Telegram Integration

Deploy OpenClaw as Your Personal Telegram Bot

Leverage Telegram's powerful Bot API to create a feature-rich AI assistant. With native bot support, inline queries, custom keyboards, file processing up to 2GB, and unlimited message history, Telegram provides the perfect platform for advanced OpenClaw interactions. No workarounds needed - just official API integration.

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How OpenClaw Telegram Integration Works

We Create Your Telegram Bot

We register a new bot with Telegram's BotFather to receive an API token. We configure your bot's identity, including custom name, profile picture, and description. The bot token authenticates OpenClaw with Telegram's servers.

We Configure the OpenClaw Bridge

We connect your bot token to OpenClaw's Telegram bridge module, configure webhook or long-polling mode, set up command handlers, and define how the AI processes different message types.

We Customize Bot Behavior

We define custom commands, inline query responses, keyboard layouts, and conversation flows. We set up different behaviors for private chats versus groups, configure file handling preferences, and establish rate limits and user permissions.

Start Chatting with Your AI

Launch your OpenClaw-powered Telegram bot and start interacting. Send messages, use inline queries from any chat, share files for processing, and leverage all of Telegram's rich features through your personal AI assistant.

Why Connect OpenClaw to {page.integration.name}

Official Bot API Support

Unlike other platforms, Telegram officially supports and encourages bot development. The Bot API is well-documented, stable, and fully supported, meaning no risk of account bans or broken integrations. Your OpenClaw bot operates within Telegram's intended use cases.

Rich Media Capabilities

Send and receive documents up to 2GB, high-resolution images, videos, voice messages, video notes, stickers, and GIFs. OpenClaw can process any file type Telegram supports, making it perfect for document analysis, media conversion, and file management tasks.

Inline Query Magic

Use OpenClaw from any Telegram chat without switching conversations. Type @YourBot followed by a query to get AI responses directly in your current chat. Share AI-generated content, search results, or quick answers with friends without leaving the conversation.

Custom Keyboard Interfaces

Create intuitive button-based interfaces for common actions. Reply keyboards, inline buttons, and callback queries enable quick interactions without typing. Build custom menus for smart home control, task management, or any workflow that benefits from quick-tap access.

Unlimited Cloud Storage

Telegram provides unlimited message history and file storage. All your conversations with OpenClaw are preserved forever, searchable, and accessible from any device. Build a permanent knowledge base of AI interactions that you can reference anytime.

Advanced Group Features

Deploy OpenClaw as a group administrator with full moderation capabilities. Manage members, filter content, handle join requests, schedule messages, and provide group-wide AI assistance. Perfect for community management and team collaboration.

Setup Guide

Create Your Bot with BotFather

Start a chat with @BotFather on Telegram and use the /newbot command to create your OpenClaw bot. Choose a display name and username (must end in 'bot'). BotFather will provide an API token - keep this secure as it grants full control over your bot.

# In Telegram, message @BotFather:
/newbot

# Follow the prompts:
# 1. Enter display name: OpenClaw Assistant
# 2. Enter username: YourName_OpenClaw_bot

# You'll receive a token like:
# 1234567890:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz

# Save this token securely!
# Additional BotFather commands:
/setdescription - Set bot description
/setabouttext - Set 'About' text
/setuserpic - Set profile picture
/setcommands - Define command menu

Install Telegram Bridge Module

Add the Telegram bridge to your OpenClaw installation. The bridge handles all communication with Telegram's Bot API, including message parsing, media handling, and response formatting. It supports both webhook and long-polling modes.

# Using OpenClaw CLI
openclaw install telegram-bridge

# Or manual installation
cd /path/to/openclaw
npm install @openclaw/telegram-bridge

# Verify installation
openclaw plugins list | grep telegram

Configure Bot Connection

Create your Telegram configuration file with the bot token and connection settings. Choose between webhook mode (recommended for production) or long-polling mode (easier for development). Configure how the bot handles different message types.

# config/telegram.yaml
telegram:
  enabled: true
  bot_token: "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN_HERE"  # From BotFather
  
  # Connection mode
  mode: webhook  # or 'polling' for development
  webhook:
    url: "https://yourdomain.com/telegram/webhook"
    port: 8443
    certificate: "/path/to/cert.pem"  # For self-signed
  
  # Polling settings (if using polling mode)
  polling:
    interval: 1000  # milliseconds
    timeout: 30
  
  # Bot settings
  settings:
    parse_mode: "HTML"  # or 'Markdown', 'MarkdownV2'
    disable_web_page_preview: false
    protect_content: false

Define Commands and Handlers

Set up bot commands that appear in Telegram's command menu, and configure handlers for different interaction types. Define how OpenClaw responds to text, media, inline queries, and callback buttons.

# config/telegram-commands.yaml
commands:
  # Registered commands (appear in menu)
  - command: start
    description: Start the bot and see welcome message
  - command: help
    description: Show available commands
  - command: settings
    description: Configure your preferences
  - command: tasks
    description: View and manage your tasks
  - command: calendar
    description: Check your schedule
  - command: weather
    description: Get weather forecast
  - command: home
    description: Control smart home devices

handlers:
  text:
    enabled: true
    ai_response: true
  
  voice:
    enabled: true
    transcribe: true
    respond_with: text  # or 'voice'
  
  photo:
    enabled: true
    analyze: true
    max_size_mb: 20
  
  document:
    enabled: true
    allowed_types: ["pdf", "docx", "xlsx", "txt", "json"]
    max_size_mb: 50
  
  inline_query:
    enabled: true
    cache_time: 300  # seconds
    results_limit: 50

Configure Inline Query Responses

Set up inline mode to allow using OpenClaw from any chat. Users can type @YourBot followed by a query to get AI responses without opening a direct conversation. Configure result types and caching behavior.

# config/telegram-inline.yaml
inline:
  enabled: true
  placeholder: "Ask me anything..."
  
  # Result types to generate
  result_types:
    - article  # Text responses
    - photo    # Image results
    - document # File results
  
  # Quick responses for common queries
  quick_responses:
    weather:
      trigger: "weather"
      handler: weather_inline
    translate:
      trigger: "translate"
      handler: translation_inline
    calculate:
      trigger: "calc"
      handler: calculator_inline
  
  # Caching
  cache:
    enabled: true
    personal_results: true  # Different results per user
    ttl: 300  # seconds

Set Up Custom Keyboards

Create interactive button interfaces for common actions. Reply keyboards appear below the input field, while inline keyboards attach to messages. Use callback queries to handle button presses.

# config/telegram-keyboards.yaml
keyboards:
  main_menu:
    type: inline
    buttons:
      - - { text: "Tasks", callback: "menu:tasks" }
        - { text: "Calendar", callback: "menu:calendar" }
      - - { text: "Smart Home", callback: "menu:home" }
        - { text: "Weather", callback: "menu:weather" }
      - - { text: "Settings", callback: "menu:settings" }
  
  smart_home:
    type: inline
    buttons:
      - - { text: "Lights On", callback: "home:lights:on" }
        - { text: "Lights Off", callback: "home:lights:off" }
      - - { text: "Thermostat", callback: "home:thermostat" }
      - - { text: "Back to Menu", callback: "menu:main" }
  
  quick_reply:
    type: reply
    resize: true
    one_time: true
    buttons:
      - - "Yes"
        - "No"
      - - "Cancel"

Configure Group Behavior

Set up how OpenClaw behaves in group chats. Configure privacy mode, mention requirements, and admin capabilities. Define moderation features if you want the bot to help manage groups.

# config/telegram-groups.yaml
groups:
  privacy_mode: true  # Only receive messages when mentioned
  require_mention: true
  mention_triggers:
    - "@YourBot"
    - "/ai"
    - "!ai"
  
  # Admin features (if bot is group admin)
  admin:
    welcome_new_members: true
    welcome_message: "Welcome {name} to the group!"
    anti_spam: true
    content_filter: false
    handle_join_requests: false
  
  # Per-group settings
  group_overrides:
    "group_chat_id_here":
      ai_enabled: true
      require_mention: false  # Respond to all messages
      allowed_commands: ["help", "weather"]

Test and Deploy

Test your bot configuration locally before deploying to production. Verify all handlers work correctly, test inline queries, and ensure media processing functions as expected.

# Start bot in development mode
openclaw telegram start --dev

# Test specific features
openclaw telegram test --feature inline
openclaw telegram test --feature media
openclaw telegram test --feature callbacks

# Check webhook status (if using webhooks)
openclaw telegram webhook status

# View real-time logs
openclaw logs telegram --follow

# Deploy to production
openclaw telegram start --production

# Register commands with Telegram
openclaw telegram commands sync

What You Can Do

Personal AI Assistant

Your always-available personal assistant that understands context from your conversation history. Ask questions, get recommendations, manage tasks, and have intelligent conversations that remember your preferences and past interactions. The unlimited message history means your AI truly knows you over time.

Document Processing Hub

Send any document to your bot for intelligent processing. PDFs are summarized, spreadsheets analyzed, images described, and code files reviewed. With support for files up to 2GB, handle large documents that other platforms reject. Extract data, convert formats, and get AI insights from any file type.

Group Knowledge Bot

Deploy OpenClaw in team or community groups to provide instant answers, moderate discussions, and assist all members. The bot can answer FAQs, search through shared knowledge, translate messages in real-time, and help coordinate group activities.

Inline Quick Actions

Use @YourBot in any chat for instant AI assistance without switching conversations. Quick translations while chatting with international friends, fact-checking during debates, unit conversions, or generating responses - all inline without opening the bot chat.

Smart Home Dashboard

Control your entire smart home through custom Telegram keyboards. Create visual dashboards with buttons for every device, scene, and automation. Get notifications about home events, view camera snapshots, and manage security - all from your Telegram app.

Media Analysis and Creation

Send photos for AI analysis, description, or modification suggestions. Get detailed descriptions of images, extract text via OCR, identify objects and people, analyze charts and graphs, or get artistic feedback on your photography.

Voice Message Processing

Send voice messages and get intelligent responses. OpenClaw transcribes your audio, understands the request, and can respond with text or synthesized voice. Perfect for hands-free operation while driving, exercising, or when typing isn't convenient.

Scheduled Reminders and Updates

Set up scheduled messages for daily briefings, reminder notifications, habit tracking prompts, and regular updates. The bot can send weather forecasts every morning, remind you of medications, or deliver daily motivation at your preferred time.

Learning and Flashcards

Create an interactive learning companion. Generate flashcards for any subject, get quizzed on material, practice language learning with conversation, and track your progress. The bot adapts to your learning pace and focuses on areas where you need more practice.

Known Limitations

Bot API has rate limits: 30 messages per second to different chats, 1 message per second to the same chat
Webhook mode requires a publicly accessible HTTPS URL with valid SSL certificate
Bots cannot initiate conversations - users must start the chat first or be group members
In group privacy mode, bots only receive messages that mention them or commands directed at them
File downloads are limited to 20MB through the Bot API (uploads up to 2GB work fine)
Bots cannot see messages sent before they were added to a group
Inline mode results are cached - rapid changes may not reflect immediately
Media group messages (albums) arrive as separate messages, requiring special handling
Bot usernames must end in 'bot' and be unique across all of Telegram
Some advanced features like video calls and stories are not available to bots
Our team can help you work around these limitations with custom configurations

Frequently Asked Questions

Is creating a Telegram bot free?

Yes, creating and operating a Telegram bot is completely free. There are no API fees, no message costs, and no premium tiers. Telegram's Bot API is one of the most generous messaging APIs available. You can send unlimited messages, handle unlimited users, and store unlimited chat history without any charges. The only costs are your server infrastructure to run OpenClaw. This makes Telegram one of the most cost-effective platforms for deploying AI assistants.

What's the difference between webhook and polling modes?

Long polling mode has your server repeatedly asking Telegram 'any new messages?' while webhook mode has Telegram push messages to your server when they arrive. Polling is easier to set up (no SSL required, works behind firewalls) and great for development. Webhooks are more efficient for production (instant delivery, less server load) but require a public HTTPS URL. For most deployments, start with polling for testing, then switch to webhooks for production. OpenClaw's Telegram bridge supports both modes with easy configuration switching.

Can my bot work in channels as well as groups?

Yes, but with limitations. Bots can be added as channel administrators to post messages, edit posts, and manage the channel. However, bots cannot read channel posts or comments unless they're specifically tagged or the post is forwarded to them. For full AI interaction, groups are better suited. You can link a discussion group to your channel and add the bot there to engage with comments and discussions while keeping the main channel for curated content.

How do I handle file downloads larger than 20MB?

While the Bot API limits downloads to 20MB, there are workarounds. For larger files sent by users, you can use the Telegram client API (MTProto) alongside the Bot API, or use Telegram's CDN URLs for certain file types. Alternatively, ask users to share files via external links (Google Drive, Dropbox) which OpenClaw can then access directly. For sending large files, the 2GB upload limit applies normally. This limitation mainly affects downloading large videos and documents that users send to the bot.

Can I have multiple OpenClaw bots on Telegram?

Absolutely. You can create and operate as many Telegram bots as you want, each with its own token and configuration. Use cases include: separate bots for personal and work use, different bots for different languages or purposes, testing bots alongside production bots, or specialized bots for specific tasks (one for smart home, one for productivity, etc.). Each bot needs its own configuration file, but they can share the same OpenClaw installation.

How does inline mode work and why should I enable it?

Inline mode lets users invoke your bot from any chat by typing @YourBot followed by a query. The bot responds with suggested results that the user can share in their current conversation. This is incredibly powerful - users can get AI assistance without leaving their current chat. For example, quickly translate a message, fact-check a claim, or get a calculation result to share with friends. Enable it in BotFather with /setinline and configure response types in OpenClaw. It dramatically increases bot utility and engagement.

What's privacy mode and should I disable it?

Privacy mode is enabled by default for group chats, meaning your bot only receives messages that directly mention it or start with a command. This protects user privacy and reduces unnecessary processing. You can disable it via BotFather (/setprivacy) if you need the bot to see all group messages - useful for moderation, sentiment analysis, or contextual responses. Consider the privacy implications before disabling. For most use cases, keeping privacy mode on and using mention triggers is the better approach.

How do I prevent abuse of my public bot?

Implement multiple layers of protection: 1) Rate limiting per user (OpenClaw supports this natively), 2) User allowlists/blocklists for sensitive commands, 3) Captcha or verification for new users, 4) Monitoring and alerting for unusual patterns, 5) Cost limits if using paid AI services, 6) Message length limits to prevent prompt injection, 7) Content filtering for inappropriate requests. You can also make your bot private by not sharing the username publicly and only sharing with trusted users directly.

Can my bot process voice messages and respond with voice?

Yes, OpenClaw's Telegram integration fully supports voice messages. When a user sends a voice message, it's automatically transcribed using speech-to-text services, processed by the AI, and can respond with either text or a synthesized voice message. Configure voice handling in your telegram.yaml file. You can set it to always respond with voice, always with text, or match the input format. Voice responses are generated using text-to-speech services and sent as Telegram voice messages (OGG format).

How do I update my bot without disrupting users?

For seamless updates: 1) Use webhook mode with a load balancer for zero-downtime deployments, 2) Implement graceful shutdown that finishes processing current messages, 3) Maintain backward compatibility for keyboard callbacks and command handlers, 4) Test updates thoroughly with a separate test bot first, 5) Use feature flags to gradually roll out changes. OpenClaw supports hot-reloading of configuration files without restart. For major updates, consider notifying users via broadcast message about new features or changes.

Ready to Build Your Telegram AI Bot?

Let our team handle the integration. Book a free consultation and we'll build your perfect Telegram bot powered by OpenClaw - no hacks, no bans, just powerful AI assistance.

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