Chat Integration
OpenClaw + Slack
Workspace integration via Bolt SDK. Works in channels, DMs, and threads.
Category
Chat
Setup Time
~10 minutes
What you can do
- Bolt SDK integration
- Channel & DM support
- Thread replies
- App home & shortcuts
Setup Guide
Prerequisites
- OpenClaw running
- Admin access to a Slack workspace
- A publicly accessible URL for your OpenClaw instance (or use a tunnel like ngrok)
Step 1: Create a Slack App
- Go to api.slack.com/apps → Create New App → From scratch
- Name it "OpenClaw", select your workspace
- Go to OAuth & Permissions → add Bot Token Scopes:
chat:write,channels:history,im:history,groups:history,app_mentions:read - Install the app to your workspace and copy the Bot User OAuth Token
- Go to Event Subscriptions → enable events → set Request URL to
https://YOUR_DOMAIN/api/slack/events - Subscribe to bot events:
message.channels,message.im,app_mention - Copy the Signing Secret from Basic Information
Configuration
channels:
slack:
enabled: true
bot_token: "PASTE_YOUR_SLACK_BOT_TOKEN"
signing_secret: "YOUR_SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET"Or via environment variables:
environment:
- SLACK_ENABLED=true
- SLACK_BOT_TOKEN=PASTE_YOUR_SLACK_BOT_TOKEN
- SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET=YOUR_SLACK_SIGNING_SECRETVerification
- Invite the bot to a channel:
/invite @OpenClaw - Send a message mentioning the bot
- Check logs:
docker compose logs -f openclaw
Common Issues
Event URL verification fails: Slack sends a challenge request. Make sure your OpenClaw instance is publicly accessible and the URL is correct.
Messages not arriving: Ensure you subscribed to the correct event types and the bot has the right scopes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does OpenClaw work with Slack?
Yes — OpenClaw has a built-in Slack integration using the Bolt SDK. It supports channels, DMs, threads, and app home. It's rated as Medium difficulty to set up and takes about 10 minutes.
Is the Slack integration free?
Yes. The Slack integration is free and included with OpenClaw. You only pay for hosting (~$7/mo) and AI API usage (~$3-10/mo).
How do I set up Slack with OpenClaw?
Create a Slack app, configure OAuth permissions, set up event subscriptions with your OpenClaw URL, copy the bot token and signing secret to your config, and restart OpenClaw.
Does OpenClaw need a public URL for Slack?
Yes. Slack sends events via webhooks, so your OpenClaw instance needs to be publicly accessible. You can use a VPS with a domain, or a tunnel like ngrok for testing.
Can OpenClaw reply in Slack threads?
Yes. OpenClaw can read and respond to messages in threads, keeping conversations organized and contextual.
Ready to set up Slack?
Follow our free guide to deploy OpenClaw and connect Slack in minutes.
Official docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai/channels