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Overview

Chat channels

OpenClaw can talk to you on any chat app you already use. Each channel connects via the Gateway. Text is supported everywhere; media and reactions vary by channel.

Entries marked "bundled plugin" or "included in core" ship with the core install. Channels marked "official plugin" install with one command (openclaw plugins install @openclaw/<id>) or on demand during openclaw onboard / openclaw channels add, then need a Gateway restart. "External plugin" channels are maintained outside the OpenClaw repo.

Supported channels

  • Buzz - Connect OpenClaw agents to Buzz rooms (official plugin).
  • ClickClack - ClickClack bot-token channel setup and target syntax (official plugin).
  • Discord - Discord bot setup, config keys, components, voice, and troubleshooting (official plugin).
  • Feishu - Feishu bot overview, features, and configuration (official plugin).
  • Google Chat - Google Chat app support status, capabilities, and configuration (official plugin).
  • iMessage - Native iMessage support via imsg (JSON-RPC over stdio), with private API actions for replies, tapbacks, effects, polls, attachments, and group management. Preferred for new OpenClaw iMessage setups when host requirements fit (official plugin).
  • IRC - IRC plugin setup, access controls, and troubleshooting (official plugin).
  • LINE - LINE Messaging API plugin setup, config, and usage (official plugin).
  • Matrix - Matrix support status, setup, and configuration examples (official plugin).
  • Mattermost - Mattermost bot setup and OpenClaw config (official plugin).
  • Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Teams bot support status, capabilities, and configuration (official plugin).
  • Nextcloud Talk - Nextcloud Talk support status, capabilities, and configuration (official plugin).
  • Nostr - Nostr DM channel via NIP-04 encrypted messages (official plugin).
  • QQ bot - QQ Bot setup, config, and usage (official plugin).
  • Raft - Raft External Agent support through the Raft CLI wake bridge (official plugin).
  • Reef - Reef channel setup: guarded, end-to-end-encrypted messaging between OpenClaw agents of different people (bundled plugin).
  • Signal - Signal support via signal-cli (native daemon or bbernhard container), setup paths, and number model (official plugin).
  • Slack - Slack setup and runtime behavior (Socket Mode, HTTP Request URLs, and relay mode) (official plugin).
  • SMS - Twilio SMS/MMS setup, access controls, webhooks, and delivery status (official plugin).
  • Synology Chat - Synology Chat webhook setup and OpenClaw config (official plugin).
  • Telegram - Telegram bot support status, capabilities, and configuration (bundled plugin).
  • Tlon - Tlon/Urbit support status, capabilities, and configuration (official plugin).
  • Twitch - Twitch chat bot: install, credentials, access control, token refresh (official plugin).
  • WebChat - Native and Control UI WebChat usage over the Gateway WebSocket (included in core).
  • WeChat - WeChat channel setup through the external openclaw-weixin plugin (external plugin).
  • WeCom - Install the official WeCom plugin and find its versioned setup documentation (external plugin).
  • WhatsApp - WhatsApp channel support, access controls, delivery behavior, and operations (official plugin).
  • Yuanbao - Yuanbao bot overview, features, and configuration (external plugin).
  • Zalo - Zalo bot support status, capabilities, and configuration (official plugin).
  • Zalo ClawBot - Zalo ClawBot channel setup through the external openclaw-zaloclawbot plugin (external plugin).
  • Zalo personal - Zalo personal account support via native zca-js (QR login), capabilities, and configuration (official plugin).
  • Voice Call - Telephony via Plivo, Telnyx, or Twilio (official plugin).

Delivery notes

  • Telegram replies that contain markdown image syntax, such as ![alt](url), are converted into media replies on the final outbound path when possible.
  • Slack multi-person DMs route as group chats, so group policy, mention behavior, and group-session rules apply to MPIM conversations.
  • WhatsApp setup is install-on-demand: onboarding can show the setup flow before the plugin package is installed, and the Gateway loads the external ClawHub/npm plugin only when the channel is actually active.
  • Channels that accept bot-authored inbound messages can use shared bot loop protection to prevent bot pairs from replying to each other indefinitely.
  • Supported always-on rooms can use ambient room events so unmentioned room chatter becomes quiet context unless the agent sends with the message tool.

Notes

  • Channels can run simultaneously; configure multiple and OpenClaw will route per chat.
  • Fastest setup is usually Telegram (simple bot token, no plugin install). WhatsApp requires QR pairing and stores more state on disk.
  • Group behavior varies by channel; see Groups.
  • DM pairing and allowlists are enforced for safety; see Security.
  • Troubleshooting: Channel troubleshooting.
  • Model providers are documented separately; see Model Providers.
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