openclaw message CLI: Send Messages & Channel Actions

openclaw message

One command handles outbound messaging and channel actions across Discord, Google Chat, iMessage, Matrix, Mattermost (plugin), Microsoft Teams, Signal, Slack, Telegram, and WhatsApp.

openclaw message <subcommand> [flags]

Channel selection

• When multiple channels are set up, --channel <name> becomes mandatory; a single configured channel automatically serves as the default.
• Acceptable inputs are discord|googlechat|imessage|matrix|mattermost|msteams|signal|slack|telegram|whatsapp (the Mattermost plugin is a prerequisite).
• Targets prefixed with a channel, such as discord:channel:123, point to the correct plugin without needing an explicit --channel.

Target formats (-t, --target)

Resolving channel names: on platforms with a directory (Discord/Slack/etc), entries like Help or #help come from the directory cache; a miss triggers a live lookup where the provider allows it.

Common flags

Each action takes these parameters: --channel <name>, --account <id>, --json, --dry-run, --verbose. When an action needs a destination, -t, --target <dest> is also accepted.

SecretRef resolution

Before executing, openclaw message resolves channel SecretRefs with the tightest possible scope:

• channel-level when --channel is provided (or deduced from a prefixed target)
• account-level when --account is additionally provided
• all configured channels when neither is provided

Missing SecretRefs on unrelated channels don't interfere with a targeted action; a missing SecretRef on the chosen channel or account causes the action to fail closed.

Actions

Core

Send

openclaw message send --channel discord \
  --target channel:123 --message "hi" --reply-to 456

• --media <path-or-url>: attach image/audio/video/document (local path or URL).
• --presentation <json>: shared payload with text, context, divider, chart, table, buttons, and select blocks, rendered per channel capability. See Message Presentation.
• --delivery <json>: generic delivery preferences, for example {"pin": true}. --pin is shorthand for pinned delivery when the channel supports it.
• --reply-to <id>, --thread-id <id> (Telegram forum topic; Slack thread timestamp, same field as --reply-to).
• --force-document: preserve original image bytes on Slack, or send images/GIFs/videos as documents on Telegram and WhatsApp, to avoid channel compression.
• --silent (Telegram, Discord): send without a notification.
• --gif-playback (WhatsApp only): treat video media as GIF playback.

When a send is suppressed by a message hook, fails, or only partially succeeds, the command explains the outcome and exits nonzero. Partial delivery keeps any confirmed message ID. JSON failures include ok: false, deliveryStatus, and error; successful JSON responses retain their existing shape.

openclaw message send --channel discord \
  --target channel:123 --message "Choose:" \
  --presentation '{"blocks":[{"type":"buttons","buttons":[{"label":"Approve","value":"approve","style":"success"},{"label":"Decline","value":"decline","style":"danger"}]}]}'

openclaw message send --channel telegram --target @mychat --message "Choose:" \
  --presentation '{"blocks":[{"type":"buttons","buttons":[{"label":"Yes","value":"cmd:yes"},{"label":"No","value":"cmd:no"}]}]}'

Slack renders supported chart blocks natively; other channels receive the same data as readable text:

openclaw message send --channel slack --target channel:C123 \
  --presentation '{"blocks":[{"type":"chart","chartType":"bar","title":"Quarterly revenue","categories":["Q1","Q2"],"series":[{"name":"Revenue","values":[120,145]}],"xLabel":"Quarter"}]}'

Slack also renders explicit table blocks natively. Other channels receive the caption and every row as deterministic text:

openclaw message send --channel slack --target channel:C123 \
  --presentation '{"title":"Pipeline report","blocks":[{"type":"table","caption":"Open pipeline","headers":["Account","Stage","ARR"],"rows":[["Acme","Won",125000],["Globex","Review",82000]],"rowHeaderColumnIndex":0}]}'

Telegram Mini App buttons use webApp (web_app still parses for legacy JSON) and only render in private chats between a user and the bot:

openclaw message send --channel telegram --target 123456789 --message "Open app:" \
  --presentation '{"blocks":[{"type":"buttons","buttons":[{"label":"Launch","webApp":{"url":"https://example.com/app"}}]}]}'

openclaw message send --channel telegram --target @mychat \
  --media ./diagram.png --force-document

openclaw message send --channel msteams \
  --target conversation:19:abc@thread.tacv2 \
  --presentation '{"title":"Status update","blocks":[{"type":"text","text":"Build completed"}]}'

Poll

openclaw message poll --channel discord \
  --target channel:123 \
  --poll-question "Snack?" \
  --poll-option Pizza --poll-option Sushi \
  --poll-multi --poll-duration-hours 48

• --poll-option <choice>: repeat 2-12 times.
• --poll-multi: allow multiple selections.
• Discord: --poll-duration-hours, --silent, --message.
• Telegram: --poll-duration-seconds <n> (5-604800; up to seven days), --silent, --poll-anonymous / --poll-public, --thread-id.

openclaw message poll --channel telegram \
  --target @mychat \
  --poll-question "Lunch?" \
  --poll-option Pizza --poll-option Sushi \
  --poll-duration-seconds 120 --silent

openclaw message poll --channel msteams \
  --target conversation:19:abc@thread.tacv2 \
  --poll-question "Lunch?" \
  --poll-option Pizza --poll-option Sushi

Threads

• thread create: Discord channel targeting. Mandatory fields: --thread-name, --target (channel id). Non-required fields: --message-id, --message, --auto-archive-min.
• thread list: Discord channel targeting. Mandatory field: --guild-id. Non-required fields: --channel-id, --include-archived, --before, --limit.
• thread reply: Discord channel targeting. Mandatory fields: --target (thread id), --message. Non-required fields: --media, --reply-to.

Emojis

• emoji list: Discord (--guild-id), Slack (no extra flags).
• emoji upload: Discord. Mandatory fields: --guild-id, --emoji-name, --media. Non-required field: --role-ids (repeat).

Stickers

• sticker send: Discord. Mandatory fields: --target, --sticker-id (repeat). Non-required field: --message.
• sticker upload: Discord. Mandatory fields: --guild-id, --sticker-name, --sticker-desc, --sticker-tags, --media.

Roles, channels, voice, events (Discord)

• role info: --guild-id.
• role add / role remove: --guild-id, --user-id, --role-id.
• channel info: --target.
• channel list: --guild-id.
• voice status: --guild-id, --user-id.
• event list: --guild-id.
• event create: required --guild-id, --event-name, --start-time; optional --end-time, --desc, --channel-id, --location, --event-type, --image <url-or-path>.

Moderation (Discord)

• timeout: --guild-id, --user-id; optional --duration-min or --until (omit both to clear the timeout), --reason.
• kick: --guild-id, --user-id, --reason.
• ban: --guild-id, --user-id, --delete-days, --reason.

Broadcast

openclaw message broadcast --targets <target...> [--channel all] [--message <text>] [--media <url>] [--dry-run]

A single payload can be delivered to several destinations at once. Pass a space-separated list to --targets. To reach every provider that is set up, use --channel all.

Related

• CLI reference
• Agent send
• Message Presentation