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).
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.
How it works
3 Steps to Install and Run OpenClaw Locally
Register with BotFather
Create your bot token via @BotFather. Clone the OpenClaw repo and fill in your environment variables. The entire prerequisite checklist takes under 15 minutes.
Add your bot to a group
Run docker-compose up, add your freshly deployed bot to a Telegram group as admin, and send /start to confirm the installation is live.
Delegate your tasks
Write your custom instructions and let OpenClaw handle AI responses, group management, and webhooks. Extend the framework only where your use case demands it.
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).
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.
