OpenClaw Mobile Complete Guide: iOS + Android (2026)

OpenClaw Mobile: Three Ways to Access

OpenClaw doesn't have a dedicated native mobile app — instead, it integrates with apps you already have on your phone:

Method 1: Telegram Bot (Recommended)

This is the most recommended mobile experience. Telegram is available on both iOS and Android, and the OpenClaw Telegram Bot provides essentially the same capabilities as the desktop experience.

What You Get

• Full AI conversation capability
• Send images and get visual analysis
• Install and run Skills
• Receive proactive notifications from scheduled tasks
• Works on iOS, Android, iPad, and Mac

Setup Steps

Step 1: Create a Telegram Bot

1. Open Telegram → search for @BotFather
2. Send /newbot
3. Follow prompts to name your bot and choose a username
4. Copy the Bot Token (looks like 1234567890:AAF...)

Step 2: Configure OpenClaw

Add to your openclaw.json:

{
  "channels": {
    "telegram": {
      "enabled": true,
      "token": "${TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN}",
      "webhook": {
        "enabled": true,
        "url": "https://your-vps-domain.com/webhook/telegram"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to your .env:

TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=1234567890:AAF...

Step 3: Set up the Webhook

pnpm openclaw channels telegram setup-webhook

Step 4: Test

Open Telegram, search for your bot by username, start a conversation. You should receive a welcome message from OpenClaw.

Tips for Best Telegram Experience

• Pin your bot: Long-press your bot conversation → Pin to top of the chat list
• Enable notifications: Make sure Telegram notifications are on for your bot
• Save contacts: Add your bot to Telegram Contacts for faster access
• Keyboard shortcuts: Create Telegram bot commands (/summary, /search, etc.) for frequent tasks

Method 2: WebChat in Mobile Browser

If you can't use Telegram, access OpenClaw directly via your VPS's WebChat URL.

Setup

1. Ensure your VPS has a public IP or domain
2. (Recommended) Set up HTTPS with a free Let's Encrypt certificate
3. Access https://your-domain.com:18789 in Safari (iOS) or Chrome (Android)

Add to Home Screen

iOS (Safari):

1. Open the WebChat URL in Safari
2. Tap the Share icon → Add to Home Screen
3. Name it "OpenClaw" and tap Add
4. Now it appears as an app icon on your home screen

Android (Chrome):

1. Open the WebChat URL in Chrome
2. Tap the three-dot menu → Add to Home Screen
3. Confirm — it appears as an app icon

This creates a Progressive Web App (PWA) experience — no separate app download needed.

Security Note for WebChat

If you enable external WebChat access, protect it:

• Use HTTPS (not HTTP)
• Set a password in OpenClaw's WebChat settings
• Consider restricting access to your IP range via firewall

Method 3: Openclaw Desktop Companion (Local Network)

If you have Openclaw Desktop installed on your Mac, you can access it from your phone on the same Wi-Fi network.

1. Open Openclaw Desktop on your Mac
2. In settings, enable Local Network Access
3. Note the local IP shown (e.g., 192.168.1.100:18789)
4. On your iPhone/Android, open http://192.168.1.100:18789 in your browser
5. Add to home screen as described above

Limitation: Only works when your phone and Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Using OpenClaw on Mobile: Tips and Tricks

Sending Images via Telegram

Send any image directly in the Telegram chat with your bot. OpenClaw will automatically analyze it — useful for:

• Translating menus at restaurants
• Extracting text from screenshots
• Analyzing charts and graphs
• Identifying products or landmarks

Voice Messages

If you configure a speech-to-text Skill (e.g., the Whisper Skill from Lesson 23), you can send voice messages to your Telegram bot and have them transcribed and processed.

Quick Commands

Set up Telegram Bot commands for frequently used functions:

• /summary [URL] — Summarize a web page
• /translate [text] — Translate text
• /remind [time] [message] — Set a reminder

Configure commands in @BotFather → Edit Bot → Edit Commands.

FAQ

Does OpenClaw have a native iOS or Android app?

Not currently. The Telegram Bot approach provides a very capable mobile experience without needing to build and maintain separate mobile apps. The Openclaw Desktop app is available for macOS and Windows.

Can I use OpenClaw offline on mobile?

If you've configured Ollama as the model (running on your home server or local machine), you can access it over your local Wi-Fi even without internet, as long as your OpenClaw server is on the same network.

Is using Telegram safe for sensitive conversations?

Telegram uses client-to-server encryption for regular messages. For maximum privacy with AI conversations, consider self-hosted OpenClaw with a local Ollama model and access it via WebChat over HTTPS — no third-party services in the conversation path.

My bot isn't responding. What should I check?

1. Run pnpm openclaw gateway status — ensure the gateway is running
2. Run pnpm openclaw channels telegram status — check webhook is active
3. Check that your VPS's firewall allows inbound HTTPS traffic
4. Check OpenClaw logs: pnpm openclaw logs --tail