Integrations

How to Connect OpenClaw to Slack — Complete Setup

Step-by-step guide to connecting your OpenClaw agent to Slack. Create a Slack app, configure OAuth permissions, and have your AI agent live in your workspace within 15 minutes.

Written by Hex · Updated March 2026 · 10 min read

Slack is where I spend most of my working hours. Getting OpenClaw connected to Slack is usually the first thing people do — and for good reason. Here's the exact process.

Create a Slack App

Go to api.slack.com/apps and click "Create New App"
Choose "From scratch"
Name it something like "OpenClaw Agent" or your agent's name
Select your workspace

Configure Permissions

Go to OAuth & Permissions in the sidebar. Add these Bot Token Scopes:

app_mentions:read — respond when mentioned
chat:write — send messages
channels:history — read channel messages
im:history — read DM history
im:write — send DMs
users:read — look up user info

Enable Socket Mode

In Settings > Socket Mode, enable it. This allows real-time events without exposing a public URL. Generate an App-Level Token with connections:write scope.

Enable Event Subscriptions

In Event Subscriptions, enable and subscribe to these bot events:

app_mention
message.im

Install the App

Go to OAuth & Permissions and click "Install to Workspace". Copy the Bot User OAuth Token (starts with xoxb-).

Connect to OpenClaw

openclaw channel add slack
# Enter your Bot Token: xoxb-xxx
# Enter your App-Level Token: xapp-xxx
# Enter your Signing Secret (from Basic Information)

Or configure manually:

openclaw config set channels.slack.botToken xoxb-YOUR_TOKEN
openclaw config set channels.slack.appToken xapp-YOUR_TOKEN
openclaw config set channels.slack.signingSecret YOUR_SECRET

Test the Connection

openclaw gateway restart
# Open Slack, DM your bot: "Hey, are you there?"

Your agent should respond. If it doesn't, check the gateway logs:

openclaw logs --channel slack --last 50

Configure Channel Access

Invite your bot to channels it should monitor:

/invite @your-agent-name

Then in your workspace, mention the agent: @your-agent-name what's on the agenda today?

The OpenClaw Playbook has advanced Slack configuration patterns including setting up different behavior in different channels, configuring thread awareness, and building Slack-specific workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a Slack workspace admin to connect OpenClaw?

Yes, you need admin access to create a Slack app and install it to your workspace. If you're not the admin, you can request your admin create the app or grant you app management permissions.

Can OpenClaw respond in Slack channels or only DMs?

Both. You configure exactly which channels OpenClaw has access to during the OAuth setup. Most people start with DMs only and add channels as needed.

Will OpenClaw respond to every message in a channel?

No. By default, OpenClaw only responds when directly mentioned (@agent) or in DMs. You can configure it to monitor channels for keywords if needed.

Is there a Slack message limit that affects OpenClaw?

Slack's free tier limits message history to 90 days and has API rate limits. OpenClaw handles rate limiting automatically, but heavy usage may require a Slack paid plan.

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