Connect Telegram

Table of contents

1. Create a Telegram Bot
2. Login Command
3. Verify Connection
4. Configure Allowlist
5. Next Steps
6. FAQ

Create a Telegram Bot

1. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
2. Send /newbot
3. Follow prompts to name your bot and choose a username (must end in “bot”)
4. Copy the bot token (looks like 1234567890:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz)

Login Command

Run the login command with your token:

openclaw channels login telegram --token YOUR_TOKEN

Replace YOUR_TOKEN with the token from BotFather.

Verify Connection

Send /start to your bot in Telegram. You should receive a welcome message.

Configure Allowlist

By default, anyone can message your bot. To restrict access, edit ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json:

{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "allowFrom": ["@yourusername", "123456789"]
    }
  }
}

Use usernames or numeric user IDs. Use "*" to allow anyone.

Next Steps

• Getting Started Overview
• Allowlists and Sender Policies
• Daily Brief Workflow
• Telegram Setup Guide
• Telegram Troubleshooting

FAQ

Q: Can I use the same bot in multiple groups?
A: Yes. Add the bot to groups and configure channels.telegram.groups.

Q: How do I get my user ID?
A: Send /start to any bot (e.g., @userinfobot) to see your ID.

Q: What if I lose the token?
A: Revoke the old token in BotFather and create a new one.

Q: Can I disable inline mode?
A: Yes. Set channels.telegram.inlineMode: false.

Q: How do I disconnect?
A: Run openclaw channels logout telegram.

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