OpenClaw + iMessage

Prerequisites

• OpenClaw running (see our deployment guide)
• A macOS device with iMessage configured
• BlueBubbles server installed on the Mac
• The Mac must stay online for the bridge to work

Step 1: Install BlueBubbles Server

1. Download BlueBubbles Server from bluebubbles.app
2. Install and launch the app on your Mac
3. Complete the initial setup wizard
4. Note your server URL and password from the settings

Configuration

Add the iMessage channel to your OpenClaw config:

# In your openclaw config
channels:
  imessage:
    enabled: true
    server_url: "https://your-bluebubbles-server.com"
    password: "your-bluebubbles-password"

Or via environment variables in your docker-compose.yml:

environment:
  - IMESSAGE_ENABLED=true
  - IMESSAGE_SERVER_URL=https://your-bluebubbles-server.com
  - IMESSAGE_PASSWORD=your-bluebubbles-password

Step 2: Restart OpenClaw

docker compose restart openclaw

Verification

Check the logs for a successful connection:

docker compose logs -f openclaw | grep -i imessage

Send a message to a contact via iMessage, then verify OpenClaw can see it. Try sending a command like "What's on my calendar?" through iMessage.

Common Issues

Mac went to sleep: BlueBubbles requires the Mac to stay awake. Configure Energy Saver to prevent sleep, or use a Mac mini as a dedicated server.

Server unreachable: Ensure your BlueBubbles server has a valid SSL certificate and is accessible from your OpenClaw instance. Use a service like ngrok for local development.

Two-factor prompts: If iMessage shows repeated 2FA prompts, you may need to trust the device in iCloud settings.