Channel troubleshooting

Use this page when a channel connects but behavior is wrong.

Command ladder

Run these in order first:

openclaw status
openclaw gateway status
openclaw logs --follow
openclaw doctor
openclaw channels status --probe

Healthy baseline:

• Runtime: running
• Connectivity probe: ok
• Capability: read-only, write-capable, or admin-capable
• Channel probe shows transport connected and, where supported, works or audit ok

After an update

Use this when Telegram, iMessage, BlueBubbles-era configs, or another plugin channel disappears after updating.

openclaw status --all
openclaw doctor --fix
openclaw gateway restart
openclaw status --all

Look for plugin load failed: dependency tree corrupted; run openclaw doctor --fix in openclaw status --all. That means the channel is configured, but plugin setup/load hit a corrupted dependency tree instead of registering the channel. openclaw doctor --fix clears stale plugin-runtime dependency symlinks and stale auth shadows, then openclaw gateway restart reloads clean state.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
Connected but no DM replies	openclaw pairing list whatsapp	Approve sender or switch DM policy/allowlist.
Group messages ignored	Check requireMention + mention patterns in config	Mention the bot or relax mention policy for that group.
QR login times out with 408	Check gateway HTTPS_PROXY / HTTP_PROXY env	Set a reachable proxy; use NO_PROXY only for bypasses.
Random disconnect/relogin loops	openclaw channels status --probe + logs	Recent reconnects are flagged even when currently connected; watch logs, restart the gateway, then relink if flapping continues.
status=408 Request Time-out loop	Probe, logs, doctor, then gateway status	Fix host connectivity/timing first; back up auth and re-link the account if the loop persists.
Replies arrive seconds/minutes late	openclaw doctor --fix	Doctor stops verified stale local TUI clients when they are degrading the Gateway event loop.

Full troubleshooting: WhatsApp troubleshooting

Telegram

Telegram failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
/start but no usable reply flow	openclaw pairing list telegram	Approve pairing or change DM policy.
Bot online but group stays silent	Verify mention requirement and bot privacy mode	Disable privacy mode for group visibility or mention bot.
Send failures with network errors	Inspect logs for Telegram API call failures	Fix DNS/IPv6/proxy routing to api.telegram.org.
Startup reports getMe returned 401	Check configured token source	Re-copy or regenerate the BotFather token and update botToken, tokenFile, or default-account TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN.
Polling stalls or reconnects slowly	openclaw logs --follow for polling diagnostics	Upgrade; if restarts are false positives, tune pollingStallThresholdMs. Persistent stalls still point to proxy/DNS/IPv6.
setMyCommands rejected at startup	Inspect logs for BOT_COMMANDS_TOO_MUCH	Reduce plugin/skill/custom Telegram commands or disable native menus.
Upgraded and allowlist blocks you	openclaw security audit and config allowlists	Run openclaw doctor --fix or replace @username with numeric sender IDs.

Full troubleshooting: Telegram troubleshooting

Discord

Discord failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
Bot online but no guild replies	openclaw channels status --probe	Allow guild/channel and verify message content intent.
Group messages ignored	Check logs for mention gating drops	Mention bot or set guild/channel requireMention: false.
Typing/token usage but no Discord message	Check whether this is an ambient room event or an opted-in message_tool room where the model missed message(action=send)	Inspect the gateway verbose log for suppressed final payload metadata, verify messages.groupChat.unmentionedInbound, read Ambient room events, or keep messages.groupChat.visibleReplies: "automatic" for normal group requests.
DM replies missing	openclaw pairing list discord	Approve DM pairing or adjust DM policy.

Full troubleshooting: Discord troubleshooting

Slack

Slack failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
Socket mode connected but no responses	openclaw channels status --probe	Verify app token + bot token and required scopes; watch for botTokenStatus / appTokenStatus = configured_unavailable on SecretRef-backed setups.
DMs blocked	openclaw pairing list slack	Approve pairing or relax DM policy.
Channel message ignored	Check groupPolicy and channel allowlist	Allow the channel or switch policy to open.

Full troubleshooting: Slack troubleshooting

iMessage

iMessage failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
imsg missing or fails on non-macOS	openclaw channels status --probe --channel imessage	Run OpenClaw on the Messages Mac or use an SSH wrapper for cliPath.
Can send but no receive on macOS	Check macOS privacy permissions for Messages automation	Re-grant TCC permissions and restart channel process.
DM sender blocked	openclaw pairing list imessage	Approve pairing or update allowlist.

Full troubleshooting: iMessage troubleshooting

Signal

Signal failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
Daemon reachable but bot silent	openclaw channels status --probe	Verify signal-cli daemon URL/account and receive mode.
DM blocked	openclaw pairing list signal	Approve sender or adjust DM policy.
Group replies do not trigger	Check group allowlist and mention patterns	Add sender/group or loosen gating.

Full troubleshooting: Signal troubleshooting

QQ Bot

QQ Bot failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
Bot replies “gone to Mars”	Verify appId and clientSecret in config	Set credentials or restart the gateway.
No inbound messages	openclaw channels status --probe	Verify credentials on the QQ Open Platform.
Voice not transcribed	Check STT provider config	Configure channels.qqbot.stt or tools.media.audio.
Proactive messages not arriving	Check QQ platform interaction requirements	QQ may block bot-initiated messages without recent interaction.

Full troubleshooting: QQ Bot troubleshooting

Matrix

Matrix failure signatures

Symptom	Fastest check	Fix
Logged in but ignores room messages	openclaw channels status --probe	Check groupPolicy, room allowlist, and mention gating.
DMs do not process	openclaw pairing list matrix	Approve sender or adjust DM policy.
Encrypted rooms fail	openclaw matrix verify status	Re-verify the device, then check openclaw matrix verify backup status.
Backup restore is pending/broken	openclaw matrix verify backup status	Run openclaw matrix verify backup restore or rerun with a recovery key.
Cross-signing/bootstrap looks wrong	openclaw matrix verify bootstrap	Repair secret storage, cross-signing, and backup state in one pass.

Full setup and config: Matrix

Related

• Pairing
• Channel routing
• Gateway troubleshooting