Connect OpenClaw to Telegram

Telegram integration allows you to receive notifications and control your claw machines remotely. This tutorial covers the complete setup process.

Prerequisites

• A deployed OpenClaw instance (see Deploy Your First Instance)
• A Telegram account
• Basic familiarity with Telegram bots

Step 1: Create a Telegram Bot

1. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
2. Send the /newbot command
3. Follow the prompts to name your bot
4. Save the API token — you’ll need it in the next step

Step 2: Configure OpenClaw

Access your OpenClaw instance dashboard and navigate to the Integrations section:

1. Select Telegram from the available integrations
2. Paste your bot API token
3. Click Save & Test

Step 3: Verify the Connection

Send a message to your newly created bot on Telegram. You should receive a welcome response confirming the connection is active.

Step 4: Configure Notifications

In the integrations panel, you can customize which events trigger Telegram notifications:

• Machine status changes — Get notified when a machine goes online or offline
• Error alerts — Receive immediate alerts for any operational issues
• Play notifications — Optional notifications for each play session

Troubleshooting

Bot doesn’t respond

• Verify the API token is correct
• Ensure your OpenClaw instance is running (check the dashboard)
• Try regenerating the bot token via @BotFather

Delayed notifications

• Check your instance region — high latency may cause delays
• Verify your Telegram account has no message restrictions