Configuration

Each channel has its own config section under `channels.<provider>`. See the dedicated channel page for setup steps:

- [WhatsApp](/docs/channels/whatsapp) — `channels.whatsapp`
- [Telegram](/docs/channels/telegram) — `channels.telegram`
- [Discord](/docs/channels/discord) — `channels.discord`
- [Slack](/docs/channels/slack) — `channels.slack`
- [Signal](/docs/channels/signal) — `channels.signal`
- [iMessage](/docs/channels/imessage) — `channels.imessage`
- [Google Chat](/docs/channels/googlechat) — `channels.googlechat`
- [Mattermost](/docs/channels/mattermost) — `channels.mattermost`
- [MS Teams](/docs/channels/msteams) — `channels.msteams`

All channels share the same DM policy pattern:

```json5
{
  channels: {
    telegram: {
      enabled: true,
      botToken: "123:abc",
      dmPolicy: "pairing",   // pairing | allowlist | open | disabled
      allowFrom: ["tg:123"], // only for allowlist/open
    },
  },
}
```

Set the primary model and optional fallbacks:

```json5
{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      model: {
        primary: "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5",
        fallbacks: ["openai/gpt-5.2"],
      },
      models: {
        "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-5": { alias: "Sonnet" },
        "openai/gpt-5.2": { alias: "GPT" },
      },
    },
  },
}
```

- `agents.defaults.models` defines the model catalog and acts as the allowlist for `/model`.
- Model refs use `provider/model` format (e.g. `anthropic/claude-opus-4-6`).
- `agents.defaults.imageMaxDimensionPx` controls transcript/tool image downscaling (default `1200`); lower values usually reduce vision-token usage on screenshot-heavy runs.
- See [Models CLI](/docs/concepts/models) for switching models in chat and [Model Failover](/docs/concepts/model-failover) for auth rotation and fallback behavior.
- For custom/self-hosted providers, see [Custom providers](/docs/gateway/configuration-reference#custom-providers-and-base-urls) in the reference.

DM access is controlled per channel via `dmPolicy`:

- `"pairing"` (default): unknown senders get a one-time pairing code to approve
- `"allowlist"`: only senders in `allowFrom` (or the paired allow store)
- `"open"`: allow all inbound DMs (requires `allowFrom: ["*"]`)
- `"disabled"`: ignore all DMs

For groups, use `groupPolicy` + `groupAllowFrom` or channel-specific allowlists.

See the [full reference](/docs/gateway/configuration-reference#dm-and-group-access) for per-channel details.

Group messages default to **require mention**. Configure patterns per agent:

```json5
{
  agents: {
    list: [
      {
        id: "main",
        groupChat: {
          mentionPatterns: ["@openclaw", "openclaw"],
        },
      },
    ],
  },
  channels: {
    whatsapp: {
      groups: { "*": { requireMention: true } },
    },
  },
}
```

- **Metadata mentions**: native @-mentions (WhatsApp tap-to-mention, Telegram @bot, etc.)
- **Text patterns**: regex patterns in `mentionPatterns`
- See [full reference](/docs/gateway/configuration-reference#group-chat-mention-gating) for per-channel overrides and self-chat mode.

Sessions control conversation continuity and isolation:

```json5
{
  session: {
    dmScope: "per-channel-peer",  // recommended for multi-user
    threadBindings: {
      enabled: true,
      idleHours: 24,
      maxAgeHours: 0,
    },
    reset: {
      mode: "daily",
      atHour: 4,
      idleMinutes: 120,
    },
  },
}
```

- `dmScope`: `main` (shared) | `per-peer` | `per-channel-peer` | `per-account-channel-peer`
- `threadBindings`: global defaults for thread-bound session routing (Discord supports `/focus`, `/unfocus`, `/agents`, `/session idle`, and `/session max-age`).
- See [Session Management](/docs/concepts/session) for scoping, identity links, and send policy.
- See [full reference](/docs/gateway/configuration-reference#session) for all fields.

Run agent sessions in isolated Docker containers:

```json5
{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      sandbox: {
        mode: "non-main",  // off | non-main | all
        scope: "agent",    // session | agent | shared
      },
    },
  },
}
```

Build the image first: `scripts/sandbox-setup.sh`

See [Sandboxing](/docs/gateway/sandboxing) for the full guide and [full reference](/docs/gateway/configuration-reference#sandbox) for all options.

Relay-backed push is configured in `openclaw.json`.

Set this in gateway config:

```json5
{
  gateway: {
    push: {
      apns: {
        relay: {
          baseUrl: "https://relay.example.com",
          // Optional. Default: 10000
          timeoutMs: 10000,
        },
      },
    },
  },
}
```

CLI equivalent:

```bash
openclaw config set gateway.push.apns.relay.baseUrl https://relay.example.com
```

What this does:

- Lets the gateway send `push.test`, wake nudges, and reconnect wakes through the external relay.
- Uses a registration-scoped send grant forwarded by the paired iOS app. The gateway does not need a deployment-wide relay token.
- Binds each relay-backed registration to the gateway identity that the iOS app paired with, so another gateway cannot reuse the stored registration.
- Keeps local/manual iOS builds on direct APNs. Relay-backed sends apply only to official distributed builds that registered through the relay.
- Must match the relay base URL baked into the official/TestFlight iOS build, so registration and send traffic reach the same relay deployment.

End-to-end flow:

1. Install an official/TestFlight iOS build that was compiled with the same relay base URL.
2. Configure `gateway.push.apns.relay.baseUrl` on the gateway.
3. Pair the iOS app to the gateway and let both node and operator sessions connect.
4. The iOS app fetches the gateway identity, registers with the relay using App Attest plus the app receipt, and then publishes the relay-backed `push.apns.register` payload to the paired gateway.
5. The gateway stores the relay handle and send grant, then uses them for `push.test`, wake nudges, and reconnect wakes.

Operational notes:

- If you switch the iOS app to a different gateway, reconnect the app so it can publish a new relay registration bound to that gateway.
- If you ship a new iOS build that points at a different relay deployment, the app refreshes its cached relay registration instead of reusing the old relay origin.

Compatibility note:

- `OPENCLAW_APNS_RELAY_BASE_URL` and `OPENCLAW_APNS_RELAY_TIMEOUT_MS` still work as temporary env overrides.
- `OPENCLAW_APNS_RELAY_ALLOW_HTTP=true` remains a loopback-only development escape hatch; do not persist HTTP relay URLs in config.

See [iOS App](/docs/platforms/ios#relay-backed-push-for-official-builds) for the end-to-end flow and [Authentication and trust flow](/docs/platforms/ios#authentication-and-trust-flow) for the relay security model.

```json5
{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      heartbeat: {
        every: "30m",
        target: "last",
      },
    },
  },
}
```

- `every`: duration string (`30m`, `2h`). Set `0m` to disable.
- `target`: `last` | `whatsapp` | `telegram` | `discord` | `none`
- `directPolicy`: `allow` (default) or `block` for DM-style heartbeat targets
- See [Heartbeat](/docs/gateway/heartbeat) for the full guide.

```json5
{
  cron: {
    enabled: true,
    maxConcurrentRuns: 2,
    sessionRetention: "24h",
    runLog: {
      maxBytes: "2mb",
      keepLines: 2000,
    },
  },
}
```

- `sessionRetention`: prune completed isolated run sessions from `sessions.json` (default `24h`; set `false` to disable).
- `runLog`: prune `cron/runs/<jobId>.jsonl` by size and retained lines.
- See [Cron jobs](/docs/automation/cron-jobs) for feature overview and CLI examples.

Enable HTTP webhook endpoints on the Gateway:

```json5
{
  hooks: {
    enabled: true,
    token: "shared-secret",
    path: "/hooks",
    defaultSessionKey: "hook:ingress",
    allowRequestSessionKey: false,
    allowedSessionKeyPrefixes: ["hook:"],
    mappings: [
      {
        match: { path: "gmail" },
        action: "agent",
        agentId: "main",
        deliver: true,
      },
    ],
  },
}
```

Security note:
- Treat all hook/webhook payload content as untrusted input.
- Keep unsafe-content bypass flags disabled (`hooks.gmail.allowUnsafeExternalContent`, `hooks.mappings[].allowUnsafeExternalContent`) unless doing tightly scoped debugging.
- For hook-driven agents, prefer strong modern model tiers and strict tool policy (for example messaging-only plus sandboxing where possible).

See [full reference](/docs/gateway/configuration-reference#hooks) for all mapping options and Gmail integration.

Run multiple isolated agents with separate workspaces and sessions:

```json5
{
  agents: {
    list: [
      { id: "home", default: true, workspace: "~/.openclaw/workspace-home" },
      { id: "work", workspace: "~/.openclaw/workspace-work" },
    ],
  },
  bindings: [
    { agentId: "home", match: { channel: "whatsapp", accountId: "personal" } },
    { agentId: "work", match: { channel: "whatsapp", accountId: "biz" } },
  ],
}
```

See [Multi-Agent](/docs/concepts/multi-agent) and [full reference](/docs/gateway/configuration-reference#multi-agent-routing) for binding rules and per-agent access profiles.

Use `$include` to organize large configs:

```json5
// ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
{
  gateway: { port: 18789 },
  agents: { $include: "./agents.json5" },
  broadcast: {
    $include: ["./clients/a.json5", "./clients/b.json5"],
  },
}
```

- **Single file**: replaces the containing object
- **Array of files**: deep-merged in order (later wins)
- **Sibling keys**: merged after includes (override included values)
- **Nested includes**: supported up to 10 levels deep
- **Relative paths**: resolved relative to the including file
- **Error handling**: clear errors for missing files, parse errors, and circular includes

Validates + writes the full config and restarts the Gateway in one step.

> **Warning:** `config.apply` replaces the **entire config**. Use `config.patch` for partial updates, or `openclaw config set` for single keys.

Params:

- `raw` (string) — JSON5 payload for the entire config
- `baseHash` (optional) — config hash from `config.get` (required when config exists)
- `sessionKey` (optional) — session key for the post-restart wake-up ping
- `note` (optional) — note for the restart sentinel
- `restartDelayMs` (optional) — delay before restart (default 2000)

Restart requests are coalesced while one is already pending/in-flight, and a 30-second cooldown applies between restart cycles.

```bash
openclaw gateway call config.get --params '{}'  # capture payload.hash
openclaw gateway call config.apply --params '{
  "raw": "{ agents: { defaults: { workspace: \"~/.openclaw/workspace\" } } }",
  "baseHash": "<hash>",
  "sessionKey": "agent:main:whatsapp:direct:+15555550123"
}'
```

Merges a partial update into the existing config (JSON merge patch semantics):

- Objects merge recursively
- `null` deletes a key
- Arrays replace

Params:

- `raw` (string) — JSON5 with just the keys to change
- `baseHash` (required) — config hash from `config.get`
- `sessionKey`, `note`, `restartDelayMs` — same as `config.apply`

Restart behavior matches `config.apply`: coalesced pending restarts plus a 30-second cooldown between restart cycles.

```bash
openclaw gateway call config.patch --params '{
  "raw": "{ channels: { telegram: { groups: { \"*\": { requireMention: false } } } } }",
  "baseHash": "<hash>"
}'
```

If enabled and expected keys aren’t set, OpenClaw runs your login shell and imports only the missing keys:

{
  env: {
    shellEnv: { enabled: true, timeoutMs: 15000 },
  },
}

Env var equivalent: OPENCLAW_LOAD_SHELL_ENV=1

Reference env vars in any config string value with ${VAR_NAME}:

{
  gateway: { auth: { token: "${OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN}" } },
  models: { providers: { custom: { apiKey: "${CUSTOM_API_KEY}" } } },
}

Rules:

• Only uppercase names matched: [A-Z_][A-Z0-9_]*
• Missing/empty vars throw an error at load time
• Escape with $${VAR} for literal output
• Works inside $include files
• Inline substitution: "${BASE}/v1" → "https://api.example.com/v1"

For fields that support SecretRef objects, you can use:

{
  models: {
    providers: {
      openai: { apiKey: { source: "env", provider: "default", id: "OPENAI_API_KEY" } },
    },
  },
  skills: {
    entries: {
      "nano-banana-pro": {
        apiKey: {
          source: "file",
          provider: "filemain",
          id: "/skills/entries/nano-banana-pro/apiKey",
        },
      },
    },
  },
  channels: {
    googlechat: {
      serviceAccountRef: {
        source: "exec",
        provider: "vault",
        id: "channels/googlechat/serviceAccount",
      },
    },
  },
}

SecretRef details (including secrets.providers for env/file/exec) are in Secrets Management. Supported credential paths are listed in SecretRef Credential Surface.