Telegram
Use your OpenClaw assistant from Telegram DMs, groups, and forum topics
Telegram is one of the most useful channels for OpenClaw because it works on phone, desktop, and browser.
In Ampere, Telegram is an access point for the same hosted OpenClaw bot you use in the dashboard. It is not a separate assistant.
Quick setup
Create a bot with BotFather
Open Telegram, search for @BotFather, and send /newbot.
Copy the token
BotFather gives you a token. Treat it like a password.
Connect in Ampere
Open Dashboard > Channels > Telegram, paste the token, verify it, and save.
Test in private DM
Open your Telegram bot and send /start or a simple real message.
Approve pairing if needed
If your OpenClaw bot asks for pairing approval, complete that flow.
Add groups later
Only add the bot to groups after private DM works.
Where Telegram fits
Private DM
Best for personal assistant use, quick tasks, files, and reminders.
Group
Best when a team or project room needs to call the assistant in.
Forum topic
Best for separate work lanes inside one Telegram group.
Private DMs
Use DMs for:
- personal questions
- reminders
- summaries
- quick follow-ups
- file forwarding
- testing the bot before group use
OpenClaw often uses pairing or allowlists for DMs. This protects your assistant from unknown people who find the bot.
Groups
Groups are useful for shared work, but they need cleaner rules.
In most groups, the bot should respond only when:
- mentioned
- replied to
- explicitly allowed by group settings
This keeps the bot helpful without interrupting every conversation.
Forum topics
Telegram forum topics are separate lanes inside one group.
They are useful for:
- research
- ops alerts
- planning
- files
- code review
- recurring job output
Topics help keep one group from becoming one messy assistant thread.
Files, images, and voice notes
Telegram can send useful context to your OpenClaw bot:
- screenshots
- PDFs and documents
- CSV or text files
- voice notes
- photos
- forwarded messages
- links
For larger file work, use the Workspace. Telegram is best for fast capture and quick review.
BotFather settings worth checking
After creating the bot, you can improve the Telegram experience with:
/setdescription/setabouttext/setuserpic/setcommands/setjoingroups/setprivacy
For most Ampere users, only the token is required. These settings just make the bot easier to understand and manage.
Protect your token
Do not paste your Telegram bot token into public chats, screenshots, or support threads. If it leaks, rotate it in BotFather and update Ampere.
Privacy mode and groups
Telegram bots do not always see every group message. This depends on Telegram privacy mode, admin status, and your OpenClaw/Ampere configuration.
Use this rule:
- keep privacy mode on for normal mention-based group behavior
- disable privacy mode or make the bot an admin only when the bot truly needs to see more messages
Troubleshooting
Check these first:
- token copied correctly from BotFather
- channel verified and saved in Ampere
- gateway had time to restart
- private DM works before group testing
- pairing or allowlist is approved
- group privacy mode matches the behavior you expect
- forum topic is the right one if using topics