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OpenClaw Documentation

Local-First AI, Reimagined

OpenClawApple-level polish for your AI gateway.

Build a private, lightning-fast AI command center across WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and iMessage. One gateway. One setup. Total control on your own hardware.

🔒Data stays local
Instant responses
🧩Plugin-ready
OpenClaw Command Center
Live
ChannelsWhatsApp • Telegram • Discord • iMessage
ModeLocal-first, encrypted, streaming
StatusRunning • 99.9% uptime
💬
✈️
🎮
💬

Connect Every Platform

One gateway, unlimited possibilities

📱

WhatsApp

Connect via WhatsApp Web with full media support and group chat capabilities

Configure →
✈️

Telegram

Bot API integration with inline keyboards, channels, and draft streaming

Configure →
🎮

Discord

Full Discord bot with slash commands, rich embeds, and guild channels

Configure →
💬

iMessage

Native macOS integration with imsg CLI for seamless Apple ecosystem support

Configure →

How It Works

Simple architecture, powerful capabilities

WhatsApp / Telegram / Discord / iMessage (+ plugins)
┌───────────────────────────┐
│ Gateway │ ws://127.0.0.1:18789 (loopback-only)
│ (single source) │
│ │ http://<gateway-host>:18793
│ │ /__openclaw__/canvas/ (Canvas host)
└───────────┬───────────────┘
├─ Pi agent (RPC)
├─ CLI (openclaw …)
├─ Chat UI (SwiftUI)
├─ macOS app (OpenClaw.app)
├─ iOS node via Gateway WS + pairing
└─ Android node via Gateway WS + pairing

All operations flow through the Gateway (openclaw gateway), a single long-running process that owns channel connections and the WebSocket control plane.

Quick Start

Get running in under 5 minutes

Install globally and set up the service:

Terminal window
# Install OpenClaw
npm install -g openclaw@latest
# Run interactive setup wizard
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
# Pair WhatsApp (displays QR code)
openclaw channels login whatsapp
# Start the gateway
openclaw gateway

Why Developers Choose OpenClaw

Built by developers, for developers

🔒

Local-First Privacy

Your data never leaves your hardware. Complete control, complete privacy. No cloud dependencies.

Lightning Performance

Sub-second response times with optimized streaming, chunking, and intelligent caching.

🤖

AI Agent Bridge

Connect to Pi and other AI agents via RPC with full tool streaming support.

🌐

Multi-Platform

Works on macOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, and Android with consistent experience.

👥

Group Chat Support

Mention-based activation with configurable auto-join for seamless group integration.

📎

Rich Media

Send and receive images, audio, documents, and voice notes with transcription hooks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What messaging platforms are supported?

OpenClaw supports WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and iMessage out of the box. Additional platforms like Mattermost and Slack can be added via plugins.

Does the Gateway need to run continuously?

Yes, the Gateway is a long-running process that maintains all channel connections. We recommend installing it as a system service for automatic startup.

Can I run multiple Gateways?

Yes, you can run multiple Gateways with isolated profiles and different ports. This is useful for separating personal and work environments.

Is OpenClaw secure?

OpenClaw runs entirely locally with encrypted connections. Your messages and AI conversations never leave your infrastructure unless explicitly configured.

Ready to Build the Future?

Join thousands of developers building with OpenClaw