💼

Slack

Medium⏱️ 20-45 minutes

AI assistance where your team already works

OpenClaw Slack Integration

Transform Slack into an AI-powered workspace. OpenClaw integrates as a Slack bot so your entire team can access AI assistance directly in your daily communication tool — no new apps, no context switching.

Setup

Step 1: Create a Slack App

Go to api.slack.com/apps → "Create New App" → "From scratch"
Name it and select your workspace

Step 2: Set OAuth Scopes

Go to OAuth & Permissions → add these Bot Token Scopes:

chat:write — send messages
channels:history — read channel messages
groups:history — read private channels
im:history — read DMs
app_mentions:read — respond to @mentions
users:read — get user info

Click "Save Changes"

Step 3: Install to Workspace

Click "Install to Workspace" → approve permissions.

Copy the Bot User OAuth Token (xoxb-...).

Step 4: Configure OpenClaw

yaml

channels:  slack:    enabled: true    botToken: "xoxb-your-token-here"    allowedChannels:      - "C0123456789"    appMention: true    directMessage: true

Step 5: Invite to Channels

In Slack, run: /invite @YourBotName

Using the Integration

@Mention:

bash

@MyAssistant what's on my calendar today?

Direct message: Open a DM with your bot and message directly.

Slash commands:

Command	Description
`/ask [question]`	Ask anything
`/brief`	Get your daily briefing
`/task [description]`	Create a task

Channel Access Control

yaml

channels:  slack:    allowedChannels:      - "C0123456789"   # #ai-assistant    ignoredChannels:      - "C0987654321"   # #leadership

Use Cases

Engineering: Code questions, PR summaries, debug help
Sales: CRM lookups, draft responses, follow-up reminders
All teams: Knowledge base Q&A, meeting notes, daily briefings

Troubleshooting

Not responding to @mentions? Check "Event Subscriptions" are enabled and the request URL is set in Slack API settings.

"Not in channel" error? Invite the bot: /invite @YourBot

Get Started View Docs

Features

@mention support

Mention your assistant anywhere in Slack for instant help

Slash commands

Custom /commands for structured AI interactions across your workspace

Channel permissions

Configure exactly which channels your assistant operates in

Thread responses

Replies in threads to keep channels clean and organized

DM support

Private AI conversations via Slack direct messages

Enterprise OAuth

Secure workspace authentication with full Slack admin control

Use Cases

→

Engineering support

Code questions, PR reviews, and debugging help without leaving Slack

→

Sales enablement

CRM lookups, customer context, and response drafts on demand

→

Team knowledge base

Instant answers from wikis and docs embedded in workflow

→

Daily briefings

Automated morning updates posted to team channels

Setup Guide

Requirements

✓Slack workspace with app installation permissions
✓Workspace Owner or Admin role (for custom app installation)
✓OpenClaw running on a server, VM, or Mac
✓For Enterprise Grid: Org Owner or Admin role

Create a Slack App

Go to api.slack.com/apps and click 'Create New App'. Choose 'From scratch' and select your target workspace. Name your app (e.g., 'OpenClaw Assistant').

Enable Socket Mode

Under 'Socket Mode' in the left sidebar, enable it. This allows secure, real-time communication without exposing a public endpoint. Generate an App-Level Token with 'connections:write' scope.

Configure Bot Token Scopes

Under 'OAuth & Permissions', add Bot Token Scopes: app_mentions:read, channels:history, channels:read, chat:write, files:read, groups:history, groups:read, im:history, im:read, im:write, users:read. For slash commands, add commands scope.

Set up Event Subscriptions

Under 'Event Subscriptions', enable events and subscribe to: app_mention, message.channels, message.groups, message.im. This lets your bot receive messages.

Create Slash Commands (optional)

Under 'Slash Commands', create commands like /ask, /task, or /summarize. Set the Request URL to your Socket Mode handler (handled automatically by OpenClaw).

Install to Workspace

Under 'Install App', click 'Install to Workspace'. Authorize the requested permissions. Save the Bot User OAuth Token (xoxb-...) that's generated.

Configure OpenClaw

Add your Slack tokens to the OpenClaw config file. You'll need both the Bot Token (xoxb-...) and the App Token (xapp-...) from Socket Mode.

Test the Connection

Start OpenClaw with 'openclaw gateway start'. Invite your bot to a channel with /invite @YourBotName, then @mention it to verify responses.

Configuration Example

slack:
  botToken: \"xoxb-your-bot-token\"
  appToken: \"xapp-your-app-token\"
  # Optional: Restrict to specific channels
  allowedChannels:
    - \"C0123456789\"  # #ai-assistant
    - \"C9876543210\"  # #engineering
  # Optional: Enable slash commands
  slashCommands:
    - command: \"/ask\"
      description: \"Ask the AI assistant a question\"
    - command: \"/summarize\"
      description: \"Summarize a thread or document\"

Limitations

⚠️Workspace admin approval required for custom app installation
⚠️Message history access requires paid Slack plans for full history
⚠️Rate limits apply (varying by Slack plan tier)
⚠️Slack Connect channels require external org approval

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need admin access to install?

Yes, installing custom Slack apps requires Workspace Owner or Admin permissions. In organizations with stricter policies, you may need to submit an app approval request through your IT team.

How does Enterprise Grid deployment work?

For Enterprise Grid, install the app at the organization level through your Org Admin Dashboard. You can then deploy to specific workspaces or enable org-wide. Each workspace inherits org-level permissions while allowing workspace-specific customization.

Does it work with SSO/SAML?

Yes. OpenClaw respects your Slack workspace's authentication settings. When users are authenticated via your SSO provider (Okta, Azure AD, OneLogin, etc.), the assistant recognizes their identity and can enforce role-based permissions.

What's the difference between channels and DMs?

In channels, the bot responds only when @mentioned or when slash commands are used. In DMs (direct messages), every message goes to the assistant. You can configure which mode works best for your team.

Can it work with Slack Connect channels?

Yes, but both organizations must approve. Your app needs to be installed in your workspace, and the external org must allow third-party apps in Connect channels. Check with both workspace admins.

Is it compliant with enterprise security requirements?

OpenClaw runs on infrastructure you control — your servers, your cloud, your data policies. Messages are processed locally and never stored on third-party services. This architecture supports SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, and other compliance frameworks.

How do slash commands work?

Slash commands provide structured entry points like /ask [question] or /task [description]. They appear in Slack's autocomplete, making discovery easy. Configure them in your Slack app settings and OpenClaw handles the responses.

Can I restrict which channels the bot works in?

Yes. Set allowedChannels in your OpenClaw config to whitelist specific channel IDs. The bot will only respond in those channels, ignoring mentions elsewhere.

What about rate limits?

Slack enforces rate limits that vary by API method and workspace plan. OpenClaw handles rate limiting automatically with exponential backoff. For high-volume deployments, Enterprise Grid offers higher limits.

Can multiple team members configure the bot?

App installation and configuration requires admin access. However, you can build admin interfaces in App Home to let authorized users adjust settings without accessing the server config.

How does the App Home work?

App Home appears in users' Slack sidebar under 'Apps'. It provides a private space for each user to interact with the assistant, view their history, and access personalized settings or dashboards you configure.

Does it support message threads?

Yes, and it's the recommended interaction pattern. Responses are posted as thread replies to keep channels organized. The assistant maintains full context within a thread for multi-turn conversations.

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Slack

OpenClaw Slack Integration

Setup

Step 1: Create a Slack App

Step 2: Set OAuth Scopes

Step 3: Install to Workspace

Step 4: Configure OpenClaw

Step 5: Invite to Channels

Using the Integration

Channel Access Control

Use Cases

Troubleshooting

Features

@mention support

Slash commands

Channel permissions

Thread responses

DM support

Enterprise OAuth

Use Cases

Engineering support

Sales enablement

Team knowledge base

Daily briefings

Setup Guide

Requirements

Create a Slack App

Enable Socket Mode

Configure Bot Token Scopes

Set up Event Subscriptions

Create Slash Commands (optional)

Install to Workspace

Configure OpenClaw

Test the Connection

Configuration Example

Limitations

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need admin access to install?

How does Enterprise Grid deployment work?

Does it work with SSO/SAML?

What's the difference between channels and DMs?

Can it work with Slack Connect channels?

Is it compliant with enterprise security requirements?

How do slash commands work?

Can I restrict which channels the bot works in?

What about rate limits?

Can multiple team members configure the bot?

How does the App Home work?

Does it support message threads?

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