> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.openclaws.biz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Messaging Channels

> Connect your AI to WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and more

Connect your AI assistant to **8 messaging platforms** so you can talk to it from anywhere.

<Info>
  **Channels vs Toolkits** — Channels make your AI a **live chat participant** (it receives and replies to messages in real-time). Toolkits give your AI **outbound API access** (it can search Slack history, pin messages, create GitHub issues). They're complementary — you might connect Slack as both a channel (for live chat) and a toolkit (for API actions). See [Toolkits](/toolkits) for details.
</Info>

## Cloud Channels

These channels work out of the box with your managed gateway. Configure them in the **Channels** tab of your Control UI.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="WhatsApp" icon="whatsapp">
    Link via QR code. Click **Show QR** in the Channels tab, scan with WhatsApp on your phone.

    Uses the Baileys Web bridge — no WhatsApp Business API required. Use **Relink** if the session expires, **Logout** to disconnect.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Telegram" icon="telegram">
    Create a bot via **@BotFather** on Telegram, copy the bot token, and paste it in the Telegram config section.

    Supports long polling (default) or webhook mode. Set `dmPolicy` to control who can message your bot (pairing/allowlist/open).

    See [Telegram setup guide](/guides/setup-telegram).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Discord" icon="discord">
    Create a Discord bot in the [Discord Developer Portal](https://discord.com/developers), add it to your server, and paste the bot token in config. The bot responds to mentions and DMs.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Slack" icon="slack">
    Connects via Socket Mode. Create a Slack app, enable Socket Mode, and configure your app token (`xapp-...`) and bot token (`xoxb-...`) in the Channels config.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Google Chat" icon="google">
    Uses Chat API with a service account. Configure your service account JSON credentials and audience settings.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Nostr" icon="hashtag">
    Decentralized DMs via NIP-04 relays. Edit your Nostr profile (name, bio, avatar, NIP-05) directly from the Channels tab.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Local-Only Channels

These channels require **additional hardware or software on your end** and cannot be fully managed by OpenClaws.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="iMessage (BlueBubbles)" icon="apple">
    Uses the [BlueBubbles](https://bluebubbles.app) bridge for iMessage access. Supports full iMessage features: tapbacks, typing indicators, attachments, effects, group chats, and reply threading.

    **Requirements:**

    * A **dedicated Mac** (Mac mini recommended) running macOS with the BlueBubbles server app
    * Your Apple ID signed into Messages.app on that Mac
    * The Mac must stay powered on 24/7 with sleep disabled

    <Warning>
      Apple requires macOS hardware for iMessage. There is no cloud-only path — each user needs their own Mac running BlueBubbles. This channel cannot be provisioned as part of the managed OpenClaws service.
    </Warning>

    See [OpenClaw docs: BlueBubbles](https://docs.openclaw.ai/channels/bluebubbles) for full setup.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Signal" icon="shield-halved">
    Requires a running `signal-cli` REST API server on your own infrastructure. Configure the base URL in the Channels config.

    <Warning>
      Signal requires a dedicated phone number and the signal-cli daemon running locally. This channel cannot be provisioned as part of the managed OpenClaws service.
    </Warning>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Channel Authentication

All channels use **direct bot tokens or credentials** configured in your gateway's Control UI — they do **not** use Composio OAuth connections.

| Channel     | Auth Method                         |
| ----------- | ----------------------------------- |
| WhatsApp    | QR code pairing (Baileys Web)       |
| Telegram    | Bot token from @BotFather           |
| Discord     | Bot token from Developer Portal     |
| Slack       | Bot token + App token (Socket Mode) |
| Google Chat | Service account JSON                |
| Nostr       | NIP-04 keypair                      |
| iMessage    | BlueBubbles server password         |
| Signal      | signal-cli REST API URL             |

<Tip>
  Each channel shows live status (**Configured**, **Running**, **Connected**) and health metrics in the Control UI. Use the **Probe** button to test connectivity.
</Tip>