Module 5: Connecting Your Messaging App

Your Gateway is running. Now you need to hook it up to the app you actually use.

We'll cover Telegram first (easiest), then Discord, then WhatsApp.

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Option A: Telegram (Recommended for Beginners)

Step 1: Create a Telegram bot

1. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
2. Send it the message: /newbot
3. Give your bot a name (e.g., "My AI Agent")
4. Give it a username — must end in "bot" (e.g., "myagent_bot")
5. BotFather gives you a token that looks like: 7123456789:AAHxyz...

Copy that token. You'll need it.

Step 2: Add the token to OpenClaw

Run:

openclaw channels login

Select Telegram when prompted, then paste your bot token.

Or add it directly to your config file (~/.openclaw/openclaw.json):

{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "token": "YOURBOTTOKEN_HERE"
    }
  }
}

Step 3: Restrict who can talk to your bot (important)

By default, anyone who finds your bot can message it. Lock it down to just you:

{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "token": "YOURBOTTOKEN_HERE",
      "allowFrom": ["yourtelegramusername"]
    }
  }
}

Your Telegram username is the @handle you set for your account — not your phone number. Find it in Telegram Settings.

Step 4: Restart the Gateway

openclaw gateway stop
openclaw gateway start

Step 5: Send your first message

Open Telegram, find your bot by the username you created, and send it a message. It should respond.

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Option B: Discord

Step 1: Create a Discord application

1. Go to discord.com/developers/applications
2. Click New Application — give it a name
3. Go to the Bot tab, click Add Bot
4. Under Token, click Reset Token and copy it
5. Under Privileged Gateway Intents, enable Message Content Intent

Step 2: Invite the bot to your server

1. Go to OAuth2 → URL Generator
2. Check bot under Scopes
3. Check these permissions: Send Messages, Read Message History, View Channels
4. Copy the generated URL, open it in your browser, and invite the bot to your server

Step 3: Add the token to OpenClaw

{
  "channels": {
    "discord": {
      "token": "YOURDISCORDBOT_TOKEN"
    }
  }
}

Step 4: Configure allowed channels (optional but recommended)

{
  "channels": {
    "discord": {
      "token": "YOURDISCORDBOT_TOKEN",
      "allowFrom": ["yourdiscorduser_id"]
    }
  }
}

Your Discord user ID: in Discord, go to Settings → Advanced → Enable Developer Mode. Then right-click your username anywhere and "Copy User ID."

Step 5: Restart and test

Restart the Gateway, go to Discord, and message your bot in a DM or in a channel it has access to.

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Option C: WhatsApp

WhatsApp is slightly more involved because it uses your actual phone number (via WhatsApp Web's protocol), not a bot account.

Step 1: Run the login flow

openclaw channels login

Select WhatsApp. A QR code appears in your terminal.

Step 2: Scan the QR code

Open WhatsApp on your phone → Settings → Linked Devices → Link a Device. Scan the QR code.

That's it. Your WhatsApp is now connected. The Gateway runs as a linked device — your messages go to both your phone and the Gateway.

Step 3: Lock it down

Add an allowlist so only you (and whoever you choose) can trigger the agent:

{
  "channels": {
    "whatsapp": {
      "allowFrom": ["+15555550123"]
    }
  }
}

Use your full international number with country code.

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Testing your connection

Once connected, send your agent a simple message:

"Hey, are you there?"

You should get a response. If you don't:

1. Check openclaw gateway status — is it running?
2. Check the logs: openclaw logs — any errors?
3. Make sure your API key is valid and has credits
4. Check the channel config is correct in ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

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Next up

Module 6: Your First Conversation →