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WhatsApp & Telegram

Your ClawBox supports WhatsApp and Telegram as alternative ways to interact with your AI assistant. This means you can chat with it from your phone, on the go, without opening a web browser.

How it works

OpenClaw has built-in channel plugins for WhatsApp and Telegram. Once configured, messages you send via these apps are forwarded to your AI assistant, and its replies are sent back to you through the same channel.

The experience is similar to chatting with someone on your contact list. You send a message, the AI processes it, and you get a reply — usually within a few seconds.

All the same capabilities are available: the AI can search the web, run tasks, and work with files, just as it does through the web interface. Longer or more complex outputs may be split across multiple messages.

Setting up WhatsApp

WhatsApp integration uses QR code pairing, similar to linking WhatsApp Web to your phone. To set it up:

1. Open your ClawBox web interface (yourname.clawbox.uk)
2. Go to the Settings or Channels section within OpenClaw
3. Select WhatsApp and click to enable it
4. A QR code will be displayed on screen
5. On your phone, open WhatsApp → Linked Devices → Link a Device
6. Scan the QR code with your phone

Once paired, your ClawBox will appear as a linked device in WhatsApp. You can then message your AI assistant by sending messages to the linked WhatsApp number.

Things to know about WhatsApp

• The pairing uses your existing WhatsApp account — no new phone number is needed
• If the QR code expires, simply refresh and scan again
• The link may need to be re-established occasionally (WhatsApp requires periodic re-authentication)
• Media (images, documents) can be sent and received

Setting up Telegram

Telegram integration works through a Telegram Bot. You create a bot via Telegram's BotFather, then configure your ClawBox to use it. To set it up:

1. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
2. Send /newbot and follow the prompts to create a new bot
3. BotFather will give you a bot token — copy this
4. Open your ClawBox web interface and go to Settings or Channels
5. Select Telegram, enable it, and paste in your bot token
6. Save the configuration

You can now open Telegram, find your bot by the name you chose, and start chatting. Messages go to your ClawBox and replies come back through the bot.

Things to know about Telegram

• Your bot is private to you by default — only you need to know its name
• You can optionally restrict the bot to only respond to your Telegram user ID for extra security
• Telegram bots support rich formatting, so code blocks and structured responses display well
• The bot stays connected as long as your ClawBox is running

Tips for messaging

• Keep messages focused. Messaging works best for quick questions, short tasks, and follow-ups. For longer or more complex work, the web interface gives you a better experience.
• Context carries over. The AI remembers the conversation within a session, so you can ask follow-up questions naturally.
• Both channels can be active. You do not have to choose one or the other. WhatsApp and Telegram can both be connected at the same time alongside the web interface.