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Troubleshooting

Why is OpenClaw not replying?

If your bot is silent, don't panic. Follow this 60-second diagnostic ladder to find the fix.

The 60-Second Triage

Run these commands in your terminal to pinpoint the issue:

# 1. Quick status check
openclaw status

# 2. Check gateway daemon
openclaw gateway status

# 3. Probe channel connectivity
openclaw channels status --probe

# 4. View live logs (watch while you send a message)
openclaw logs --follow

What to look for:

  • Gateway Status: Should say Runtime: running. If faulty, run openclaw doctor.
  • Channel Probe: Should return connected or ready. If disconnected, check your credentials.
  • Logs: Look for pairing request (unapproved user) or mention required (group privacy).

Channel-Specific Fixes

WhatsApp

  • Connected but no reply: Check openclaw pairing list whatsapp. You may need to approve the sender.
  • Group silence: OpenClaw ignores groups by default. Mention the bot or set requireMention: false in config.

Telegram

  • Bot Privacy Mode: If the bot is in a group but can't see messages, disable "Group Privacy" in BotFather.
  • Network Errors: Check `logs` for API timeout errors if your server blocks Telegram IPs.

Discord

  • Intents: Verify "Message Content Intent" is enabled in the Discord Developer Portal.
  • No Guild Replies: Check openclaw channels status --probe and ensure the bot has permission to view the channel.

Still stuck? If openclaw doctor passes but you see no activity, try restarting the gateway with openclaw gateway restart and re-check logs.