OpenClaw Slack Integration: Channel Setup and Multi-Agent Configuration

By David Park | February 7, 2026

OpenClaw Slack Integration: Channel Setup and Multi-Agent Configuration

Slack is a popular choice for team communication. This guide covers setting up OpenClaw with Slack, configuring threading, and routing messages to different agents.

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Prerequisites

Before setting up Slack, you need:

1. Slack Workspace Admin Access — To create apps 2. Slack App — Created in api.slack.com 3. Bot Token — With required scopes

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Step 1: Create a Slack App

1. Go to Slack API Dashboard 2. Click "Create New App" 3. Choose "From scratch" 4. Name your app (e.g., "OpenClaw Assistant") 5. Select your workspace

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Step 2: Configure Bot Scopes

Go to OAuth & Permissions → Scopes:

Required Scopes

chat:write        # Send messages chat:write.public # Post to channels channels:history  # Read channel history channels:read     # List channels groups:history    # Read private channels groups:read       # List private channels im:history        # Read DMs im:read           # List DMs mpim:history      # Read group DMs mpim:read         # List group DMs users:read        # Read user profiles

Optional Scopes

reactions:write   # Add emoji reactions files:write       # Upload files emoji:read        # List custom emoji pins:write        # Pin messages

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Step 3: Install the App

1. Go to OAuth & Permissions 2. Click "Install to Workspace" 3. Review permissions and allow

Save the Bot User OAuth Token — starts with xoxb-

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Step 4: Configure OpenClaw

Basic Setup

# Set bot token openclaw config set discord.token "xoxb-your-token"
Enable Slack
 openclaw config set discord.enabled true

Full Configuration

{   "channels": {     "slack": {       "enabled": true,       "token": "xoxb-your-bot-token",       "appToken": "xapp-your-app-token",       "signingSecret": "your-signing-secret"     }   } }

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Step 5: Add Bot to Channels

Invite the Bot

In Slack, invite your bot to relevant channels:

/invite @OpenClaw

Enable in Private Channels

Private channels require the bot be added directly.

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Threading Configuration

Reply Modes

OpenClaw can reply in threads or the main channel:

# Reply in thread (default) openclaw config set channels.slack.replyToMode "thread"
Reply in main channel
 openclaw config set channels.slack.replyToMode "channel"
Hybrid mode (auto-detect)
 openclaw config set channels.slack.replyToMode "auto"

Per-Channel Configuration

{   "channels": {     "slack": {       "replyToModeByChatType": {         "dm": "thread",         "groupdm": "thread",         "private_channel": "channel",         "public_channel": "channel"       }     }   } }

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Multi-Agent Routing

Route by Channel

{   "channels": {     "slack": {       "bindings": {         "channel:general": "main",         "channel:dev-team": "work-agent",         "channel:random": "personal-agent"       }     }   } }

Route by User

{   "channels": {     "slack": {       "bindings": {         "user:U12345678": "personal-agent",         "user:U87654321": "work-agent"       }     }   } }

Route by Emoji Reaction

{   "channels": {     "slack": {       "reactionRouting": {         "🤖": "main",         "📝": "writing-agent",         "💻": "coding-agent"       }     }   } }

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Slash Commands

Create Slash Commands

In Slack API dashboard, go to Slash Commands → Create New Command:

Command	URL	Description
`/openclaw`	`https://your-domain.com/slack/commands`	Main OpenClaw interface
`/ask`	`https://your-domain.com/slack/ask`	Quick question
`/status`	`https://your-domain.com/slack/status`	Check agent status

Configure in OpenClaw

# Enable slash commands openclaw config set channels.slack.slashCommands.enabled true
Define command aliases
 openclaw config set channels.slack.slashCommands.aliases ["/oc", "/ask"]

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Event Subscriptions

Enable Events

1. Go to Event Subscriptions in Slack API 2. Enable events 3. Subscribe to events:

message.channels      # Channel messages message.groups        # Private channel messages message.im            # DM messages message.mpim          # Group DM messages reaction_added        # Emoji reactions

Configure Request URL

Your gateway handles events automatically:

https://your-domain.com/slack/events

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Troubleshooting Slack

Bot Not Responding

# Check bot status openclaw channels slack status
Verify token
 openclaw config get channels.slack.token
Check permissions
 Ensure all required scopes are granted

Permission Errors

# Common issues: - Missing scopes (reinstall app)
 - Token expired (reinstall)
 - Channel not in scope (reinstall)
Reinstall app
 openclaw config unset channels.slack.token Then reconfigure with new token

Message Formatting

# Enable markdown openclaw config set channels.slack.parseMarkdown true
Maximum message length
 openclaw config set channels.slack.maxMessageLength 4000

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Security Best Practices

Limit Channel Access

{   "channels": {     "slack": {       "allowedChannels": ["C01234567", "C08765432"],       "blockedChannels": ["C11111111"]     }   } }

Restrict DM Access

{   "channels": {     "slack": {       "dmPolicy": "allowlist",       "dmAllowlist": ["U01234567", "U87654321"]     }   } }

Audit Logging

# Enable audit logging openclaw config set channels.slack.auditLog true
View logs
 openclaw channels slack logs --type audit

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