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Once OpenClaw replies on Telegram, the next question is not “does it work?” but “can I make it behave like a real tool?”.
This is where BotFather becomes useful again. BotFather is not only for creating bots. It also manages bot profile settings, command menus, and privacy defaults. Those little details matter if you plan to use OpenClaw in groups, in a team chat, or as a semi-public bot with strict access rules.
If you have not connected Telegram yet, do that first: connect OpenClaw to Telegram using BotFather.
BotFather settings that are worth adjusting
Open Telegram, search for @BotFather, then pick the command you need. Some of these show as buttons, some you type manually.
Set a command menu with /setcommands
If you want Telegram users to see a clean list of what your bot can do, set commands. This is mostly UX but it also reduces “random prompt spam” because users pick a command and follow a pattern.
Example command list you can paste into BotFather when it asks for commands:
help - Show what I can do
status - Check agent and gateway status
pair - Start pairing flow
summary - Summarize recent messages
ping - Quick responsiveness testEven if OpenClaw supports free-form chat, a command menu makes groups less chaotic.
Adjust privacy behavior with /setprivacy
Telegram bots have a privacy mode concept for group chats. In privacy mode, a bot receives fewer messages in groups unless it is directly addressed. In non-privacy mode, it sees more group traffic.
For OpenClaw, most people want the conservative default. Keep group noise low and require mention. Combine Telegram’s privacy settings with OpenClaw’s own rules so the bot only responds when called.
This pairs nicely with the multi-channel design patterns in OpenClaw multi-channel setup.
Rotate tokens fast with /revoke
If a bot token ever leaks, treat it like a password leak. Revoke it and rotate immediately. Telegram’s docs note that tokens can be revoked and replaced through BotFather. The official tutorial mentions token management at a high level: BotFather setup guide.
After rotation, update the token in your OpenClaw config and restart the Gateway.
Polish the bot profile with /setdescription and /setabouttext
This is optional, but if you run OpenClaw for a team, a short description stops confusion.
Keep it plain and honest. Example:
Self-hosted assistant running on our VPS. Use /help for commands. Pairing required.Polling vs webhooks for Telegram updates
This is the part that impacts reliability at scale.
Telegram has two main ways to deliver updates to your bot:
- getUpdates long polling where your bot asks Telegram for new messages
- setWebhook where Telegram pushes messages to your server endpoint
Telegram’s webhook doc explains the difference plainly: Telegram webhooks. The Bot API reference also documents getUpdates on the same site: Telegram Bot API.
When long polling is the better choice
- Your bot runs on a home server behind NAT
- You do not want to expose any inbound port
- You want the simplest operational model
Long polling is also very forgiving. If your VPS restarts, your bot comes back and resumes polling. No TLS certificates, no public endpoint, less surface area.
When webhooks are the better choice
- You want lower latency for busy bots
- You expect higher message volume
- You already have a clean HTTPS endpoint and know how to secure it
Webhooks are not “more secure by default.” They are a different delivery model. If you expose a webhook endpoint publicly, you must defend it properly.
If you are hosting OpenClaw on a VPS, read how to host OpenClaw securely on a VPS before you expose anything inbound.
Telegram group setup that does not annoy people
A Telegram bot that replies to everything in a group becomes unusable fast.
A practical setup for team chats looks like this:
- Bot is in the group
- Bot responds only when mentioned
- Bot has a short command menu so requests are consistent
- Pairing or allowlist is enabled so random people cannot drive it
If you are going beyond Telegram and want the same assistant across WhatsApp, Discord, and Slack, multi-channel is the real win. That’s here: run OpenClaw across multiple chat apps.
Hardening tips specific to Telegram tokens and access
Telegram is easier than WhatsApp because it is an official API. That also means token security is the main thing you must get right.
- Store tokens outside repos and restrict file permissions
- Rotate tokens immediately if exposed
- Keep pairing enabled unless you have a controlled private bot username
- Use allowlists in OpenClaw so even paired users are constrained
Also, remember that “best model” debates matter more with agents than with chatbots. If you see weird tool choices or sloppy reasoning, revisit model selection: choose a model for OpenClaw.
