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    Simple Application Server:Integrate OpenClaw with WhatsApp

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    Simple Application Server:Integrate OpenClaw with WhatsApp

    Last Updated:May 22, 2026

    Integrate OpenClaw with WhatsApp so you can interact with OpenClaw directly through WhatsApp messages.

    Prerequisites

    You need a Simple Application Server instance with the OpenClaw application image. Follow the steps below, or see Deploy OpenClaw image. Skip this section if you have already completed the setup.

    Purchase and configure a Simple Application Server instance with the OpenClaw application image

    Step 1: Purchase an OpenClaw plan

    Important

    If you already have a Simple Application Server instance, skip this step and deploy OpenClaw by resetting the system with the OpenClaw application image. Resetting the system erases all data on the system disk. Back up your data first. Reset system.

    1. Purchase a Simple Application Server instance pre-installed with the OpenClaw application.

    2. On the Simple Application Server page, configurations are preset. Adjust the following settings as needed.

      • Servers: Minimum 2 GiB memory. Switch plans as needed.

      • Region: The default is US (Virginia).

        Important

        Servers in Chinese mainland regions cannot be configured to work with overseas IM applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, and Slack.

      • Purchase Settings: Default is 12 months. Adjust as needed.

    Step 2: Configure OpenClaw

    1. In the Simple Application Server console, click the instance ID on the server card. On the Server Overview page, click the Application Details tab.

    2. In the Steps to Use OpenClaw section, click Run Command under Allow Port Access to open firewall access to the port that the OpenClaw service uses.

      Important

    3. Click Run Command under Configure OpenClaw to configure the Model Studio API Key.

      Two types of Model Studio API Keys are available:

      • Coding Plan plan-specific API Key (recommended): Fixed monthly fee with a request quota. Calls exceeding the quota fail without incurring additional charges.

        The Coding Plan currently supports models such as qwen3.5-plus, kimi-k2.5, MiniMax-M2.5, and glm-5. For a detailed list of models, see Coding Plan overview.

      • A Model Studio API Key billed by token usage.

      Choose System Recommendation or Manual Input. System Recommendation selects the Coding Plan API Key for cost control, or the closest region for lower latency. Use Manual Input for a different region or account.

      • System Recommendation (drop-down list)

        After you make a selection, click Next.

        Server region

        Recommended API region

        Coding plan API region

        US and European regions

        US (Virginia)

        Singapore

        China (Hong Kong) and other Asian regions

        Singapore

      • Manual Input

        Switch to manual input, enter the Model Studio API Key, select the region, and click Next.image

        Important

        Select the correct region for the API Key. An incorrect region causes model calls to fail.

    4. Under Access Web UI Panel, click Get Address to get the OpenClaw Web UI address for chatting with the agent.

      To restrict access, Disable public access to the OpenClaw Web UI.

    5. (Optional) View the token.

      In Application Details > Basic Configuration > View Token, click View to view and save the token.

      Warning

      Do not share the full URL that contains the token. This link includes authentication credentials. Anyone who has this link can bypass login verification and gain administrator access to the OpenClaw console.

    Integrate with WhatsApp

    1. Configure WhatsApp in the OpenClaw wizard

    1. Go to the Servers page in the Simple Application Server console.

    2. On the server card, click Connect.

      image

    3. In the Connect dialog box, select Connect with One-click on Workbench and click Log on Now.

      image

    4. Log on to the server and run the following command.

      Note

      Use arrow keys to navigate and Enter to confirm selections.

      openclaw onboard

    5. A prompt will ask if you understand the risks. Select Yes to continue.

      image

    6. For the Onboarding mode, select QuickStart.

      image

    7. For Config handling, select Use existing values.

      image

    8. For Model/auth provider, select Skip for now > All providers > Keep current.

      Note

      Skip this step if you already configured the Model Studio API Key. Otherwise, configure it here from the command line.

      imageimageimage

    9. In the Select channel step, select WhatsApp (QR link) and then select Yes.

      imageimage

    10. Scan the QR code with WhatsApp on your phone.

      Important

      If the QR code appears distorted, increase screen brightness and adjust page zoom.

      image

    11. Set up your phone number.

      Personal account

      1. Select This is my personal phone number.

        image

      2. Enter your phone number.

        image

      Dedicated account

      1. Select Separate phone just for OpenClaw.

        image

      2. For the WhatsApp DM policy setting, select the default option, Pairing (recommended).

        image

      3. For the WhatsApp allowFrom setting, select the default option, Unset allowFrom (default).

        image

    12. Configure Skills. Select No. For an initial deployment, limiting permissions improves stability and security.

      image

    13. Enable Hooks (if prompted). Select session-memory.

      image

    14. Select Restart to apply the configuration.

      image

    15. Install command completion (if prompted). Select No.

      Important

      Selecting Yes can cause high CPU load on the server, which may lead to performance issues with OpenClaw.

    16. Deployment is complete when the wizard closes and the command-line interface appears.

    2. Test the bot

    Personal account

    1. In WhatsApp, select the option to message yourself.

      image

    2. For the first message, WhatsApp sends a pairing code. Run a command on the server to complete pairing.

    3. Connect to the Simple Application Server instance and run the following command.

      Important

      Replace <code> with the pairing code that you received in WhatsApp. Do not include the angle brackets (<>).

      openclaw pairing approve whatsapp <code>

    4. You have successfully integrated OpenClaw with WhatsApp.

      image

    Dedicated account

    1. In WhatsApp, add this account as a contact and send a message to it.

    2. For the first message, WhatsApp sends a pairing code. Run a command on the server to complete pairing.

    3. Connect to the Simple Application Server instance and run the following command.

      Important

      Replace <code> with the pairing code that you received in WhatsApp. Do not include the angle brackets (<>).

      openclaw pairing approve whatsapp <code>

    4. You have successfully integrated OpenClaw with WhatsApp.

      image

    FAQ

    A QR code does not appear after you select WhatsApp (QR link).

    If the wizard exits to the command line immediately after you select WhatsApp (QR link), the DingTalk plugin conflicts with WhatsApp.

    Solution:

    1. Run the command to uninstall the DingTalk plugin.

      openclaw plugins uninstall dingtalk

    2. Restart the server.

    3. Run openclaw onboard again.