Chat Integration
OpenClaw + Telegram
Connect OpenClaw to Telegram via Bot API. Supports groups and inline commands.
Category
Chat
Setup Time
~3 minutes
What you can do
- Bot API via grammY
- Group & channel support
- Inline keyboards & commands
- Media & file sharing
Setup Guide
Prerequisites
- OpenClaw running
- A Telegram account
Step 1: Create a Bot via BotFather
- Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
- Send
/newbot - Choose a name (e.g., "My OpenClaw") and a username (e.g.,
my_openclaw_bot) - BotFather gives you a bot token — copy it
Configuration
Add the Telegram bot token to your OpenClaw config:
channels:
telegram:
enabled: true
bot_token: "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN_HERE"Or via environment variables:
environment:
- TELEGRAM_ENABLED=true
- TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=YOUR_BOT_TOKEN_HERERestart OpenClaw: docker compose restart openclaw
Verification
- Open Telegram, search for your bot username
- Send
/start - Send a message — OpenClaw should respond
Common Issues
Bot doesn't respond: Check that the bot token is correct and the container restarted. View logs: docker compose logs openclaw
Group messages: To use the bot in groups, disable privacy mode via BotFather: /mybots → select bot → Bot Settings → Group Privacy → Turn off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does OpenClaw work with Telegram?
Yes — OpenClaw has a built-in Telegram integration using the Bot API. It's rated as Easy difficulty to set up and takes about 3 minutes.
Is the Telegram integration free?
Yes. The Telegram 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 Telegram with OpenClaw?
Create a bot via @BotFather in Telegram, copy the bot token, add it to your OpenClaw config, and restart. The whole process takes about 3 minutes.
Can OpenClaw work in Telegram groups?
Yes. OpenClaw works in groups and channels. For groups, you may need to disable privacy mode in BotFather to let the bot read all messages.
What Telegram features does OpenClaw support?
OpenClaw supports inline keyboards, slash commands, media sharing, file uploads, group chats, channels, and threaded replies.
Ready to set up Telegram?
Follow our free guide to deploy OpenClaw and connect Telegram in minutes.
Official docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai/telegram