What OpenClaw can do on Discord
Chat privately, or let members use it in channels you choose.
Interactive components and a native slash-command menu.
Keeps conversations tidy in threads and forum posts.
Talks in real time, and joins on its own when people do.
Transcribes voice chats and writes up notes.
Allow specific users or roles per server and channel.
You need OpenClaw installed with an AI model connected, and Manage Server permission on the Discord server. New? Start with the install guide.
Create a bot in the Discord Developer Portal
- Go to
discord.com/developers/applicationsand click New Application. Name it, for example "OpenClaw". - Copy the Application ID from General Information. You'll need it for the invite link.
- Open the Bot tab and click Reset Token to reveal the bot token. Copy it somewhere safe.
- Turn on privileged intents on the same page:
- Required Message Content Intent, so OpenClaw can read what people write.
- If needed Server Members Intent, needed when you allow access by user or role.
- Save changes.
Anyone with it can control your bot. If it leaks, click Reset Token again and update OpenClaw.
Invite the bot to your server
The bot needs the bot and applications.commands scopes, plus permissions to read and send messages. Build your invite link here:
Make your invite URL
Paste your Application ID and choose features. Then open the link and pick your server.
Prefer the portal? Use OAuth2 › URL Generator, tick the same scopes and permissions, and copy the generated URL.
Connect OpenClaw to the bot
Discord is an official plugin. Choosing Discord in openclaw onboard sets it up for you. Otherwise add the channel with your bot token:
openclaw channels add --channel discord --token <bot-token>Or put it in your config:
{
channels: {
discord: {
token: "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN",
dmPolicy: "pairing",
},
},
}Restart and check the channel:
openclaw gateway restart
openclaw channels status --probeYour bot should now show as online in the server's member list.
DM the bot and approve yourself
Open a direct message with the bot and say hi. Direct messages use pairing by default, so the bot replies with a code. Approve it:
openclaw pairing list discord
openclaw pairing approve discord <CODE>For a private, personal bot, switch to dmPolicy: "allowlist" and add your Discord user ID to allowFrom.
Choose which servers and channels it works in
With groupPolicy: "allowlist", OpenClaw only responds in the servers and channels you list. Use the builder to write the config.
You can also limit a server to certain users or roles by ID, and set ignoreOtherMentions: true so it ignores messages that mention other people.
How to get Discord user, server and channel IDs
- Turn on Developer Mode: User Settings › Advanced › Developer Mode.
- Right-click (or long-press on mobile) a server icon, channel or user, and choose Copy … ID.
987654321098765432123456789012345678112233445566778899Talk to OpenClaw in Discord voice
OpenClaw can join voice channels, hold real-time conversations, keep transcripts and write meeting notes.
- Invite with the
botandapplications.commandsscopes - Grant Connect, Speak, Send Messages and Read Message History
- Turn on native commands and configure
channels.discord.voice
/vc join channel:<voice-channel-id>Join a voice channel/vc statusShow the current session/vc leaveLeave the channelagent-proxy (default): a real-time voice front end that hands work to your agent · stt-tts: classic speech-to-text and back · bidi: direct real-time model conversation
Extras include auto-join when people enter a channel, voice follow to join and leave with chosen users, and allowedChannels to limit where it can talk. Voice commands follow the same allowlists as text.
Fix common Discord bot problems
Online but ignores messagesTurn on Message Content Intent in the Developer Portal, then restart the gateway.
Doesn't reply in a channelAdd the server and channel to guilds, check the bot can see the channel, and @mention it if requireMention is on.
Role or user rules don't workTurn on Server Members Intent, and use numeric IDs rather than names.
No slash commandsRe-invite the bot with the applications.commands scope. Commands can take a minute to appear.
Bots replying to each otherDon't allow other bots in the channel allowlist, and keep requireMention on to avoid loops.
Voice drops or isn't heardCheck Connect and Speak permissions, your speech-to-text setup and connectTimeoutMs.
More fixes: troubleshooting guide.
OpenClaw Discord questions
How do I add OpenClaw to Discord?
Create an application and bot in the Discord Developer Portal, enable Message Content Intent, invite the bot with the bot and applications.commands scopes, then run openclaw channels add --channel discord --token with your bot token and approve yourself with openclaw pairing approve discord.
Why does my OpenClaw Discord bot not read messages?
Message Content Intent is probably off. Enable it on the Bot page of the Discord Developer Portal and restart the OpenClaw gateway.
Can OpenClaw join Discord voice channels?
Yes. With Connect and Speak permissions and voice configured, use /vc join to bring it into a voice channel. It can talk in real time, keep transcripts and write meeting notes.
How do I limit OpenClaw to certain Discord channels?
Set groupPolicy to allowlist and list your server ID under channels.discord.guilds, with only the channels you want enabled. You can also restrict by user or role IDs and require an @mention.
How do I find my Discord user ID?
Turn on Developer Mode in User Settings, Advanced, then right-click your name and choose Copy User ID. Use the same method for server and channel IDs.
Is it free to run OpenClaw on Discord?
Yes. Discord bots are free and OpenClaw is free, open-source software. You only pay for the AI model you connect.