Channels

Channels are the messaging platforms your bot listens on. At least one channel is required before your bot can receive messages. The dashboard shows a Required badge on the Channels card until one is added.

You can have up to one Telegram channel and one WhatsApp channel active at the same time.

Adding a Telegram channel

1. Open Telegram and start a chat with @BotFather.
2. Send /newbot and follow the prompts to create a new bot. BotFather will give you a bot token that looks like 123456789:ABCDefGH....
3. On your dashboard, click Add channel, select Telegram, paste your bot token, and click Add channel.

Your bot token is stored securely. Once added, your bot is live and connected to OpenClaw.

Adding a WhatsApp channel

WhatsApp doesn't use a token. Instead, you link it by scanning a QR code with the WhatsApp app.

1. On your dashboard, click Add channel and select WhatsApp.
2. Optionally enter a phone number to restrict which numbers can send messages to your bot. Leave it blank to allow anyone.
3. Optionally enable self-chat mode. When on, the bot only responds in your own "Message yourself" chat. This is useful if you want a personal assistant rather than a shared bot.
4. Click Add channel. The channel is created and a Link WhatsApp button appears.
5. Click Link WhatsApp to open the QR code dialog.
6. On your phone, open WhatsApp, go to Linked devices, tap Link a device, and scan the QR code.

Once scanned, the channel shows a Linked status badge.

Self-chat mode

When self-chat mode is enabled, the bot only responds to messages sent to your own "Message yourself" chat in WhatsApp. This is useful if you want to use the bot privately without it responding to other contacts.

You can toggle this setting at any time on your Dashboard under the Channels section.

Approving pairing requests

When a user sends your bot their first message, they receive a pairing code. Until you approve that code, the bot will not respond to them.

To approve a user:

1. The user sends a message to your bot and receives a pairing code.
2. They share that code with you (for example, in person or via another message).
3. On the dashboard, click Approve pairing next to the relevant channel and enter the code.

Once approved, the user can interact with the bot normally.

Unlinking WhatsApp

If your WhatsApp session expires or you need to re-link a different phone, you can unlink without removing the channel:

1. Click Unlink on the WhatsApp row.
2. Confirm the action.
3. The channel returns to an unlinked state. Click Link WhatsApp again to re-link via QR code.

This only removes the active session. The channel and its configuration stay in place.

Removing a channel

To fully remove a channel, click the trash icon on the channel row and confirm. This removes the channel and all its configuration from your server. If you want the channel back later, you will need to go through the setup process again.

Updating channel credentials

If you need to update your Telegram bot token (for example, you regenerated it via BotFather), go to your Dashboard where you can enter a new value under the Channels section.