openclaw/docs/channels/discord.md

summary, read_when, title

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Discord bot support status, capabilities, and configuration	Working on Discord channel features	Discord

Discord (Bot API)

Status: ready for DMs and guild channels via the official Discord gateway.

Discord DMs default to pairing mode. Native command behavior and command catalog. Cross-channel diagnostics and repair flow.

Quick setup

You will need to create a new application with a bot, add the bot to your server, and pair it to OpenClaw. We recommend adding your bot to your own private server. If you don't have one yet, create one first (choose Create My Own > For me and my friends).

Go to the [Discord Developer Portal](https://discord.com/developers/applications) and click **New Application**. Name it something like "OpenClaw".

Click **Bot** on the sidebar. Set the **Username** to whatever you call your OpenClaw agent.

Still on the **Bot** page, scroll down to **Privileged Gateway Intents** and enable:

- **Message Content Intent** (required)
- **Server Members Intent** (recommended; required for role allowlists and name-to-ID matching)
- **Presence Intent** (optional; only needed for presence updates)

Scroll back up on the **Bot** page and click **Reset Token**.

<Note>
Despite the name, this generates your first token — nothing is being "reset."
</Note>

Copy the token and save it somewhere. This is your **Bot Token** and you will need it shortly.

Click **OAuth2** on the sidebar. You'll generate an invite URL with the right permissions to add the bot to your server.

Scroll down to **OAuth2 URL Generator** and enable:

- `bot`
- `applications.commands`

A **Bot Permissions** section will appear below. Enable:

- View Channels
- Send Messages
- Read Message History
- Embed Links
- Attach Files
- Add Reactions (optional)

Copy the generated URL at the bottom, paste it into your browser, select your server, and click **Continue** to connect. You should now see your bot in the Discord server.

Back in the Discord app, you need to enable Developer Mode so you can copy internal IDs.

1. Click **User Settings** (gear icon next to your avatar) → **Advanced** → toggle on **Developer Mode**
2. Right-click your **server icon** in the sidebar → **Copy Server ID**
3. Right-click your **own avatar** → **Copy User ID**

Save your **Server ID** and **User ID** alongside your Bot Token — you'll send all three to OpenClaw in the next step.

For pairing to work, Discord needs to allow your bot to DM you. Right-click your **server icon** → **Privacy Settings** → toggle on **Direct Messages**.

This lets server members (including bots) send you DMs. Keep this enabled if you want to use Discord DMs with OpenClaw. If you only plan to use guild channels, you can disable DMs after pairing.

Your Discord bot token is a secret (like a password). Set it on the machine running OpenClaw before messaging your agent.

openclaw config set channels.discord.token '"YOUR_BOT_TOKEN"' --json
openclaw config set channels.discord.enabled true --json
openclaw gateway

If OpenClaw is already running as a background service, use `openclaw gateway restart` instead.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Ask your agent">
    Chat with your OpenClaw agent on any existing channel (e.g. Telegram) and tell it. If Discord is your first channel, use the CLI / config tab instead.

    > "I already set my Discord bot token in config. Please finish Discord setup with User ID `<user_id>` and Server ID `<server_id>`."
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="CLI / config">
    If you prefer file-based config, set:

{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      enabled: true,
      token: "YOUR_BOT_TOKEN",
    },
  },
}

    Env fallback for the default account:

DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN=...

  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Wait until the gateway is running, then DM your bot in Discord. It will respond with a pairing code.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Ask your agent">
    Send the pairing code to your agent on your existing channel:

    > "Approve this Discord pairing code: `<CODE>`"
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="CLI">

openclaw pairing list discord
openclaw pairing approve discord <CODE>

  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Pairing codes expire after 1 hour.

You should now be able to chat with your agent in Discord via DM.

Token resolution is account-aware. Config token values win over env fallback. `DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN` is only used for the default account.

Recommended: Set up a guild workspace

Once DMs are working, you can set up your Discord server as a full workspace where each channel gets its own agent session with its own context. This is recommended for private servers where it's just you and your bot.

This enables your agent to respond in any channel on your server, not just DMs.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Ask your agent">
    > "Add my Discord Server ID `<server_id>` to the guild allowlist"
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Config">

{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      groupPolicy: "allowlist",
      guilds: {
        YOUR_SERVER_ID: {
          requireMention: true,
          users: ["YOUR_USER_ID"],
        },
      },
    },
  },
}

  </Tab>
</Tabs>

By default, your agent only responds in guild channels when @mentioned. For a private server, you probably want it to respond to every message.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Ask your agent">
    > "Allow my agent to respond on this server without having to be @mentioned"
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Config">
    Set `requireMention: false` in your guild config:

{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      guilds: {
        YOUR_SERVER_ID: {
          requireMention: false,
        },
      },
    },
  },
}

  </Tab>
</Tabs>

By default, long-term memory (MEMORY.md) only loads in DM sessions. Guild channels do not auto-load MEMORY.md.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Ask your agent">
    > "When I ask questions in Discord channels, use memory_search or memory_get if you need long-term context from MEMORY.md."
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Manual">
    If you need shared context in every channel, put the stable instructions in `AGENTS.md` or `USER.md` (they are injected for every session). Keep long-term notes in `MEMORY.md` and access them on demand with memory tools.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Now create some channels on your Discord server and start chatting. Your agent can see the channel name, and each channel gets its own isolated session — so you can set up #coding, #home, #research, or whatever fits your workflow.

Runtime model

• Gateway owns the Discord connection.
• Reply routing is deterministic: Discord inbound replies back to Discord.
• By default (session.dmScope=main), direct chats share the agent main session (agent:main:main).
• Guild channels are isolated session keys (agent:<agentId>:discord:channel:<channelId>).
• Group DMs are ignored by default (channels.discord.dm.groupEnabled=false).
• Native slash commands run in isolated command sessions (agent:<agentId>:discord:slash:<userId>), while still carrying CommandTargetSessionKey to the routed conversation session.

Interactive components

OpenClaw supports Discord components v2 containers for agent messages. Use the message tool with a components payload. Interaction results are routed back to the agent as normal inbound messages and follow the existing Discord replyToMode settings.

Supported blocks:

• text, section, separator, actions, media-gallery, file
• Action rows allow up to 5 buttons or a single select menu
• Select types: string, user, role, mentionable, channel

By default, components are single use. Set components.reusable=true to allow buttons, selects, and forms to be used multiple times until they expire.

To restrict who can click a button, set allowedUsers on that button (Discord user IDs, tags, or *). When configured, unmatched users receive an ephemeral denial.

File attachments:

• file blocks must point to an attachment reference (attachment://<filename>)
• Provide the attachment via media/path/filePath (single file); use media-gallery for multiple files
• Use filename to override the upload name when it should match the attachment reference

Modal forms:

• Add components.modal with up to 5 fields
• Field types: text, checkbox, radio, select, role-select, user-select
• OpenClaw adds a trigger button automatically

Example:

{
  channel: "discord",
  action: "send",
  to: "channel:123456789012345678",
  message: "Optional fallback text",
  components: {
    reusable: true,
    text: "Choose a path",
    blocks: [
      {
        type: "actions",
        buttons: [
          {
            label: "Approve",
            style: "success",
            allowedUsers: ["123456789012345678"],
          },
          { label: "Decline", style: "danger" },
        ],
      },
      {
        type: "actions",
        select: {
          type: "string",
          placeholder: "Pick an option",
          options: [
            { label: "Option A", value: "a" },
            { label: "Option B", value: "b" },
          ],
        },
      },
    ],
    modal: {
      title: "Details",
      triggerLabel: "Open form",
      fields: [
        { type: "text", label: "Requester" },
        {
          type: "select",
          label: "Priority",
          options: [
            { label: "Low", value: "low" },
            { label: "High", value: "high" },
          ],
        },
      ],
    },
  },
}

Access control and routing

`channels.discord.dmPolicy` controls DM access (legacy: `channels.discord.dm.policy`):

- `pairing` (default)
- `allowlist`
- `open` (requires `channels.discord.allowFrom` to include `"*"`; legacy: `channels.discord.dm.allowFrom`)
- `disabled`

If DM policy is not open, unknown users are blocked (or prompted for pairing in `pairing` mode).

DM target format for delivery:

- `user:<id>`
- `<@id>` mention

Bare numeric IDs are ambiguous and rejected unless an explicit user/channel target kind is provided.

Guild handling is controlled by `channels.discord.groupPolicy`:

- `open`
- `allowlist`
- `disabled`

Secure baseline when `channels.discord` exists is `allowlist`.

`allowlist` behavior:

- guild must match `channels.discord.guilds` (`id` preferred, slug accepted)
- optional sender allowlists: `users` (IDs or names) and `roles` (role IDs only); if either is configured, senders are allowed when they match `users` OR `roles`
- if a guild has `channels` configured, non-listed channels are denied
- if a guild has no `channels` block, all channels in that allowlisted guild are allowed

Example:

{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      groupPolicy: "allowlist",
      guilds: {
        "123456789012345678": {
          requireMention: true,
          users: ["987654321098765432"],
          roles: ["123456789012345678"],
          channels: {
            general: { allow: true },
            help: { allow: true, requireMention: true },
          },
        },
      },
    },
  },
}

If you only set `DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN` and do not create a `channels.discord` block, runtime fallback is `groupPolicy="open"` (with a warning in logs).

Guild messages are mention-gated by default.

Mention detection includes:

- explicit bot mention
- configured mention patterns (`agents.list[].groupChat.mentionPatterns`, fallback `messages.groupChat.mentionPatterns`)
- implicit reply-to-bot behavior in supported cases

`requireMention` is configured per guild/channel (`channels.discord.guilds...`).

Group DMs:

- default: ignored (`dm.groupEnabled=false`)
- optional allowlist via `dm.groupChannels` (channel IDs or slugs)

Role-based agent routing

Use bindings[].match.roles to route Discord guild members to different agents by role ID. Role-based bindings accept role IDs only and are evaluated after peer or parent-peer bindings and before guild-only bindings. If a binding also sets other match fields (for example peer + guildId + roles), all configured fields must match.

{
  bindings: [
    {
      agentId: "opus",
      match: {
        channel: "discord",
        guildId: "123456789012345678",
        roles: ["111111111111111111"],
      },
    },
    {
      agentId: "sonnet",
      match: {
        channel: "discord",
        guildId: "123456789012345678",
      },
    },
  ],
}

Developer Portal setup

1. Discord Developer Portal -> **Applications** -> **New Application**
2. **Bot** -> **Add Bot**
3. Copy bot token

In **Bot -> Privileged Gateway Intents**, enable:

- Message Content Intent
- Server Members Intent (recommended)

Presence intent is optional and only required if you want to receive presence updates. Setting bot presence (`setPresence`) does not require enabling presence updates for members.

OAuth URL generator:

- scopes: `bot`, `applications.commands`

Typical baseline permissions:

- View Channels
- Send Messages
- Read Message History
- Embed Links
- Attach Files
- Add Reactions (optional)

Avoid `Administrator` unless explicitly needed.

Enable Discord Developer Mode, then copy:

- server ID
- channel ID
- user ID

Prefer numeric IDs in OpenClaw config for reliable audits and probes.

Native commands and command auth

• commands.native defaults to "auto" and is enabled for Discord.
• Per-channel override: channels.discord.commands.native.
• commands.native=false explicitly clears previously registered Discord native commands.
• Native command auth uses the same Discord allowlists/policies as normal message handling.
• Commands may still be visible in Discord UI for users who are not authorized; execution still enforces OpenClaw auth and returns "not authorized".

See Slash commands for command catalog and behavior.

Feature details

Discord supports reply tags in agent output:

- `[[reply_to_current]]`
- `[[reply_to:<id>]]`

Controlled by `channels.discord.replyToMode`:

- `off` (default)
- `first`
- `all`

Note: `off` disables implicit reply threading. Explicit `[[reply_to_*]]` tags are still honored.

Message IDs are surfaced in context/history so agents can target specific messages.

Guild history context:

- `channels.discord.historyLimit` default `20`
- fallback: `messages.groupChat.historyLimit`
- `0` disables

DM history controls:

- `channels.discord.dmHistoryLimit`
- `channels.discord.dms["<user_id>"].historyLimit`

Thread behavior:

- Discord threads are routed as channel sessions
- parent thread metadata can be used for parent-session linkage
- thread config inherits parent channel config unless a thread-specific entry exists

Channel topics are injected as **untrusted** context (not as system prompt).

Per-guild reaction notification mode:

- `off`
- `own` (default)
- `all`
- `allowlist` (uses `guilds.<id>.users`)

Reaction events are turned into system events and attached to the routed Discord session.

`ackReaction` sends an acknowledgement emoji while OpenClaw is processing an inbound message.

Resolution order:

- `channels.discord.accounts.<accountId>.ackReaction`
- `channels.discord.ackReaction`
- `messages.ackReaction`
- agent identity emoji fallback (`agents.list[].identity.emoji`, else "👀")

Notes:

- Discord accepts unicode emoji or custom emoji names.
- Use `""` to disable the reaction for a channel or account.

Channel-initiated config writes are enabled by default.

This affects `/config set|unset` flows (when command features are enabled).

Disable:

{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      configWrites: false,
    },
  },
}

Route Discord gateway WebSocket traffic and startup REST lookups (application ID + allowlist resolution) through an HTTP(S) proxy with `channels.discord.proxy`.

{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      proxy: "http://proxy.example:8080",
    },
  },
}

Per-account override:

{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      accounts: {
        primary: {
          proxy: "http://proxy.example:8080",
        },
      },
    },
  },
}

Enable PluralKit resolution to map proxied messages to system member identity:

{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      pluralkit: {
        enabled: true,
        token: "pk_live_...", // optional; needed for private systems
      },
    },
  },
}

Notes:

- allowlists can use `pk:<memberId>`
- member display names are matched by name/slug
- lookups use original message ID and are time-window constrained
- if lookup fails, proxied messages are treated as bot messages and dropped unless `allowBots=true`

Presence updates are applied only when you set a status or activity field.

Status only example:

{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      status: "idle",
    },
  },
}

Activity example (custom status is the default activity type):

{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      activity: "Focus time",
      activityType: 4,
    },
  },
}

Streaming example:

{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      activity: "Live coding",
      activityType: 1,
      activityUrl: "https://twitch.tv/openclaw",
    },
  },
}

Activity type map:

- 0: Playing
- 1: Streaming (requires `activityUrl`)
- 2: Listening
- 3: Watching
- 4: Custom (uses the activity text as the status state; emoji is optional)
- 5: Competing

Discord supports button-based exec approvals in DMs and can optionally post approval prompts in the originating channel.

Config path:

- `channels.discord.execApprovals.enabled`
- `channels.discord.execApprovals.approvers`
- `channels.discord.execApprovals.target` (`dm` | `channel` | `both`, default: `dm`)
- `agentFilter`, `sessionFilter`, `cleanupAfterResolve`

When `target` is `channel` or `both`, the approval prompt is visible in the channel. Only configured approvers can use the buttons; other users receive an ephemeral denial. Approval prompts include the command text, so only enable channel delivery in trusted channels. If the channel ID cannot be derived from the session key, OpenClaw falls back to DM delivery.

If approvals fail with unknown approval IDs, verify approver list and feature enablement.

Related docs: [Exec approvals](/tools/exec-approvals)

Tools and action gates

Discord message actions include messaging, channel admin, moderation, presence, and metadata actions.

Core examples:

• messaging: sendMessage, readMessages, editMessage, deleteMessage, threadReply
• reactions: react, reactions, emojiList
• moderation: timeout, kick, ban
• presence: setPresence

Action gates live under channels.discord.actions.*.

Default gate behavior:

Action group	Default
reactions, messages, threads, pins, polls, search, memberInfo, roleInfo, channelInfo, channels, voiceStatus, events, stickers, emojiUploads, stickerUploads, permissions	enabled
roles	disabled
moderation	disabled
presence	disabled

Components v2 UI

OpenClaw uses Discord components v2 for exec approvals and cross-context markers. Discord message actions can also accept components for custom UI (advanced; requires Carbon component instances), while legacy embeds remain available but are not recommended.

• channels.discord.ui.components.accentColor sets the accent color used by Discord component containers (hex).
• Set per account with channels.discord.accounts.<id>.ui.components.accentColor.
• embeds are ignored when components v2 are present.

Example:

{
  channels: {
    discord: {
      ui: {
        components: {
          accentColor: "#5865F2",
        },
      },
    },
  },
}

Voice messages

Discord voice messages show a waveform preview and require OGG/Opus audio plus metadata. OpenClaw generates the waveform automatically, but it needs ffmpeg and ffprobe available on the gateway host to inspect and convert audio files.

Requirements and constraints:

• Provide a local file path (URLs are rejected).
• Omit text content (Discord does not allow text + voice message in the same payload).
• Any audio format is accepted; OpenClaw converts to OGG/Opus when needed.

Example:

message(action="send", channel="discord", target="channel:123", path="/path/to/audio.mp3", asVoice=true)

Troubleshooting

- enable Message Content Intent
- enable Server Members Intent when you depend on user/member resolution
- restart gateway after changing intents

- verify `groupPolicy`
- verify guild allowlist under `channels.discord.guilds`
- if guild `channels` map exists, only listed channels are allowed
- verify `requireMention` behavior and mention patterns

Useful checks:

openclaw doctor
openclaw channels status --probe
openclaw logs --follow

Common causes:

- `groupPolicy="allowlist"` without matching guild/channel allowlist
- `requireMention` configured in the wrong place (must be under `channels.discord.guilds` or channel entry)
- sender blocked by guild/channel `users` allowlist

`channels status --probe` permission checks only work for numeric channel IDs.

If you use slug keys, runtime matching can still work, but probe cannot fully verify permissions.

- DM disabled: `channels.discord.dm.enabled=false`
- DM policy disabled: `channels.discord.dmPolicy="disabled"` (legacy: `channels.discord.dm.policy`)
- awaiting pairing approval in `pairing` mode

By default bot-authored messages are ignored.

If you set `channels.discord.allowBots=true`, use strict mention and allowlist rules to avoid loop behavior.

Configuration reference pointers

Primary reference:

• Configuration reference - Discord

High-signal Discord fields:

• startup/auth: enabled, token, accounts.*, allowBots
• policy: groupPolicy, dm.*, guilds.*, guilds.*.channels.*
• command: commands.native, commands.useAccessGroups, configWrites
• reply/history: replyToMode, historyLimit, dmHistoryLimit, dms.*.historyLimit
• delivery: textChunkLimit, chunkMode, maxLinesPerMessage
• media/retry: mediaMaxMb, retry
• actions: actions.*
• presence: activity, status, activityType, activityUrl
• UI: ui.components.accentColor
• features: pluralkit, execApprovals, intents, agentComponents, heartbeat, responsePrefix

Safety and operations

• Treat bot tokens as secrets (DISCORD_BOT_TOKEN preferred in supervised environments).
• Grant least-privilege Discord permissions.
• If command deploy/state is stale, restart gateway and re-check with openclaw channels status --probe.

Related

• Pairing
• Channel routing
• Multi-agent routing
• Troubleshooting
• Slash commands