Connect Slack

OpenClaw integrates with Slack to provide an intelligent assistant for your team. It supports Socket Mode (easiest, works behind firewalls) and HTTP Mode (for public servers).

• A Slack Workspace where you have permission to install apps.
• OpenClaw installed.

Socket Mode is recommended for most users as it doesn’t require exposing a public IP address.

1. Create a Slack App

   Section titled “Create a Slack App”

   Go to api.slack.com/apps and click Create New App. Choose From scratch, name it (e.g., “OpenClaw”), and pick your workspace.

2. Enable Socket Mode

   Section titled “Enable Socket Mode”
   • Navigate to Socket Mode in the sidebar.
   • Toggle Enable Socket Mode.
   • Give the token a name (e.g., “Socket Token”) and click Generate.
   • Copy the xapp-... token. This is your App Token.

3. Configure Scopes

   Section titled “Configure Scopes”

   Go to OAuth & Permissions. Scroll down to Bot Token Scopes and add:

   • app_mentions:read (to hear @mentions)
   • chat:write (to reply)
   • channels:history (to read public channels)
   • groups:history (to read private channels)
   • im:history (to read DMs)
   • im:write (to send DMs)
   • users:read (to know who is talking)
   • files:write (to upload images/files)

4. Install App

   Section titled “Install App”

   Scroll up to the top of OAuth & Permissions and click Install to Workspace.

   • Copy the xoxb-... token. This is your Bot Token.

5. Subscribe to Events

   Section titled “Subscribe to Events”

   Go to Event Subscriptions.

   • Toggle Enable Events.
   • Expand Subscribe to bot events and add:
     • message.channels
     • message.groups
     • message.im
     • app_mention
     • member_joined_channel

6. Enable DMs

   Section titled “Enable DMs”

   Go to App Home.

   • Check Allow users to send Slash commands and messages from the messages tab.

7. Configure OpenClaw

   Section titled “Configure OpenClaw”

   Add the tokens to your config.json.

   {
     channels: {
       slack: {
         enabled: true,
         // App Token (Socket Mode)
         appToken: "xapp-...",
         // Bot Token (OAuth)
         botToken: "xoxb-..."
       }
     }
   }

Slack conversations often happen in threads. You can control how OpenClaw replies.

Example:

{
  channels: {
    slack: {
      // Thread DMs always, but keep group chats flat
      replyToModeByChatType: {
        direct: "all",
        group: "off"
      }
    }
  }
}

By default, OpenClaw uses Pairing Mode for DMs.

• Approve a user: openclaw pairing approve slack <code>
• Open to everyone:

  {
    channels: {
      slack: {
        dm: { policy: "open", allowFrom: ["*"] }
      }
    }
  }

You can restrict which channels the bot responds to.

{
  channels: {
    slack: {
      groupPolicy: "allowlist",
      channels: {
        "C12345678": { allow: true }, // Allow specific channel ID
        "#general": { allow: true }   // Allow by name
      }
    }
  }
}

Bot doesn’t respond to DMs:

• Did you enable the Messages Tab in the App Home section on api.slack.com?
• Did you subscribe to message.im events?

Bot doesn’t respond in channels:

• Did you invite the bot to the channel? (/invite @OpenClaw)
• Did you subscribe to message.channels?

“missing_scope” error:

• Check the logs to see which scope is missing, then add it in OAuth & Permissions and Reinstall the App (you must reinstall for scope changes to take effect).