---
title: "Connect OpenClaw to Telegram · DotsAgent"
description: "Connect OpenClaw to Telegram in 4 steps: make a bot via @BotFather, store its token, probe the channel and approve yourself with a 1-hour pairing code."
url: https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/telegram
---

OpenClaw guide · 4 steps

# Connect OpenClaw to Telegram

Telegram ships in OpenClaw core. Create a bot, give the gateway its token and approve your own account with a pairing code.

You need a running gateway from the install guide and a Telegram account. No public URL is required, because Telegram uses long polling by default.

1. Create a bot with @BotFather Message @BotFather from your Telegram account, send /newbot and answer its prompts for a name and a username. BotFather replies with the bot token. Copy it and keep it private, since anyone holding the token controls the bot.
2. Add the Telegram channel Replace <bot-token> with the token from step 1. You can also set TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN, or add a channels.telegram block to openclaw.json with enabled, botToken, dmPolicy and groups. shell`openclaw channels add --channel telegram --token <bot-token>`
3. Check the connection --probe checks that the gateway can actually reach the bot, not only that the config is present. Fix any error it reports before you message the bot. shell`openclaw channels status --probe`
4. Approve your own account Send the bot a direct message. With dmPolicy on its default, pairing, you get a code instead of a reply. The first command shows every waiting request; the second approves yours by its code. Codes expire after one hour, and at most three can wait at once. shell`openclaw pairing list telegram openclaw pairing approve telegram <CODE>`

Keep dmPolicy on pairing or allowlist, and requireMention on for groups. With dmPolicy set to open, anyone who finds the bot can talk to your agent.

## More OpenClaw guides

[Install OpenClaw](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/install)

[Run OpenClaw on a VPS](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/vps)

[Run OpenClaw in Docker](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/docker)

[Run OpenClaw on a Raspberry Pi](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/raspberry-pi)

[Connect models to OpenClaw](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/models)

[Harden your OpenClaw gateway](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/hardening)

[Remote access to OpenClaw](https://dotsagent.io/openclaw/remote-access)

## Sources

1. [docs.openclaw.ai](https://docs.openclaw.ai/channels/telegram/setup)/channels/telegram/setup
2. [docs.openclaw.ai](https://docs.openclaw.ai/channels)/channels
3. [docs.openclaw.ai](https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/security/access-control)/gateway/security/access-control

Independent reference for people who build AI agents. Not affiliated with any vendor named here.

© 2026 DotsAgent · Facts checked October 1, 2026