AI & Automation
Connect OpenClaw to Slack in 5 Minutes (04/01/26)
Use this guide to get a working OpenClaw ↔ Slack integration with Socket Mode, restricted channel access, pairing-based authorization, and a clean end-to-end test.
Outcome
By the end, your OpenClaw bot will be installed in Slack, limited to approved channel(s), paired to your Slack sender ID, and able to answer mentions in your target channel.
Prerequisites
- OpenClaw installed locally with CLI access
- A Slack workspace where you can create/install apps
- Permission to generate OAuth and App-Level tokens
- A dedicated Slack channel (recommended), e.g.
#openclaw-channel
Recommendation: Keep access restricted with an allowlist instead of granting all-channel access.
Required values you will collect
- Bot User OAuth Token (starts with
xoxb-) from Slack OAuth & Permissions
- App-Level Token (starts with
xapp-) with connections:write scope
- Slack channel allowlist (one or more names with
#, comma-separated)
Step-by-step setup (recommended path)
- Start OpenClaw config wizard.
Run openclaw configure.
- Select gateway location.
Choose local when prompted.
- Open channels setup.
In the menu, select channels then configure/link.
- Select platform.
Pick Slack socket mode.
- Name your bot profile.
Use a clear display name (example from video: OpenCore).
- Create Slack app from manifest.
In Slack API dashboard: Create an App → From a manifest → select workspace.
- Paste the OpenClaw-provided manifest JSON.
Copy the JSON block from terminal and paste into Slack’s manifest editor; click Next and Create.
- Install app and copy Bot token.
In OAuth & Permissions, click Install to Workspace → Allow, then copy Bot User OAuth token (xoxb-...).
- Paste Bot token into OpenClaw prompt.
- Generate App-Level token.
In Slack Basic Information → App-Level Tokens → Generate Token and Scopes, add scope connections:write, then generate and copy xapp-... token.
- Paste App token into OpenClaw prompt.
- Configure channel access.
When prompted, choose yes for channel policy, then choose allowlist, and enter channel(s) like #openclaw-channel.
- Finish channel setup.
Select finished at bottom of channel list; choose no for DM policy in a basic first-time setup.
- Restart gateway.
Run openclaw gateway restart and wait for startup logs to settle.
Checkpoint: At this stage, Slack should show OpenClaw under Apps, but sender pairing may still be required before replies work.
Pair your Slack sender identity
- Mention OpenClaw in Slack (for example:
hi @openclaw).
- OpenClaw returns an authorization command containing a unique pairing code.
- Copy that full command and run it in terminal (starts with
openclaw pairing approve ...).
- Confirm approval output for your Slack sender ID.
If the bot is not yet in the channel, @mention it and click Slack’s “Add them” prompt to invite the app into that channel.
Success checks
- Bot appears in Slack Apps list
- Gateway restarts cleanly with no token-related errors
- Your sender ID is approved through pairing
- A test mention gets a valid response
- Bot reports the expected channel/context when asked
Troubleshooting
- Bot silent in channel: Ensure app is invited to that channel and channel name is present in allowlist.
- Token rejected: Verify you did not swap
xoxb- and xapp- values.
- Socket Mode issues: Confirm App-Level token has
connections:write.
- "Access not configured yet": Run the emitted pairing command exactly as shown.
- Still not responding after setup: Re-run
openclaw gateway restart and test again from an allowlisted channel.