Bring Your AI Agents to Your Favorite Chat Apps with OpenClaw

I often find myself frustrated when I’m away from my desk and need to check a quick logic fix or brainstorm a solution. Switching between different browser tabs or dedicated AI apps on my phone feels like unnecessary friction. I want my AI tools to live where I already spend my time: in my messaging apps.

OpenClaw solves this by acting as a self-hosted gateway. It bridges the gap between AI coding agents and the apps you use every day, like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord. You run it on your own hardware, so you keep control of your data while having an assistant in your pocket.

What You’ll Need

Before we start, make sure you have these two things ready:

Node 22+
An API key (Anthropic is recommended)

Quick Start

You can get the gateway running in about five minutes. Here is the path to get started:

Install the package
Terminal window
```
npm install -g openclaw@latest
```
Run the onboard wizard This command helps you install the necessary daemon.
Terminal window
```
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
```
Log in to your channels Follow the pairing flows to connect your accounts.
Terminal window
```
openclaw channels login
```
Start the Gateway Launch the process on its default port.
Terminal window
```
openclaw gateway --port 18789
```

Once it is running, you can access the browser-based Control UI at http://127.0.0.1:18789/. This dashboard allows you to manage your chats, configurations, and sessions.

Troubleshooting

If you run into hurdles during the setup, the software includes built-in diagnostics.

Gateway Diagnostics: Use the internal tools to check for common errors.
Help Documentation: If a channel isn’t connecting, refer to the Help section for specific fixes.

What’s Next

Now that your gateway is live, you might want to customize how it behaves. You can find your configuration file at ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json.

Configuration: Learn about core settings and provider tokens.
Channels: Set up specific rules for Telegram, Discord, or iMessage.
Remote Access: Set up SSH or Tailscale to reach your gateway from anywhere.
Nodes: Connect your iOS or Android devices for Canvas support.

If you need more help with your specific environment, check out the AI Setup Assistant.

OpenClaw Expert

Still stuck?

If this page didn't answer your case, ask OpenClaw Expert for step-by-step guidance.