Multiple Bots

Run separate bots for different purposes:

channels:
  telegram:
    bots:
      - name: personal
        token: "TOKEN1"
        allowFrom: [123456]
      - name: work
        token: "TOKEN2"
        allowFrom: [234567, 345678]

Custom Commands

Add your own slash commands:

channels:
  telegram:
    customCommands:
      /weather: "What's the weather today?"
      /tasks: "Show my tasks for today"
      /briefing: "Give me my morning briefing"

Tips for Power Users

1. Pin Your Bot Chat

Keep it easily accessible at the top of your chat list.

2. Use Saved Messages

Forward interesting AI responses to Saved Messages for reference.

3. Create a Private Group

For a more organized experience:

1. Create a private group
2. Add only your bot
3. Use group features like topics

4. Keyboard Shortcuts

On desktop:

• Ctrl+Enter = Send
• Ctrl+K = Insert link
• Up arrow = Edit last message

5. Voice Note Workflow

Speak → OpenClaw transcribes → Processes → Responds

Faster than typing for longer requests.

Troubleshooting

Bot Not Responding

1. Check OpenClaw is running: openclaw status
2. Verify token is correct
3. Check logs: openclaw logs
4. Restart: openclaw restart

Slow Responses

• Check AI provider status
• Reduce message complexity
• Ensure server resources are available

Commands Not Showing

Re-register commands:

openclaw channels sync telegram

Webhook Issues

1. Ensure HTTPS is configured
2. Check URL is accessible
3. Verify SSL certificate
4. Check firewall rules

Privacy & Security

Bot Token Security

• Never share your bot token
• Regenerate if compromised (@BotFather → /revoke)
• Store securely in environment variables

Message Privacy

• Telegram bots can see all messages in groups
• Use private chats for sensitive info
• Consider secret chats for maximum privacy

Data Flow

You → Telegram → OpenClaw (your server) → AI Provider

Your server and AI provider see message content.

FAQ

Is Telegram free?

Yes, completely free. Creating bots is also free.

Can I use my personal account?

You create a separate bot. Your personal account just interacts with it.

Multiple users?

Yes. Configure allowFrom with multiple user IDs.

Works on phone and desktop?

Yes. Telegram syncs across all devices.

Rate limits?

Telegram has generous limits. You won't hit them in normal use.

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Telegram is where OpenClaw shines brightest. Start with basic chat, then explore buttons, commands, and automation.

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• OpenClaw WhatsApp Integration
• OpenClaw Discord Integration
• Getting Started Guide