OpenClaw Telegram Setup Guide

Overview

This guide shows you how to connect your OpenClaw agent to Telegram, enabling streaming responses and mobile access. With Telegram integration, you can interact with your agent from anywhere using your phone or desktop.

Video Reference: Watch on YouTube
Duration: ~7 minutes
Difficulty: Beginner

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What You'll Get

• Streaming Responses: See your agent typing in real-time
• Mobile Access: Control your agent from your phone
• Instant Notifications: Get alerts from your agent
• File Sharing: Send documents and images for analysis
• Always Available: Access your agent 24/7 from anywhere

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Prerequisites

• OpenClaw agent running (version 3.2 or later)
• Telegram account
• SSH access to your OpenClaw server (or local terminal)

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Setup Instructions

Step 1: Update OpenClaw

Ensure you have the latest version with streaming support:

openclaw update

Wait for the update to complete.

Step 2: Create Telegram Bot

2.1 Open Telegram

Search for @BotFather (verified account with blue checkmark)

2.2 Start Conversation

Click "Start" or send /start

2.3 Create New Bot

Send the command:

/newbot

2.4 Name Your Bot

BotFather will ask for two names:

Display Name: Any name you like

My OpenClaw Assistant

Username: Must end with "bot"

myopenclaw_bot

2.5 Get Your Token

BotFather will provide a token like:

1234567890:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz

⚠️ Important: Keep this token secure! It's like a password for your bot.

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Step 3: Configure OpenClaw

Method 1: Using OpenClaw Config (Recommended)

3.1 Open Config

openclaw config

3.2 Navigate to Channels

Use arrow keys to select:

• Channels
• Configure
• Telegram

3.3 Enter Bot Token

Paste your token from BotFather and press Enter.

3.4 Configure Pairing Policy

Choose "Allow DM pairing" (recommended for personal use).

3.5 Save and Exit

Select "Finished" and "Continue".

3.6 Restart Gateway

openclaw gateway restart

Method 2: Let Your Agent Do It

Alternative Approach (98% success rate):

Let's set up Telegram pairing. 
Here's my bot token: [paste token]
Configure it for me.

⚠️ Warning: 2% chance your agent might break something. Use Method 1 if you want to be safe.

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Step 4: Pair Your Telegram

4.1 Find Your Bot

In Telegram, search for your bot username (e.g., @myopenclaw_bot)

4.2 Start the Bot

Click "Start" or send /start

4.3 Get Pairing Code

Your bot will send a pairing code like:

Pairing code: ABC123

4.4 Pair in OpenClaw

Open your OpenClaw TUI:

openclaw tui

Paste the pairing code and press Enter.

4.5 Confirmation

Your bot will confirm:

✅ Successfully paired! You can now chat with me.

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Step 5: Test Streaming

5.1 Send a Message

In Telegram, send:

Hi! Tell me a short story.

5.2 Watch Streaming

You should see your agent typing in real-time, with text appearing gradually.

Note: Streaming works best for longer responses. Short messages may appear all at once.

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Streaming Configuration

Enable Streaming

If streaming isn't working, configure it:

Change Telegram streaming setting from "partial" to "on"

Your agent will update the configuration.

Streaming Behavior

Short Messages: May appear instantly (no streaming)

Long Messages: Stream in chunks as they're generated

Model Dependent: Some models stream smoother than others

• Claude: Smooth streaming
• MiniMax: Chunky streaming
• GPT-4: Smooth streaming

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Using Your Telegram Bot

Basic Commands

Chat Normally:

What's the weather like today?

Request Tasks:

Research the latest AI news and summarize it

Invoke Skills:

Create a daily presentation

File Analysis: Send a document or image, then:

Analyze this file

Advanced Usage

Long-Running Tasks:

This might take a while - notify me when done

Scheduled Notifications: Set up cron jobs to send results to Telegram.

Multi-Step Workflows:

1. Research topic X
2. Create a summary
3. Send it to my Telegram

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Troubleshooting

Bot Not Responding

Problem: Bot appears online but doesn't reply

Solutions:

1. Verify Pairing:

openclaw tui

Check if Telegram is listed as paired.

2. Restart Gateway:

openclaw gateway restart

3. Check Logs:

openclaw logs

Look for Telegram-related errors.

4. Recreate Bot:

• Delete old bot in BotFather (/deletebot)
• Create new bot
• Reconfigure in OpenClaw

Streaming Not Working

Problem: Messages appear all at once, no streaming

Solutions:

1. Enable Streaming:

Set Telegram streaming to "on"

2. Test with Long Message:

Write me a 40-line haiku

3. Check OpenClaw Version:

openclaw --version

Ensure version 3.2 or later.

4. Model Compatibility: Some models don't support streaming well. Try switching models.

Pairing Code Not Working

Problem: Pairing code rejected or expired

Solutions:

1. Generate New Code: Send /start to your bot again.

2. Check Spelling: Ensure code is entered exactly as shown.

3. Time Limit: Pairing codes expire after a few minutes. Get a fresh one.

"Not Configured" Error

Problem: Bot says "Telegram was not configured"

Solutions:

1. Reconfigure:

openclaw config

Go through Telegram setup again.

2. Check Config File: Verify ~/.openclaw/config.json has Telegram section.

3. Force Pairing:

Please pair my Telegram now

Agent will attempt to force the pairing.

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Security Considerations

Bot Token Security

Never Share:

• Don't post in public channels
• Don't commit to GitHub
• Don't share in screenshots

If Exposed:

1. Go to BotFather
2. Send /revoke command
3. Select your bot
4. Generate new token
5. Update OpenClaw config

Pairing Policy

Allow DM Pairing: Anyone with pairing code can connect (use for personal bots)

Whitelist Only: Only specific Telegram IDs can connect (use for shared servers)

Configure Whitelist:

openclaw config

Navigate to Telegram → Pairing Policy → Whitelist

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Advanced Features

Multiple Users

Allow multiple people to use your bot:

1. Each user gets their own pairing code
2. Each user has separate conversation history
3. Configure permissions per user

Group Chats

Add your bot to Telegram groups:

1. Add bot to group
2. Give bot admin permissions
3. Mention bot with @botname to interact

Notifications

Set up your agent to send proactive notifications:

Every morning at 8 AM, send me a briefing to Telegram

File Handling

Send Files to Agent:

• Documents (PDF, DOCX, TXT)
• Images (PNG, JPG)
• Code files

Agent Sends Files:

Create a report and send it to my Telegram

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Comparison: Telegram vs Other Interfaces

Telegram

Pros:

• Mobile access
• Streaming responses
• File sharing
• Notifications
• Always available

Cons:

• Requires internet
• Limited formatting
• No local file access

Terminal (TUI)

Pros:

• Full control
• Local file access
• No internet required
• Better for development

Cons:

• No mobile access
• Tied to one machine
• No notifications when away

Discord

Pros:

• Rich formatting
• Server integration
• Multiple channels
• Community features

Cons:

• More complex setup
• Heavier client
• Less mobile-friendly

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Best Practices

1. Use Descriptive Bot Names

Good: "MyCompany AI Assistant"
Bad: "bot123"

2. Set Bot Profile Picture

Makes it easier to find in Telegram:

1. Send /setuserpic to BotFather
2. Select your bot
3. Upload image

3. Set Bot Description

Help users understand what your bot does:

1. Send /setdescription to BotFather
2. Select your bot
3. Enter description

4. Test Regularly

Send a test message daily to ensure bot is responsive.

5. Monitor Usage

Check logs for errors or unusual activity:

openclaw logs | grep telegram

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Tips for Better Experience

Optimize for Mobile

• Keep prompts concise
• Use voice messages (if supported)
• Request summaries instead of full reports

Use Markdown

Your agent can format responses:

Format your response with:
- **bold** for important points
- *italic* for emphasis
- `code` for technical terms

Set Expectations

Tell your agent how to respond:

Keep responses under 200 words when on Telegram

Create Telegram-Specific Skills

Create a skill for Telegram responses that:
- Keeps messages concise
- Uses emojis for clarity
- Formats for mobile reading

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Next Steps

After setting up Telegram:

1. Test All Features: Try different types of requests
2. Set Up Notifications: Configure cron jobs to send to Telegram
3. Create Mobile-Friendly Skills: Optimize for phone usage
4. Invite Team Members: Share access with colleagues (if appropriate)
5. Explore Integrations: Combine with other services

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Related Resources

• OpenClaw Skills Setup Guide
• OpenClaw API Integration Guide
• Hermes Agent Dashboard Setup

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Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

• Check OpenClaw logs: openclaw logs
• Ask your agent: "Why isn't Telegram working?"
• Join community Discord for support
• Review official OpenClaw documentation

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Final Thoughts

Telegram integration transforms your OpenClaw agent from a desktop tool into a mobile-first assistant. The streaming feature makes conversations feel natural, and the ability to access your agent from anywhere makes it truly useful for daily tasks.

Start with basic chat, then gradually explore advanced features like file sharing, notifications, and automated workflows.

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Last Updated: 2026-05-06