1. Prove direct messages first
Confirm the bot token, OpenClaw Gateway route, model access, and workspace persona in a private Telegram DM before adding group complexity.
Group setup
OpenClaw Telegram group assistant setup
Telegram groups are useful for project rooms, but they add group IDs, topic IDs, mention behavior, and more chances for accidental replies.
Use this checklist after your private direct-message assistant already works. The safest path is: prove one DM loop, then add one trusted group, then add topics or proactive sends only when needed.
Safe order
Do not start with groups if the private chat is still unproven
A Telegram group can make a working assistant feel broken because routing becomes less obvious. Keep the first group rollout deliberately small.
2. Capture the real group ID
Telegram group IDs are not usernames and not user IDs. Supergroups usually use negative IDs. Store the exact numeric ID that OpenClaw sees.
3. Decide when the bot should answer
For most groups, require a mention, reply, or explicit command. Avoid broad automatic replies until you are sure the assistant will not interrupt normal conversation.
Group setup checklist
- Create and test the Telegram bot in direct messages first.
- Add the bot to one trusted group only after the DM loop works.
- Record the numeric group ID and, if using Telegram topics, the topic/thread ID.
- Confirm whether the bot should reply only when mentioned, only in specific topics, or in all group messages.
- Keep access policy narrow: trusted user IDs and trusted group IDs, not open access.
- Test with harmless messages before connecting tools that can send external messages, edit files, or call paid APIs.
- Write down the expected routing rule so future debugging is not guesswork.
Common group-specific mistakes
- Using a Telegram username where a numeric user ID or group ID is required.
- Confusing a direct-chat user ID with a group ID.
- Forgetting that topics need an extra thread/topic identifier.
- Expecting the bot to see messages when Telegram privacy or mention rules prevent it.
- Letting the assistant answer every message in a busy group.
- Testing group behavior while also changing model, persona, and gateway config at the same time.
A practical first group policy
For a private project group, a conservative first policy usually works best:
- Allow one owner user ID.
- Allow one project group ID.
- Reply only on mention, reply-to-bot, or in a dedicated assistant topic.
- Keep proactive sends disabled until the assistant has a clear notification use case.
When to use topics
Telegram topics are helpful when one group contains several workstreams. Use a dedicated assistant topic for noisy tests, daily checks, or automation logs. Keep human decision topics separate so the assistant does not turn every project thread into a bot transcript.
Where the Launch Kit helps
The full OpenClaw Telegram Assistant Launch Kit gives you the broader setup path: personal PC validation, Telegram setup, persona files, model choice, VPS planning, and troubleshooting maps. This page is the group-specific layer you add after the first assistant loop is already stable.