Why Use Telegram for OpenClaw Agents?
Telegram is currently the #1 platform for AI agent deployment. Why? Because the Telegram Bot API is completely free, supports rich media, and has over 800 million active users. If you are building an AI support bot, a crypto trading bot, or a personal assistant, OpenClaw + Telegram is the perfect stack.
Prerequisites
- A Telegram account
- An active SetupYourClaw account
- 3 minutes of your time
Step 1: Get Your API Token from BotFather
Every Telegram bot starts with the “BotFather”. This is the official bot from Telegram that manages all other bots.
- Open Telegram and search for @BotFather.
- Click Start and type
/newbot. - Name Your Bot: Choose a display name (e.g., “AI Support Agent”).
- Choose a Username: It must end in ‘bot’ (e.g., “my_support_agent_bot”).
- Copy the Token: BotFather will give you a token like
123456:ABC-DEF1234ghIkl-zyx57W2v1u123ew11. Copy this immediately.
Step 2: Linking to OpenClaw
This is where SetupYourClaw makes magic happen. We handle the webhook configuration for you.
- Log in to your SetupYourClaw Dashboard.
- Select Telegram from the channel list.
- Paste your API Token into the configuration box.
- Click Verify & Connect.
Step 3: Verification
Open your new bot in Telegram and type /start. If configured correctly, your OpenClaw agent will reply instantly with its welcome message.
Common OpenClaw Telegram Errors
“Webhook not set”: This means the handshake failed. Restart your SetupYourClaw instance.
“Unauthorized”: You may have revoked the token. Generate a new one in BotFather using /revoke.