Clawdbot WhatsApp & Telegram Setup: Control AI From Your Phone

Want to control your AI assistant from anywhere, using the same messaging apps you already have on your phone? That's exactly what OpenClaw (formerly known as Clawdbot) makes possible. This comprehensive guide walks you through setting up both WhatsApp and Telegram integrations, so you can chat with your personal AI assistant whether you're at your desk or on the go.

What Is OpenClaw (Clawdbot)?

OpenClaw is an open-source personal AI assistant created by developer Peter Steinberger. Unlike cloud-based AI services that keep your data on external servers, OpenClaw runs locally on your own computer—a Mac, Linux machine, or Windows PC with WSL2.

What makes OpenClaw special is its conversation-first approach. Instead of configuring complex settings files, you interact with it naturally through messaging apps you already use daily. The Clawdbot WhatsApp integration is particularly popular because it lets you message your AI assistant just like texting a friend.

Here's how the architecture works:

• The Gateway: A background process that connects your messaging apps to the AI agent
• The Brain: Your choice of AI model (Claude, GPT, Gemini, or local models via Ollama)
• Skills: Plugins that extend what your assistant can do—from managing calendars to controlling smart home devices

The beauty of this setup is that all your data stays on your machine — a key advantage of self-hosted AI. Your conversations, preferences, and personal context never leave your control.

Prerequisites Before You Start

Before diving into the Clawdbot WhatsApp or Telegram setup, make sure you have:

1. Node.js 22 or higher installed on your computer
2. A terminal you're comfortable using (Terminal on Mac, WSL2 on Windows, or your Linux terminal)
3. An AI model provider account with API access (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, etc.)
4. A phone number for WhatsApp (preferably a dedicated number)
5. A Telegram account (if setting up Telegram)

The computer running OpenClaw needs to stay on and connected to the internet for your assistant to remain accessible.

Installing OpenClaw

First, install OpenClaw using this one-liner:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

This command automatically detects your operating system and installs everything needed. Once complete, run the setup wizard:

openclaw onboard

The wizard guides you through:

• Choosing an AI model provider
• Authenticating with your provider
• Setting up messaging channels
• Configuring basic preferences

For most users, selecting "QuickStart" mode handles the technical details automatically.

Setting Up Clawdbot WhatsApp Integration

The WhatsApp integration uses WhatsApp Web via a library called Baileys. This means your assistant shows up as a linked device on WhatsApp, just like when you connect WhatsApp Web on a browser.

Step 1: Get a Phone Number

WhatsApp requires a real mobile number for verification—VoIP and virtual numbers usually get blocked. You have two options:

Dedicated Number (Recommended)
Use a separate phone number specifically for OpenClaw. This provides the cleanest experience with no confusion about which messages go where. An old spare phone with an eSIM works perfectly—just keep it on WiFi and power.

Pro tip: You can use WhatsApp Business on the same device with a different number to keep personal and assistant accounts separate.

Personal Number (Fallback)
If you don't have a spare number, you can run OpenClaw on your personal WhatsApp. Message yourself using WhatsApp's "Message yourself" feature for testing. Just enable selfChatMode in your configuration.

Step 2: Configure WhatsApp in OpenClaw

Add this to your ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json:

{
  "channels": {
    "whatsapp": {
      "dmPolicy": "allowlist",
      "allowFrom": ["+15551234567"]
    }
  }
}

Replace the phone number with your own (E.164 format with country code).

Step 3: Link Your WhatsApp Account

Run the login command:

openclaw channels login

A QR code appears in your terminal. On your phone:

1. Open WhatsApp
2. Go to Settings → Linked Devices
3. Tap "Link a Device"
4. Scan the QR code

That's it! Your Clawdbot WhatsApp integration is now live.

Step 4: Test the Connection

Send a message to your OpenClaw number (or to yourself if using personal mode). You should see the assistant respond within seconds.

WhatsApp Configuration Options

Fine-tune your experience with these settings:

• dmPolicy: Control who can message your assistant (pairing, allowlist, or open)
• selfChatMode: Enable when using your personal number
• ackReaction: Auto-react to messages with an emoji to confirm receipt
• sendReadReceipts: Show blue ticks when messages are read
• textChunkLimit: Maximum characters per message (default 4000)

Setting Up Clawdbot Telegram Integration

Telegram setup is even simpler because it uses the official Bot API instead of web linking.

Step 1: Create a Telegram Bot

Open Telegram and search for @BotFather—the official bot for creating bots.

1. Start a chat with BotFather
2. Send /newbot
3. Follow the prompts to name your bot
4. Copy the bot token (looks like 123456789:ABCdefGHI...)

Keep this token secret—anyone with it can control your bot.

Step 2: Configure Telegram in OpenClaw

Add the token to your configuration:

{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "enabled": true,
      "botToken": "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN_HERE",
      "dmPolicy": "pairing",
      "groups": {
        "*": { "requireMention": true }
      }
    }
  }
}

Alternatively, set it as an environment variable:

export TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN="YOUR_BOT_TOKEN_HERE"

Step 3: Start Chatting

Start the gateway if it isn't already running:

openclaw gateway

Now open Telegram and send a message to your bot. The first time you message, you'll receive a pairing code. Approve it with:

openclaw pairing approve telegram <code>

After approval, your bot responds to all your messages.

Step 4: Add to Groups (Optional)

Want your assistant in group chats? Add the bot to any Telegram group. By default, it only responds when @mentioned—perfect for shared spaces where you don't want constant AI interruptions.

To make the bot respond to all messages in a specific group:

{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "groups": {
        "-1001234567890": { "requireMention": false }
      }
    }
  }
}

Get the group ID by forwarding any message from the group to @userinfobot.

Running Both WhatsApp and Telegram Together

OpenClaw handles multiple channels simultaneously. Your assistant maintains consistent memory and personality across both platforms—start a conversation on WhatsApp during your commute, then continue it on Telegram when you're at your desk.

The gateway manages all connections:

openclaw gateway --port 18789

Each channel gets its own session tracking while sharing the same core assistant context.

Keeping Your Assistant Always Available

For 24/7 availability, your computer needs to stay running. Options include:

• Mac Mini or dedicated home server: Low-power, always-on solution
• Cloud VPS: Services like Hetzner, Railway, or Render let you run OpenClaw remotely
• Raspberry Pi: Budget-friendly option for lighter workloads

Install OpenClaw as a system service so it starts automatically:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

Troubleshooting Common Issues

WhatsApp Shows "Not Linked"

Re-scan the QR code with openclaw channels login. Credentials are stored in ~/.openclaw/credentials/whatsapp/.

Telegram Bot Not Responding

Check that your bot token is correct and the gateway is running. View logs with:

openclaw logs --follow

Messages Not Arriving

Verify your allowFrom configuration includes your phone number. For Telegram, ensure your user ID is in the allowlist (not your username).

Beyond Basic Chat: What Your AI Can Do

Once connected, your Clawdbot WhatsApp assistant can do far more than answer questions:

• Manage your calendar and schedule meetings
• Send emails on your behalf
• Check you in for flights
• Control smart home devices
• Run code and execute scripts on your computer
• Search the web and summarize findings
• Create and edit files in your workspace

The "Skills" system lets you add new capabilities—or ask your assistant to create custom skills for you.

Why Personal AI Assistants Matter

The shift to personal AI assistants like OpenClaw represents a fundamental change in how we interact with AI. Instead of visiting a website or opening an app, you just message your assistant like a colleague who happens to have superhuman knowledge and the ability to actually do things on your behalf.

The privacy angle matters too. With everything running locally, your conversations and personal data never leave your control. No third-party company storing your chat history or training on your private information.

Taking AI Productivity Further

Setting up Clawdbot with WhatsApp and Telegram is just the beginning. Once you're comfortable with the basics, explore:

• Heartbeat automation: Have your assistant proactively check things and notify you
• Multi-agent routing: Different assistants for different purposes
• Custom skills: Build integrations with any service that has an API

For teams and businesses looking to implement AI assistants at scale, solutions like Serenities AI provide managed infrastructure that handles the complexity while maintaining the personal, conversational experience that makes these tools so powerful.

The future of AI isn't about visiting chatbots on websites—it's about having intelligent assistants available wherever you are, through the communication tools you already use. With OpenClaw's Clawdbot WhatsApp and Telegram integrations, that future is available today.

---

Ready to get started? Run the install command and have your personal AI assistant up and running in under 20 minutes.

Related Articles

• Clawdbot Mac Mini Setup: Complete 2026 Guide
• What is Clawdbot (OpenClaw)? The 100K Star AI Assistant Explained
• Clawdbot vs Claude Code: Which AI Tool Should You Use?