OpenClaw Framework: Open-Source Telegram AI Bot

OpenClaw Setup Guide: Step-by-Step

Step-by-step guide to installing and configuring OpenClaw. From BotFather registration to first message, complete installation walkthrough.

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2 min

setup in any group

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3 AI

Claude · GPT-5.5 · Gemini

PREREQUISITES

Prerequisites

Before starting, you'll need: a Telegram account, a server or VPS (or local development machine for testing), Node.js 18+ installed, and API keys for at least one AI model (Anthropic Claude, OpenAI, or Google Gemini).

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STEP 1 — BOTFATHER

Step 1: Register with BotFather

Open @BotFather in Telegram, send /newbot, and follow the prompts to create your bot. You'll receive an API token. Store this securely, it's your bot's authentication credential.

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STEP 2 — INSTALL

Step 2: Install and Configure OpenClaw

Clone the OpenClaw repository and copy the example environment file. Set your Telegram Bot Token, choose your AI model providers, and configure your database connection (SQLite for development, PostgreSQL for production).

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STEP 3 — DEPLOY

Step 3: Deploy and Test

Start OpenClaw with npm start or docker-compose up. Send /start to your bot in Telegram to verify it's running. Test basic conversation, then add it to a test group to verify group functionality.

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