iOS App

iOS App

OpenClaw provides a native iOS application that turns your iPhone or iPad into a powerful AI gateway node, allowing you to interact with OpenClaw from anywhere while maintaining security and privacy.

Installation

App Store Installation

1. Download from App Store:

   • Search “OpenClaw” in App Store
   • Tap “Get” to download and install
   • Requires iOS 15.0 or later

2. Alternative: TestFlight:

   • Join TestFlight beta program
   • Access latest features before public release
   • Provide feedback to improve the app

Enterprise Installation

For enterprise deployments:

1. Download IPA file from your organization
2. Install via MDM or manual sideloading
3. Trust developer certificate in Settings

First Launch Setup

Initial Configuration

1. Launch OpenClaw from your Home Screen

2. Grant permissions when prompted:

   • Notifications (for message alerts)
   • Camera (for QR code scanning)
   • Photos (for media sharing)
   • Microphone (for voice messages)

3. Choose setup mode:

   • Connect to existing gateway: Join your home/office OpenClaw setup
   • Standalone mode: Use cloud-based OpenClaw services

Gateway Connection

Pairing with Gateway

1. Ensure your gateway is running and accessible

2. Scan pairing code:

   • On gateway: openclaw pairing generate
   • In iOS app: Tap “Scan QR Code”
   • Scan the displayed QR code

3. Manual pairing:

   • Enter gateway IP address
   • Enter pairing code manually
   • Test connection

Network Requirements

• Same network: iOS device and gateway on same Wi-Fi
• VPN access: Connect to VPN if gateway is remote
• Tailscale: Use Tailscale for secure remote access

App Interface

Tab Navigation

The OpenClaw iOS app uses a tab-based interface:

Chat Tab

• Message view: Conversations with AI assistant
• Quick actions: Voice input, camera, photo library
• Channel switching: Switch between WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.
• Message history: Search and browse past conversations

Channels Tab

• Channel status: Connection status for each platform
• Quick settings: Enable/disable channels
• Notifications: Configure per-channel notifications
• Channel settings: Platform-specific configuration

Status Tab

• Gateway status: Connection status and health
• Activity monitor: Real-time message activity
• Resource usage: Gateway resource consumption
• Network info: Connection details and quality

Settings Tab

• Account settings: Profile and preferences
• Gateway settings: Connection and security
• Notification settings: Alert preferences
• About: App version and information

Chat Interface

Message Composition

• Text input: Standard keyboard with suggestions
• Voice input: Tap microphone for voice messages
• Camera integration: Take photos or videos
• Photo library: Select existing media
• Location sharing: Share current location
• Document sharing: Share files from Files app

Message Features

• Rich formatting: Bold, italic, code blocks
• Mentions: @mention contacts or channels
• Reactions: React to messages with emojis
• Quotes: Reply to specific messages
• Forward: Share messages to other chats

AI Responses

• Streaming responses: See AI think in real-time
• Code highlighting: Syntax highlighting for code
• Interactive elements: Tappable links and buttons
• Voice responses: Text-to-speech for AI replies

Features

Native iOS Integration

Siri Integration

• Voice commands: “Hey Siri, ask OpenClaw…”
• Shortcuts: Create Siri Shortcuts for common tasks
• Voice synthesis: Siri can read OpenClaw responses

Widget Support

• Home Screen Widgets: Quick status and actions
• Lock Screen Widgets: iOS 16+ lock screen integration
• StandBy Mode: iOS 17+ StandBy widgets

Focus Modes

• Do Not Disturb: Respect Focus mode settings
• Custom notifications: Different alerts per Focus mode
• Work/Life separation: Separate workspaces

Apple Watch Integration

• Watch app: Companion app for Apple Watch
• Quick replies: Respond from your wrist
• Voice dictation: Voice input on Watch
• Notifications: Message alerts on Watch

Advanced Features

Canvas Mode

OpenClaw iOS can act as a Canvas surface:

{
  "canvas": {
    "enabled": true,
    "resolution": "1920x1080",
    "refreshRate": 60,
    "touchEnabled": true,
    "gestureSupport": ["tap", "swipe", "pinch"]
  }
}

Background Processing

• Background fetch: Receive messages when app is backgrounded
• Push notifications: Instant message alerts
• Background sync: Sync conversation history
• Location updates: Background location for context

Offline Mode

• Offline queue: Messages queued when offline
• Sync when online: Automatic synchronization
• Offline responses: Cached responses for common queries
• Draft saving: Save message drafts locally

Configuration

Connection Settings

Gateway Configuration

{
  "gateway": {
    "host": "192.168.1.100",
    "port": 18789,
    "useTLS": false,
    "token": "pairing-token-here",
    "autoReconnect": true,
    "heartbeatInterval": 30
  }
}

Network Settings

• Wi-Fi only: Restrict to Wi-Fi connections
• VPN required: Require VPN for connection
• Cellular data: Allow cellular connections
• Roaming: Control behavior when roaming

Notification Settings

Message Notifications

• Channel-specific: Different sounds per channel
• Contact-specific: Custom notifications for important contacts
• Time-based: Do Not Disturb hours
• Location-based: Different alerts based on location

Alert Types

• Banner alerts: Temporary notification banners
• Lock screen: Show on lock screen
• Notification Center: Store in notification center
• Badge app icon: Show unread count on app icon

Security Settings

Authentication

• Biometric lock: Face ID / Touch ID required
• Passcode: Custom passcode protection
• Auto-lock: Automatic app locking
• Session timeout: Automatic logout

Data Protection

• Local encryption: Encrypt stored data on device
• End-to-end encryption: Secure communication with gateway
• Certificate pinning: Prevent man-in-the-middle attacks
• Keychain integration: Secure storage of credentials

Usage

Daily Operations

Starting Conversations

1. Open OpenClaw app
2. Tap compose button or use Siri
3. Choose channel and recipient
4. Type or speak your message
5. Send and wait for AI response

Managing Multiple Channels

• Channel switching: Swipe between channels
• Unified inbox: View all messages in one place
• Channel-specific replies: Reply from correct channel
• Cross-channel forwarding: Forward between channels

Voice Interactions

• Voice input: Tap microphone for voice messages
• Voice commands: “Send message to Mom”
• Voice responses: Listen to AI responses
• Hands-free operation: Complete voice control

Advanced Usage

Canvas Interactions

When acting as Canvas surface:

1. Enable Canvas mode in settings
2. Gateway can display content on iOS device
3. Touch interactions: Tap, swipe, pinch gestures
4. Real-time updates: Live content streaming

Multi-device Sync

• iCloud sync: Sync preferences across devices
• Handoff: Start on iPhone, continue on iPad
• Universal Clipboard: Copy/paste between devices
• Continuity Camera: Use iPhone camera on iPad/Mac

Automation

• Shortcuts app: Create automated workflows
• HomeKit integration: Control smart home devices
• Calendar events: Create calendar entries from conversations
• Reminders: Set reminders from messages

Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

Cannot Connect to Gateway

# Check gateway is running
openclaw gateway status

# Verify network connectivity
ping 192.168.1.100

# Check pairing code
openclaw pairing status

# Regenerate pairing code
openclaw pairing generate --force

Intermittent Connection

• Check Wi-Fi signal strength
• Verify VPN connection
• Restart iOS app
• Re-pair with gateway

Notification Issues

Not Receiving Notifications

1. Check notification settings:

   • iOS Settings → Notifications → OpenClaw
   • Ensure notifications are enabled

2. Check Focus modes:

   • iOS Settings → Focus
   • Ensure OpenClaw is allowed

3. Check background app refresh:

   • iOS Settings → General → Background App Refresh
   • Enable for OpenClaw

Delayed Notifications

• Check network connection
• Verify gateway is online
• Restart both gateway and app
• Check notification delivery settings

Performance Issues

Slow Response Times

• Check network quality
• Close other apps
• Restart OpenClaw app
• Check gateway resource usage

App Crashes

1. Force quit and restart:

   • Double-tap home button (or swipe up)
   • Swipe up on OpenClaw to close
   • Reopen the app

2. Clear app cache:

   • Settings → General → iPhone Storage
   • Tap OpenClaw → Offload App
   • Reinstall from App Store

3. Report crash:

   • Help → Report Crash
   • Include crash logs and description

Development

API Access

The iOS app provides internal APIs for automation:

// Send message programmatically
import OpenClawSDK

let client = OpenClawClient()
client.sendMessage(
    channel: .whatsapp,
    target: "+1234567890",
    message: "Hello from iOS app"
) { result in
    switch result {
    case .success:
        print("Message sent successfully")
    case .failure(let error):
        print("Error: \(error)")
    }
}

Widget Development

Create custom widgets for OpenClaw:

import WidgetKit
import OpenClawSDK

struct OpenClawWidget: Widget {
    let kind: String = "OpenClawWidget"

    var body: some WidgetConfiguration {
        StaticConfiguration(kind: kind, provider: Provider()) { entry in
            OpenClawWidgetEntryView(entry: entry)
        }
        .configurationDisplayName("OpenClaw Status")
        .description("Shows OpenClaw gateway status")
        .supportedFamilies([.systemSmall, .systemMedium])
    }
}

Siri Shortcuts

Create custom Siri Shortcuts:

import Intents
import IntentsUI

class SendMessageIntent: INIntent {
    var recipient: String?
    var message: String?
    var channel: ChannelType?
}

// Handle intent in app
func handle(intent: SendMessageIntent) -> SendMessageIntentResponse {
    // Send message through OpenClaw
    // Return appropriate response
}

Security

Data Protection

Encryption

• Data at rest: Encrypted with iOS device key
• Data in transit: TLS 1.3 encryption
• End-to-end encryption: Messages encrypted end-to-end
• Key management: Secure key generation and storage

Privacy

• Local processing: Voice processing on-device when possible
• Minimal data collection: Only collect necessary data
• Transparent policies: Clear privacy policy
• User control: Granular privacy controls

Network Security

Certificate Pinning

// Certificate pinning for secure connections
let pinnedCertificates = [
    "gateway-certificate.pem"
]

client.setPinnedCertificates(pinnedCertificates)

VPN Integration

• VPN detection: Detect active VPN connections
• Split tunneling: Route OpenClaw through VPN
• DNS protection: Secure DNS resolution
• Kill switch: Block traffic if VPN disconnects

Best Practices

Battery Life

• Optimize background refresh: Minimize background activity
• Efficient networking: Batch network requests
• Adaptive quality: Reduce quality on low battery
• Location optimization: Optimize location updates

Data Usage

• Wi-Fi preference: Prefer Wi-Fi over cellular
• Compression: Compress data when possible
• Caching: Cache frequently used data
• Offline mode: Minimize data usage when offline

Security

• Keep app updated: Install security updates promptly
• Use strong passcode: Protect device with strong passcode
• Enable biometrics: Use Face ID / Touch ID
• Regular audits: Review app permissions regularly

Integration

Other Apps

Files App Integration

• Document provider: Access OpenClaw files in Files app
• Share menu: Share content to OpenClaw
• File provider: Open OpenClaw files in other apps

Calendar Integration

• Event creation: Create events from conversations
• Reminders: Set reminders from messages
• Calendar access: Read calendar for context

Notes Integration

• Note creation: Create notes from conversations
• Note access: Access notes for context
• Rich text: Support formatted notes

HomeKit Integration

import HomeKit

class OpenClawHomeKitManager {
    func addDeviceToHome(name: String, type: HMDeviceType) {
        // Add OpenClaw as HomeKit accessory
        // Enable voice control via Siri
    }
}

Support

Getting Help

• In-app Help: Help → OpenClaw Help
• Contact Support: Settings → Contact Support
• Community Forum: discuss.openclaw.dev
• Documentation: docs.openclaw.dev

Feedback

• Feature Requests: Help → Send Feedback
• Bug Reports: Help → Report Bug
• Beta Testing: Join TestFlight program
• Community: discord.gg/openclaw

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The OpenClaw iOS app brings the power of AI to your pocket, with native iOS integration and enterprise-grade security. Stay connected to your AI assistant wherever you go! 📱