OpenClaw Telegram Bot Setup: Complete Guide With Multi-Agent Topics (2026) | OpenClaw DC

To connect OpenClaw to Telegram, create a bot via BotFather, add the token to your config, and bind it to an agent. Setup takes under 5 minutes. Telegram is the recommended messaging channel for OpenClaw because it uses an official Bot API built for automation. Unlike WhatsApp, there is zero ban risk, no QR code pairing that can break, and no Terms of Service violations. Once connected, you can send tasks, receive notifications, trigger cron jobs, and even send voice messages to your self-hosted AI agent from any device.

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure OpenClaw is installed and running. If you have not set it up yet, follow the beginner guide first. You should also review the troubleshooting guide in case you hit any snags.

You need:

• OpenClaw installed and running (Node.js v22 or later)
• A Telegram account
• Access to your OpenClaw configuration file

Step-by-Step: BotFather Bot Creation

Step 1: Open BotFather. In Telegram, search for @BotFather and start a conversation. BotFather is Telegram’s official tool for creating and managing bots.

Step 2: Create a new bot. Send /newbot to BotFather. It will ask you for a display name (anything you like, such as “My OpenClaw Agent”) and a username (must end in bot, such as my_openclaw_bot).

Step 3: Copy the token. BotFather responds with an API token that looks like 7123456789:AAH1bGz.... Copy this entire string. This token is the only credential you need.

Step 4: Disable privacy mode (optional but recommended for groups). Send /setprivacy to BotFather, select your bot, and choose “Disable.” This allows the bot to see all messages in a group chat, not just commands that start with a slash. Skip this step if you only plan to use the bot in private one-on-one chats.

Token Configuration and Agent Binding

Step 5: Add the token to OpenClaw. Open your terminal and run:

openclaw config set telegram.bot_token "7123456789:AAH1bGz..."
openclaw config set telegram.enabled true

Step 6: Bind the bot to an agent. If you are running a single agent, OpenClaw binds automatically. For multi-agent setups, specify which agent handles Telegram:

openclaw config set telegram.agent "default"

Replace "default" with your agent’s name if you have created custom agents.

Step 7: Choose polling or webhook. Polling works out of the box and requires no public URL. Webhooks are faster but need an HTTPS endpoint:

# Polling (default, works behind NAT/firewalls)
openclaw config set telegram.mode "polling"

# Webhook (faster, needs public HTTPS URL)
openclaw config set telegram.mode "webhook"
openclaw config set telegram.webhook_url "https://your-domain.com/telegram/webhook"

Step 8: Restart the gateway. Apply the configuration by restarting:

openclaw gateway restart

Step 9: Test it. Open Telegram, find your bot by its username, and send a message like “Hello.” Your OpenClaw agent should respond within a few seconds.

Multi-Agent Topic Setup

Telegram groups support Topics (sometimes called forum mode), which create threaded sub-channels inside a single group. The community on Reddit has been using a topic-per-agent strategy for cleaner message routing, and it works well.

Here is how to set it up:

1. Create a Telegram group and go to Group Settings. Enable Topics (the option appears under Group Type or Permissions, depending on your Telegram client version).
2. Create one topic per agent. For example: “Research Agent,” “Email Agent,” “Home Agent.” Each topic gets a unique ID.
3. Get the topic IDs. The easiest method is to send a message in each topic and check the OpenClaw logs for the incoming message_thread_id value.
4. Bind agents to topics in config:

openclaw config set telegram.topics '[
  {"topic_id": 2, "agent": "research"},
  {"topic_id": 3, "agent": "email"},
  {"topic_id": 4, "agent": "home"}
]'

Now messages sent in the “Research Agent” topic route exclusively to your research agent, and so on. No crosstalk, no confusion. Each agent replies within its own topic thread.

Common Issues and Fixes

Bot not responding

The number one cause is Telegram’s privacy mode. In group chats, bots with privacy mode enabled only see messages that start with / or that mention the bot directly by @username. Disable privacy mode through BotFather (Step 4 above) or switch to a private chat for testing.

Messages not arriving

If you are using webhook mode, verify that your HTTPS endpoint is reachable from the public internet. Self-signed certificates will not work unless registered with the Telegram API. Switch to polling temporarily to confirm the token is valid.

Works in private chat but not in groups

Make sure the bot is a member of the group. You need to invite the bot by its @username. After adding it, check that privacy mode is disabled if you want the bot to see all messages.

Duplicate responses

This happens when both polling and webhook are active simultaneously. Pick one mode. If you recently switched, restart the gateway to stop the old polling loop.

What You Can Do via Telegram

Once connected, Telegram becomes a full remote control for OpenClaw:

• Send tasks. Message your bot with any instruction: “Summarize today’s emails,” “Find all PDFs from last month,” or “Draft a response to the client proposal.”
• Get notifications. Configure scheduled summaries that arrive as Telegram messages at set times: daily briefings, calendar reminders, system health checks.
• Control cron jobs. Start, stop, or check the status of your OpenClaw scheduled tasks directly from chat. Send “list cron jobs” or “pause the backup job.”
• Voice messages. Send a voice note to your bot. OpenClaw transcribes it and processes the instruction, useful when you are on the go.
• File sharing. Send documents, images, or screenshots to your bot for processing. OpenClaw analyzes or files them based on your configured skills.

Telegram vs WhatsApp for OpenClaw

Telegram wins on every technical metric. The only reason to choose WhatsApp is if the people you need to reach are exclusively on that platform. Read the full WhatsApp setup guide if you need both channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I connect OpenClaw to Telegram?

Create a bot through BotFather, copy the token, add it to your OpenClaw config with openclaw config set telegram.bot_token, bind it to an agent, and restart the gateway. Steps 1 through 9 above cover the full process.

Why is my OpenClaw Telegram bot not responding?

Check privacy mode first. Bots in group chats only see slash commands and direct mentions unless privacy mode is disabled. In private chats, verify the token and check openclaw logs for errors.

Can I run multiple agents in one Telegram group?

Yes. Enable Topics in your group, create a topic per agent, and map each topic ID to an agent in config. Messages route to the correct agent automatically.

Should I use webhooks or polling?

Polling if you lack a public HTTPS endpoint. Webhooks if you have one. Webhooks are faster and lighter on resources.

Is Telegram safer than WhatsApp for OpenClaw?

Significantly safer. Telegram’s Bot API is built for automation with zero ban risk. WhatsApp bans accounts running automation, sometimes within days.