How to integrate OpenClaw with Slack?

Clawpedia · For Humans

Set up OpenClaw as a Slack bot to automate responses and workflows in your Slack workspace.

How to Integrate OpenClaw with Slack?

Slack is the dominant messaging platform in workplaces, and connecting OpenClaw to it gives your team an AI assistant directly in the channels where work happens. This guide covers setup, configuration, and best practices for professional use.

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Why Slack?

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Step 1: Create a Slack App

• Go to api.slack.com/apps
• Click Create New App → From scratch
• Name: "OpenClaw" (or your preferred name)
• Select your workspace
• Click Create App

Configure Bot Permissions

Go to OAuth & Permissions → Bot Token Scopes and add:

Install to Workspace

• Click Install to Workspace
• Authorize the permissions
• Copy the Bot User OAuth Token (xoxb-...)

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Step 2: Enable Event Subscriptions

• Go to Event Subscriptions → Enable Events
• Set the Request URL to your OpenClaw webhook endpoint:

https://openclaw.yourdomain.com/webhook/slack

• Under Subscribe to Bot Events, add:
• app_mention
• message.im
• message.channels (optional — for all-channel mode)
• Save Changes

Expose Your Endpoint

For testing (ngrok):

ngrok http 3777
# Use the https URL as your Request URL

For production:

server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name openclaw.yourdomain.com;
    
    location /webhook/slack {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:3777;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
    }
}

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Step 3: Connect to OpenClaw

openclaw connect slack \
  --bot-token xoxb-your-bot-token \
  --signing-secret your-signing-secret

Or configure manually:

# ~/.openclaw/config.yaml
platforms:
  slack:
    enabled: true
    bot_token: "xoxb-your-token"
    signing_secret: "your-signing-secret"
    app_token: "xapp-your-app-token"    # For Socket Mode

Start the gateway:

openclaw gateway start

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Step 4: Test

• Open Slack
• Invite the bot to a channel: /invite @OpenClaw
• Mention it: @OpenClaw what can you help with?
• You should see a response

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Socket Mode (No Public URL Needed)

If you cannot expose a public webhook URL, use Socket Mode:

• Go to Socket Mode in your app settings → Enable
• Generate an App-Level Token with connections:write scope
• Configure:

platforms:
  slack:
    mode: socket
    app_token: "xapp-1-your-app-token"
    bot_token: "xoxb-your-bot-token"

Socket Mode connects outbound from your server — no firewall or reverse proxy needed.

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Configuration Options

platforms:
  slack:
    enabled: true
    bot_token: "xoxb-..."
    signing_secret: "..."
    
    # Response behavior
    response_mode: mention         # mention, dm_only, all
    typing_indicator: true
    use_blocks: true               # Slack Block Kit formatting
    thread_replies: true           # Reply in threads
    unfurl_links: false            # Don't preview links in responses
    
    # Access control
    allowed_channels:
      - "C01234ABCDE"             # Channel IDs
    allowed_users:
      - "U01234FGHIJ"             # User IDs
    blocked_channels:
      - "C09876ZYXWV"             # Channels to ignore
    
    # Features
    file_processing: true
    image_analysis: true
    emoji_reactions: true          # React with ✅ when processing
    home_tab: true                 # Enable App Home tab

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Slack Block Kit Formatting

When use_blocks is enabled, OpenClaw uses Slack's rich formatting:

• Headers for section titles
• Code blocks with syntax highlighting
• Bullet lists for structured information
• Dividers between sections
• Action buttons for interactive choices

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Use Cases for Teams

1. Knowledge Base Assistant

@OpenClaw What's our refund policy?
→ Searches internal docs and responds

2. Code Review Helper

@OpenClaw review this PR: https://github.com/org/repo/pull/42
→ Summarizes changes, flags potential issues

3. Meeting Summaries

@OpenClaw summarize today's #standup channel
→ Extracts key updates from messages

4. Incident Response

@OpenClaw analyze these error logs [attachment]
→ Identifies root cause and suggests fixes

5. Onboarding Helper

New hire DMs: How do I set up my dev environment?
→ Step-by-step guide from internal docs

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Slash Commands

Register custom slash commands in your Slack app:

Set up in Slack app → Slash Commands → Create New Command.

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Security for Workplace Use

Verify Request Signatures

OpenClaw automatically verifies Slack's request signatures using your signing secret, preventing spoofed requests.

Data Privacy

• Messages are processed by your configured AI provider
• No data is stored by OpenClaw beyond configured memory
• For sensitive workplaces, use local models via Ollama

Audit Logging

security:
  audit_log: true
  log_retention_days: 90
  log_user_ids: true

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Troubleshooting

Bot Not Responding to Mentions

• Check app_mention event subscription
• Ensure bot is invited to the channel: /invite @OpenClaw
• Verify bot token: openclaw config get platforms.slack.bot_token
• Check logs: openclaw logs --filter slack

"not_authed" Error

Reinstall the app to your workspace and update the bot token.

"channel_not_found"

The bot needs to be invited to the channel first.

Slow Responses

Slack expects a response within 3 seconds. OpenClaw sends an acknowledgment immediately and follows up with the full response.

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Summary

Slack integration turns OpenClaw into a team-wide AI assistant. Use Socket Mode for the simplest setup (no public URL needed), Block Kit for rich formatting, and thread replies to keep channels organized. With proper access controls and audit logging, OpenClaw is ready for professional environments.